Bio-diversity & Ecosystems
One or more major environmental consequence of converting forests to cropland that reduces the number of species in an area?
Habitat loss, clearing forests, extinction
Agriculture?
Agriculture is the science, art, and practice of cultivating soil, growing crops, and raising livestock to produce food, fiber (like cotton, wool), fuel, and other products
"Silviculture?"
What is the art and science of controlling the establishment, growth, composition, health, and quality of forests and woodlands on a sustainable basis
Define "bycatch"
Bycatch is the unintentional capture of non-target marine life, like dolphins, turtles, seabirds, or unwanted fish, in commercial fishing gear (nets, lines, traps) while fishing for a specific species, often resulting in their death or injury when discarded back into the sea
Define "primary producer"
A primary producer, or autotroph, is an organism that creates its own food from inorganic sources, usually using sunlight (photosynthesis) or chemicals (chemosynthesis) to convert energy into organic matter, forming the foundation of food webs by making energy available for other life forms. Key examples include plants, algae, phytoplankton, and certain bacteria, which form the base of nearly all ecosystems.
The result of increased soil erosion which affects (a) water turbidity and (b) vegetation growth?
Possible causes:
Algae blooms, oxygen depletion, and impacts on aquatic life from nutrient-laden runoff, while damaging terrestrial plants and reducing biodiversity.
Years it takes to produce one inch topsoil
100-500 years
Part of a tree a cork is harvested from?
Cork is harvested from the thick, outer bark of the cork oak tree
Give two problems caused by commercial fisheries
Two major problems from commercial fisheries are overfishing, which depletes fish stocks and disrupts marine food webs, and habitat destruction, caused by destructive gear like bottom trawls that damage ocean floors, alongside significant bycatch, unintentionally killing non-target marine life like turtles, dolphins, and sharks.
Define photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is the vital process where green plants, algae, and some bacteria use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to create their own food (sugars/glucose) for energy, releasing oxygen as a byproduct, essentially converting light energy into chemical energy to fuel life on Earth. This process, driven by chlorophyll and occurring in chloroplasts, forms the base of most food chains and maintains Earth's oxygen levels.
The largest percentage of species live in the _____________
Around 59% of all species live in the soil, making it Earth's most biodiverse habitat.
Carrots original color
Carrots were once purple or yellow, with the orange version developed in the Netherlands in the 1500s.
Types of vital resources do forests provide?
Energy efficient wood products, such as bark (cinnamon) and sap (syrup) to pulp (paper) and high-quality lumber, nearly every part of the tree becomes a product.
"Fishery?"
A fishery is a broad term for the activity, industry, or location related to catching, raising, and selling fish and other aquatic life
Fabric described as "strong; long‑lasting", "soft; easily spun into thread", and "thick, durable fibers from leaves?"
Cotton, linen, sisal
Ecosystem's natural defense absorbing significant human-caused ____________________
Emissions
Top three US Farms products
Cattles, Corn, Soybeans
What can we do to avoid overconsumption and deforestation?
Less consumption, sustainable products, recycling, replanting
Harm caused by increased fertilizer concentration in fisheries
Increased fertilizer concentration in fisheries causes eutrophication, leading to massive algal blooms that deplete oxygen (hypoxia), creating "dead zones" where fish and other aquatic life suffocate. These blooms also block sunlight, disrupt habitats, and some cyanobacteria release toxins harmful to wildlife and humans, resulting in fish kills, reduced fish stocks, and impaired water quality, impacting fisheries economically and ecologically.
List three product types derived from plants used in medicines
Three product types from plants used in medicine include alkaloids (like morphine for pain), glycosides (like digitalis for heart conditions), and terpenes/essential oils (like those in eucalyptus for congestion), offering pain relief, heart support, and respiratory aid from sources like opium poppy, foxglove, and various aromatic plants. Other examples are aspirin (from willow bark), chemotherapy drugs (like Taxol from yew trees), and herbal extracts for immunity (like Echinacea).
Current climate impact threatening one in six species
Rising temperatures
Percentage of family owned farms in the US
95%
Species of animals that live in the forest
What is deer, bears, squirrels, and foxes, plus predators such as wolves, jaguars, and tigers, alongside birds (owls, eagles, woodpeckers), reptiles (snakes, lizards), amphibians (frogs, salamanders), and countless insects
Approximately how many species of fish exist?
Fish are incredibly diverse, with over 33,000 species
List one or more cosmetics used from a plant source
A common cosmetic from a plant source is Aloe Vera, used for its moisturizing, healing, and soothing gel in lotions, moisturizers, and sunscreens, while other examples include Jojoba oil (moisturizer), Henna (hair/skin dye), Green Tea extract (antioxidant), and Coconut oil (emollient/moisturizer) found in many skincare and haircare products.