Human Population Growth/Resources
Define a renewable resource.
Define a nonrenewable resource.
Renewable resource: can be replaced as fast or faster than the rate it is being used. Ex: Solar energy
Nonrenewable resource: cannot be replaced as fast as it is being used. Ex: Coal
What is an algae bloom, and what can cause an algae bloom?
An algae bloom is when excessive amounts of algae begin growing in a waterway as a result of increased nutrients from fertilizers. Runoff can cause an algae bloom.
What is the other name for an invasive species?
Introduced species
Explain the term umbrella species.
A species whose protection results in other species that live in their environment to also be protected.
What is the difference between abiotic and biotic factors?
List one example of each.
Abiotic are nonliving and biotic are living.
What is an ecological footprint?
It is the amount of land needed to sustain a person.
True or False: Water vapor, methane, and carbon dioxide all contribute to global warming.
True: Water vapor, methane, and carbon dioxide all contribute to global warming.
Define endangered species.
A new road is being built in the middle of a forest. What is the term that is used to describe when an environment is being split up?
Habitat fragmentation
What makes an estuary different from the other aquatic biomes that we learned about?
What has been happening to Earth's carrying capacity?
It has increased.
True or False: The greenhouse effect is always a bad for the environment.
False: We are able to survive on this planet in part because of the greenhouse effect. It keeps the temperature warm enough for us to live here. Although it can be good for the environment, it can be harmful for the environment because too many greenhouse gases in the atmosphere will lead to climate change.
What allows an invasive species's population size to continue to grow?
They do not have any predators and all the resources that they need.
What is biodiversity?
The number of different species living in an area.
Define competition.
Organisms of the same species or two different species are trying to use the same resources.
Can a renewable resource become a nonrenewable resource?
Yes, if it is being used faster than it can be replenished it can become a nonrenewable resource.
What is acid rain?
It is whenever rain is more acidic (lower pH) as a result of pollutants in the air being dissolved in the rain droplets.
What was one of the consequences of DDT usage in the United States?
Bald eagle population size was decreasing because their eggshells were weak due to the DDT.
Define sustainable development.
It is the practice of using resources responsibly so that there will be enough resources in the future.
What is the difference between an independent and dependent variable?
Independent variable is what the researcher changes. Dependent variable is the thing that is being measured.
What happened at Easter Island?
People used trees too quickly and they became a nonrenewable resource. The entire environment was changed because there were no more trees.
When a fat-soluble pollutant is taken up by organisms and those organisms are eaten, the amount of pollutant increases as it continues to move up the food chain.
What is the role of an indicator species?
By observing their health, scientists can understand what the health of the ecosystem is like.
List conservation practices that can be used to protect the environment.
-Laws such as the Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act.
-Designating land to be protected.
-Resource management such as limiting the number of fish that can be taken or number of trees that can be cut down.
Define succession.
It is the gradual change of an environment over years.
Primary succession: start with bare rock (must become soil) and then small plants will begin to grow and then larger plants and then trees.
Secondary succession: start with soil and then small plants begin to grown and then larger plants and then trees.