Ecosystems
Are large geographic areas characterized by distinct communities of plants and animals adapted to specific environmental conditions, including climate, soil, and vegetation.
Biomes
Give two solutions to solve '"the tragedy of the commons"
fees or taxes, criminal charges for pollution, Clean Air/Clean Water Acts, private land ownerships
The shaking of the earth caused by the energy released when tectonic plates move
Earthquake
Urban sprawl refers to the rapid and unplanned outward expansion of cities and towns, often characterized by low-density housing, single-use zoning, and a high reliance on private automobiles.
Give two characteristics of urban sprawl.
excessive land consumption, fragmented open space, lack of choice of housing, segregation, lack of public spaces and community centers
What type of pollution causes various diseases related to the respiratory system?
Air Pollution
Give one benefit of wetlands.
Stores excess water during storms, lessening flood damage
Absorbing rainfall into soil
Roots of wetland plants filter pollutants from water
High plant growth rates due to lots of water & nutrients
started as a shift to new agricultural strategies and practices in order to increase food production
Green Revolution
A large ocean wave
Tsunami
Give one problem associated with poor or unplanned urban growth.
Transportation problems, high infrastructure and energy costs, loss of open space and farmland, pollution problems, aesthetic issues
This country is the top generator of plastic waste
United States
True or False:
Ecosystems with high PP are usually more biodiverse (more diversity of species) than ecosystems with low PP
PP=Primary Productivity
True
Crops with new genes "spliced" into their genome; cross-pollinating different species, or parent plants with ideal traits
GMOs/Hybrid
A funnel of rotating air that drops down from a storm cloud
Tornado
Give some factors that encouraged people to leave from rural farms to cities in 1800s.
jobs, opportunities, easier and faster for travel, variety of goods and services
Which of the following could potentially explain the projected decline in energy consumption in the United States?
A. More available resources
B. An increase in the number of young people in the population
C. A growing population
D. Technological advancements
A
In trophic pyramids, only about __% of the
energy from one level makes it to the next level; the
most part is used by the organism & lost as heat.
10%
Refers to catching fish at a rate faster than they can reproduce, leading to declines in fish populations and disruptions to marine ecosystems.
Overfishing
A powerful storm that forms over the ocean in the tropics
Hurricane
Sustainable development means utilizing an ever-increasing quantity of natural resources.
False; it is improving people's lives in the present in a way that can continue far into the future.
In the United States, the largest component of the municipal solid waste stream is:
A. Yard clippings
B. Plastics
C. Food remnants
D. Glass and wood
E. Paper
E. Paper
A layer of underground rock or sediment that holds and allows the movement of groundwater - storing water that seeps through the soil from precipitation or other surface water sources. They are crucial for providing drinking water and irrigation water in many areas.
Aquifers
Identify one human activity that could degrade an ecosystem service and explain how the activity decreases the value of the ecosystem service.
Student answers may vary
It can start with a natural occurrence—such as a lightning strike—or a human-made spark. However, it is often the weather conditions that determine how much it grows.
Wildfires
There is concern over the continued ability to provide adequate food for our growing population because agriculture has not benefited from modern technological advancements.
False; 2/3 of all agricultural lands show signs of degradation
Highway congestion is considered an example of
A. Sustainable use
B. Resource management
C. A tragedy of the commons
D. Maximum sustainable yield
C. A tragedy of the commons