Ecological Principles
Define commensalism and provide one example of how this interaction benefits one species without affecting the other.
Definition: Commensalism is a symbiotic relationship where one species benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed.
Example: Barnacles attaching to a whale; the barnacles gain mobility to access food sources, while the whale remains unaffected.
What are the three major soil textures and how do they influence water retention?
Soil Textures: Sand, Silt, Clay.
Water Retention: Clay retains water well due to small particle size; sand has poor water retention due to large particles; silt has moderate water retention.
What is point source vs. non-point source pollution? Provide an example of each.
Point Source: Pollution from a single, identifiable source (e.g., a factory discharge pipe).
Non-Point Source: Diffuse pollution from multiple sources (e.g., agricultural runoff).
What is the difference between renewable and nonrenewable energy sources?
Renewable: Resources that can be replenished naturally (e.g., solar, wind).
Nonrenewable: Resources that exist in finite amounts (e.g., coal, oil).
What is sustainable yield, and why is it important in resource management?
Definition: The rate at which a renewable resource can be used without depleting it.
Importance: Ensures long-term availability of resources.
Define biodiversity and list two ecosystem services it provides.
Definition: Biodiversity refers to the variety of life in all its forms, including genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity.
Ecosystem Services: 1. Pollination of crops by insects. 2. Water purification by wetlands.
Explain the process of the rain shadow effect.
Explanation: Moist air rises over a mountain range, cools, and precipitates on the windward side. The dry air descends on the leeward side, creating arid conditions known as a rain shadow.
Describe the process of cultural eutrophication and its environmental consequences.
Process: Excess nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) from human activities enter water bodies, leading to algal blooms, decreased oxygen levels, and death of aquatic organisms.
Name two pros and two cons of nuclear energy.
Pros: Low greenhouse gas emissions, high energy output.
Cons: Risk of accidents, long-lived radioactive waste.
Describe one strategy used to reduce urban sprawl.
Strategy: Implementing smart growth policies that promote higher-density development and preserve open spaces.
Describe one example of a positive feedback loop in a natural system.
Example: Melting polar ice reduces the Earth's albedo (reflectivity), leading to increased absorption of solar radiation, which in turn causes more ice to melt.
Given a diagram of Earth’s interior, label the major layers and explain their role in plate tectonics.
Layers: Crust, Mantle, Outer Core, Inner Core.
Role in Plate Tectonics: Convection currents in the mantle drive the movement of tectonic plates on the crust.
Explain how the Clean Air Act has reduced air pollution in the U.S.
Explanation: The Clean Air Act established regulations limiting emissions of pollutants, leading to the adoption of cleaner technologies and fuels, thus reducing air pollution levels.
Compare the energy return on investment (EROI) of coal and wind energy.
Comparison: Coal has a moderate EROI but high environmental costs; wind energy has a higher EROI and lower environmental impact once established.
Discuss the ecological footprint concept and how it varies between developed and developing nations.
Discussion: Developed nations typically have larger ecological footprints due to higher consumption rates, while developing nations have smaller footprints but may experience rapid growth.
In a FRQ scenario, identify and explain one biotic and one abiotic factor that can affect a species distribution.
Biotic Factor: Predation—presence of predators can limit the distribution of prey species.
Abiotic Factor: Temperature—extreme temperatures can limit species survival and reproduction.
Use a diagram to describe how solar radiation varies with latitude and how it affects biomes.
Description: Solar radiation is most direct at the equator, leading to tropical biomes; it decreases toward the poles, resulting in temperate and polar biomes due to the angle of sunlight.
Analyze a provided water quality data table to assess the health of a freshwater ecosystem.
Analysis: Elevated levels of nitrates and phosphates indicate nutrient pollution; low dissolved oxygen levels suggest poor water quality and potential harm to aquatic life.
Based on a graph of energy usage by sector, explain which sector uses the most and why.
Explanation: The industrial sector often uses the most energy due to heavy machinery and continuous operations.
Given a case study, identify two environmental consequences of industrial agriculture and propose one sustainable alternative. (FRQ-style)
Consequences: Soil degradation, loss of biodiversity. Alternative: Organic farming, crop rotation, or agroforestry.
Analyze how the removal of a keystone species affects the trophic structure of an ecosystem.
Analysis: The removal of a keystone species can lead to trophic cascades, where the populations of prey species may increase unchecked, leading to overgrazing or depletion of vegetation, ultimately altering the entire ecosystem structure.
In an FRQ-based scenario, analyze how a volcanic eruption could impact local air, water, and soil quality over time.
Air: Release of ash and gases can degrade air quality.
Water: Ash can contaminate water sources, affecting aquatic life.
Soil: Ash deposits can initially hinder plant growth but may enrich soil nutrients over time.
Based on an FRQ prompt, propose a strategy to remediate soil contaminated by heavy metals and explain its effectiveness.
Strategy: Phytoremediation using plants that accumulate heavy metals can extract contaminants from soil over time, offering an environmentally friendly remediation method.
In a scenario-based FRQ, evaluate the environmental trade-offs of replacing coal with biomass in a rural community.
Evaluation: Biomass reduces reliance on fossil fuels and can be renewable, but may lead to deforestation and air pollution if not managed sustainably.
In a full FRQ simulation, evaluate the effectiveness of integrated pest management (IPM) and propose an implementation plan for a school garden.
IPM uses biological controls, crop rotation, and minimal chemical use. Plan: Introduce ladybugs to control aphids, rotate crops to disrupt pest cycles, monitor pest populations.