Env Stats
A trophic level will only have about ___ of the energy content compared to the level below it.
a) 20%
b) 10%
c) 30%
d) 5%
b) 10%
Name 4 of Earth's 'spheres'.
Hydrosphere, lithosphere, atmosphere, biosphere
What is an ecosystem?
All organisms and nonliving entities interacting in a particular area at the same time.
What are the different forms of food insecurity?
Undernutrition - not getting enough calories.
Malnutrition - not getting the right nutrients.
Overnutrition - getting too many calories, often low-quality foods.
What % of freshwater is available for human use?
a) 12%
b) 34%
c) 8%
d) 20%
e) 0.5%
e) 0.5%
What is leaching (in soil)?
When rainwater carries dissolved minerals downward through the soil, moving them away from surface levels.
Define ecotone and provide an example.
Areas where ecosystems meet in a transitional zone. Examples - intertidal zone, estuaries, mangroves, littoral zone, etc.
What is hypoxia and how does it affect aquatic life?
State or condition of lacking oxygen. Causes aquatic life to flee or die.
What is the difference between an introduced, non-native, and invasive species?
Introduced - brought to a new area by humans
Non-native - living outside it's native range
Invasive - non-native species with rapid establishment and harmful impact
Species are currently declining by an average of ___.
a) 45%
b) 69%
c) 15%
d) 85%
e) 10%
b) 69%
What is a temperature inversion?
When a layer of cool air becomes trapped beneath warm air, preventing vertical mixing from occurring.
Differentiate population and community ecology.
Population ecology focuses on the dynamics with and growth factors of a single species, whereas community ecology studies the interactions between different species in a given area.
Name 4 types of species interactions and explain whether the effect on each species is positive, negative, or neutral.
Mutualism (+/+), parasitism (+/-), competition (-/-), predation (+/-), herbivory (+/-)
NOAA reported that __ of all commercially harvested fish were captured unintentionally.
a) 11%
b) 15%
c) 22%
d) 7%
a) 11%
Habitat loss is the primary source of population decline in more than ___ of threatened birds and mammals.
a) 80%
b) 94%
c) 72%
d) 60%
a) 80%
What are the 3 atmospheric circulation cells that shape global wind patterns?
Ferrel, Hadley, Polar
What are the 3 levels of biodiversity? Define each.
Genetic
Species
Ecosystem
What does 'tragedy of the commons' refer to?
The concept that individuals acting in their own interest will overconsume/overexploit resources.
Methane is ___ times more potent than carbon dioxide.
a) 100
b) 264
c) 84
d) 54
c) 84
What are the layers of the atmosphere, in correct order?
Troposphere -> stratosphere -> mesosphere -> thermosphere
What is the photic zone?
The open-ocean zone where enough light penetrates for photosynthesis.
How do point sources and nonpoint sources of water pollution differ? Provide examples of each.
Point sources come from a single, identifiable place.
Example: A pipe from a factory or wastewater treatment plant.
Nonpoint sources come from many diffuse areas, not one specific spot.
Example: Runoff from farms, lawns, streets, or parking lots.