Mining
This refers to the clusters of minerals that contain metals or other valuable deposits.
What is Ore?
This is when multiple crops are planted in the same field at the same time.
What is intercropping?
These are areas of relatively high population density that surround major cities.
What are suburbs?
This is a practice in which fish or other seafood is raised in captivity rather than captured.
What is aquaculture?
An Arizona farmer investigates the best method to control the Egyptian alfalfa weevil, the primary pest of alfalfa crops in southwestern Arizona. The farmer sows genetically identical alfalfa seeds on three plots of land and harvests the alfalfa for three years and uses a different pest control method on each plot. On plot A, the farmer does not use any pest control methods. On plot B, the farmer introduces a parasitic wasp that uses the alfalfa weevil as its primary host. On plot C, the farmer uses an insecticide. The farmer records the alfalfa yields for each plot after each harvest.
Identify the control group for the investigation.
What is the plot without any pesticide use?
What is Plot A?
This is a practice of mining that involves sifting through sediment in water to find ore or gems.
What is Placer Mining?
This is a solution for soil erosion that involves the planting of trees in fields.
What is Agroforestry?
This is the problem for the water cycle in cities.
What is changes to runoff/infiltration rate due to impermeable surfaces?
This refers to the amount of land required to supply a person or population with the goods and services they use.
What is their Ecological Footprint?
An Arizona farmer investigates the best method to control the Egyptian alfalfa weevil, the primary pest of alfalfa crops in southwestern Arizona. The farmer sows genetically identical alfalfa seeds on three plots of land and harvests the alfalfa for three years and uses a different pest control method on each plot. On plot A, the farmer does not use any pest control methods. On plot B, the farmer introduces a parasitic wasp that uses the alfalfa weevil as its primary host. On plot C, the farmer uses an insecticide. The farmer records the alfalfa yields for each plot after each harvest.
Identify the general type of pest control method used on plot B.
What is a biological control?
What is a predator control?
This mining strategy is used to get mineral just below the surface, and involves removing the top layer of earth.
What is Strip Mining?
This is the use of living organisms to deter pests.
What is biocontrol?
This is the cycle in which urban areas receive minimal support, forcing people to leave, which further decreases the support they receive.
What is Urban Blight?
Food and other plant products produced without use of synthetic fertilizers or pesticides can label themselves as this.
What is Organic?
An Arizona farmer investigates the best method to control the Egyptian alfalfa weevil, the primary pest of alfalfa crops in southwestern Arizona. The farmer sows genetically identical alfalfa seeds on three plots of land and harvests the alfalfa for three years and uses a different pest control method on each plot. On plot A, the farmer does not use any pest control methods. On plot B, the farmer introduces a parasitic wasp that uses the alfalfa weevil as its primary host. On plot C, the farmer uses an insecticide. The farmer records the alfalfa yields for each plot after each harvest.
If a fourth plot D were available, explain how the farmer could modify the investigation to include an additional pest control method.
What is using intercropping?
What is using a different insecticide or biological control?
Any mining done more than 1000 meters below the surface is called this type of mining.
What is Subsurface mining?
This is the technique used for farming to reduce runoff on steep slopes.
What is contour or terrace farming?
This is the uncontrolled spread of a city.
What is urban sprawl?
The highest amount of a resource that can be gathered without having it decrease or run out is called this.
What is the Maximum Sustainable Yield?
The semiarid climate of Arizona poses challenges for its agriculture. Most land is used to grow crops such as alfalfa and grasses for hay, vegetables such as lettuce, and cotton. To be viable, given Arizona’s dry conditions, agricultural lands must be irrigated. The two major sources of irrigation water in Arizona are the Colorado River and groundwater.
Describe specifically why Arizona farmers may use drip irrigation over other irrigation techniques.
What is drip irrigation is the most efficient irrigation technique and would have the least water lost to evaporation?
These are the remains of the minerals after any resources have been extracted.
What are Mine Tailings?
This is the overall goal of Integrated Pest Management.
What is a reduction of synthetic pesticides?
This is when ocean water begins entering into groundwater as the result of high aquifer use in places like cities.
What is saltwater incursion?
Biodiversity, Food Production, and Atmospheric carbon are all examples of these guidelines to determine ecological health.
What are Environmental Indicators?
The velvet mesquite trees that populate areas of southwestern Arizona are a member of the legume family and have nitrogen-fixing bacteria in their root nodules.
Explain how a decrease in velvet mesquite trees from this ecosystem would affect the nitrogen cycle.
What is a decrease in mesquites would decrease nitrogen soil concentration, which decreases availability of nitrogen to other plants?
What is a decrease in mesquites would decrease nitrogen soil concentration, because there would be less nitrogen fixation/less nitrogen-fixing bacteria?