Unit 3 AOS 1
Why is genetic diversity important for species survival?
A diverse gene pool supports species survival in fragmented or changed habitats.
When preparing a management plan for an environmental project, methods should be developed to reduce the occurrence of negative outcomes. Is this described as:
A. A risk assessment
B. Impact minimisation
C. Regulatory framework
D. following the precautionary principle
B. Impact minimisation
A risk assessment involves identifying possible negative impacts and quantifying their likelihood prior to the project, but does not in itself develop the methods to reduce negative impacts of a project. A management plan should recognise and comply with regulatory frameworks (Option C) but is not a method in itself.
What is the difference between mitigation and adaptation?
Mitigation is reducing the effects of climate change such as minimising carbon dioxide pollution, whereas adaptation is adapting to the effects such as improved building design to improve passive cooling.
How is biomass categorised as an energy source?
Biomass is renewable and non-fossil fuel
How does a random error effect your data in an experiment? And how can it be reduced?
Carbon sequestration is an example of which type of environmental service?
Regulating Service
In 2015, a large tailings dam failed at an iron ore mine in Brazil. Fifty million tons of mud and toxic waste poured into a major river. The mining waste polluted the river and devastated fish populations, as well as making the water unsuitable for drinking.
This event would have had harmful impacts on which two spheres?
Hydrosphere and Biosphere
Where do fully electric vehicles originally source their energy from.
An energy sources such as wind or coal.
The first law of thermodynamics states that:
Energy cannot be created or destroyed, rather it is converted into another form.
What does precision in a set of data points mean?
Precision refers to how closely a set of measurement values agree with each other
A group of ecologists wanted to estimate the size of a skink population. They set traps throughout the bushland and on the first visit trapped, marked and released a total of 32 skinks. They returned two weeks later and reset the traps and this time caught 52 skinks, of which 16 were marked. What is the estimated population size of skinks in the bushland site?
N=MT/R
(32 x 52)/16= 104
Explain the sustainability principle of ‘conservation of biodiversity and ecological integrity’.
The variety of species (including genetic diversity) should be maintained, with the quality of ecosystems and their capacity to provide for the needs of future generations enhanced.
What is the correct order of energy conversions from wind by a wind turbine for human use? (there should be three conversions)
Kinetic -> Mechanical -> electrical
What does a greenhouse has warming potential of 1 mean?
It is used as a reference to compare with other greenhouse gas warming potentials.
What does accuracy mean when referring to data collected from an experiment?
Data is considered accurate if it is judged to be close to the ‘true’ value.
What can be inferred from the discovery of similar fossil species across different geographic regions?
Rapid diversification has occurred, with subsequent migration of species.
What does circular economy thinking involve?
planning for the reduction of waste and pollutants.
If a surface has an albedo of 1, what does this mean?
It has 100% reflectivity.
Define peak oil
The point in time when oil production is highest, before steadily decreasing.
A student wanted to identify the most efficient energy produced by a model wind turbine place in front of a table fan by testing the length of turbine blades. What would be two controlled variables in this experiment?
Setting of fan, type of fan, ammeter, distance from fan, number of wind turbine blades, height of wind turbine.
What is the purpose of a seed bank?
Store genetic material to support the maintenance of species diversity.
What is the main difference between 'sustainability' and 'ecologically sustainable development'?
Sustainability is more focused on meeting the needs of humans now and in the future whereas ecologically sustainable development has a greater focus on environmental concerns.
Climate models are used to make a projection about future climate patterns. They have limitations due to...
Computer systems not being powerful enough to process available data and simulate the complexities of actual global climate.
Vehicles powered by petrol and diesel engines are very inefficient at converting chemical to kinetic energy with over 60% lost as heat. Which law of thermodynamics explains this?
Second law of thermodynamics
Which one of the following contributes to scientific uncertainty?
A. The experience of the researcher
B. Whether the experiment measures what is intended
C. Variation due to limitations of the measuring equipment
D. The difference between the hypothesis and the experimental results.
C. Variations due to limitations of measuring equipment