Urbanization & Sprawl
Define the "Urban Heat Island" effect
Urban areas are warmer than rural areas due to pavement/concrete
What is clear cutting?
Harvesting all trees in an area at once
What is a CAFO?
Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation
What is the main goal of the Green Revolution?
Increase crop yields through technology/chemicals
Which soil horizon is the topsoil rich in organic matter?
A-Horizon
Define Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
Using a variety of methods to minimize pesticide use
Explain how "impervious surfaces" impact local water cycles
Water cannot infiltrate; leads to runoff/flooding
Name one benefit of prescribed burns
Reduces fuel loads, prevents massive wildfires
Why does overfishing occur according to the "Tragedy of the Commons"?
Shared resource (ocean) not owned by anyone
Why is monocropping efficient but environmentally risky?
High yield, but low genetic diversity, pest susceptibility, increases soil erosion, decreases habitat diversity
Order these by particle size: Silt, Clay, Sand (Largest to smallest).
Sand > Silt > Clay
Give one example of a biological control method
Introducing predators (e.g., ladybugs) or parasites
What is saltwater intrusion?
Freshwater depletion near coast; saltwater gets pulled into aquifers
What is habitat fragmentation and why does it harm forest ecosystems?
Breaking habitats into patches; limits migration/mating
What is rotational grazing?
Rotating livestock to different pastures to allow regrowth
What type of irrigation is the most efficient? Which is the least efficient?
Most: Drip
Least: Furrow
Define Turbidity
measure of water clarity (how cloudy/muddy water looks)
Explain the "Pesticide Treadmill"
Resistance leads to stronger pests/stronger chemicals
Use more and more chemicals over time
Name two urban planning strategies that would be beneficial to the environment to mitigate urban runoff
public transport, bike lanes, build up/not out, permeable pavement, plant vegetation
Why are tree plantations considered low-biodiversity?
It is typically just a single species
Explain desertification
Overgrazing by animal removes vegetation, and they receive little rainfall. The land will become arid and unproductive
Why are GMOs often used in industrial agriculture?
To create pest/drought resistance or higher nutrient content
Describe the process of soil salinization.
Irrigation water evaporates, leaving salt behind
Identify one pro and one con for using GMO crops for pest control
Pro: less need for chemicals, increased profits/yields
Con: loss of biodiversity in the crop
How does permeable pavement mitigate urban runoff pollution?
Allows water infiltration, filters out pollutants before hitting groundwater
Describe the connection between clear-cutting and global carbon cycles.
Loss of carbon sinks, decomp releases CO2
Identify one pro and one con of aquaculture.
Pro: High food yield, requires small area, uses little fuel
Con: Waste pollution/disease spread, fish may escape
How does fossil fuel reliance connect to the Green Revolution?
Modern machinery, synthetic fertilizers, and transport rely on fossil fuels
Identify TWO negative effects of tilling.
Increased erosion, loss of organic matter & nutrients, increased particulate matter in the air, increased sediments in water
How is intercropping/crop rotation used to help in pest control?
One strip of plants can repel pests
Disrupts life cycle of plants by using crop rotation (prevents pests from becoming established)