Vocabulary 1
a porous sedimentary layer of rock such as limestone or sandstone between source and cap rock formations which allows for the pooling of petroleum
reservoir rock
the average consumption by an individual; typically measured worldwide through the gross domestic product (GDP) of a country
affluence
The majority of global fisheries within the commercial sector can be found in
1) inland freshwater lakes and streams
2) coastal marine areas
3) far off-shore open ocean areas
4) fresh/saltwater estuaries
2) coastal marine areas
Salt buildup may
1) eventually make the land unproductive
2) increase yields
3) eventually kill weeds
4) increase crop growth
5) None of these answers
1) eventually make the land unproductive
What is required for a secondary-growth forest to be reclassified as an old-growth forest?
All damage inflicted upon the original old-growth forest must no longer be visible.
the collective layers of source, reservoir, and cap rock involving the creation/migration of petroleum
petroleum trap
minerals including silicates, nonsilicates, and native elements which are smelted from ore deposits
metallic minerals
The primary source of increased levels of greenhouse gases on earth is ________.
1) loss of heterotrophs
2) increased photosynthetic activity
3) aerosol spray cans
4) asteroids falling to earth
5) modern human lifestyles
5) modern human lifestyles
The removal of all trees from a given area in a single cutting to establish a new even-aged stand is called
1) strip-cutting
2) selective cutting
3) clear-cutting
4) seed-tree cutting
5) shelter wood cutting
3) clear-cutting
Why do most ecologists and foresters view tree plantations more as crop agriculture than as ecologically functional forests?
There are usually very few tree species and very little variation of tree age in plantations so they do not offer many forest organisms in the habitat they need.
bioproductive land mass measuring 10,000 square meters or a 100m (328ft) square
global hectares (gha)
the use of pressurized gas to produce mechanical motion
pheumatic
Which of the following logging methods would most likely be used within plantation forestry?
1) cut-to-length logging
2) whole-length logging
3) tree-length logging
4) whole-tree logging
1) cut-to-length logging
Global climate change may produce major shifts in biomes for any given location because ________.
1) mean temperature, precipitation and salinity will change
2) many species may become extinct
3) food web dynamics will change
4) biodiversity and day length will change
5) soil chemistry, pH of precipitation and the frequency of invasive species will change
1) mean temperature, precipitation and salinity will change
Describe how fertilizers have increased the flux of nutrients throughout the environment.
Nitrogen-based fertilizers have significantly increased the rate of ammonia production into our soils as compared to the naturally occurring process of nitrogen fixation.
minerals that do not undergo smelting and are typically used for their chemical and/or physical properties
nonmetallic minerals
mineral deposits formed within regolith from the long- lasting weathering of its underlying parent rock
laterite deposits
The main environmental impact resulting from most mining operations is
1) removal of overburden
2) clearcutting
3) acid mine drainage
4) transportation of mined materials
3) acid mine drainage
The ideal pesticide
1) would be of equal value to the damage the pest would have caused
2) would kill only the target pest
3) would allow the development of genetic resistance
4) would kill every plant it came into contact with
5) would be persistent
2) would kill only the target pest
What are the by-products of incomplete combustion and what hazards do they pose to the biosphere?
Carbon monoxide, methanol, and soot are some of the by-products of incomplete combustion.
Carbon monoxide prevents oxygen from being transported through the body. It is the leading cause of death by air pollutants in the world.
Methanol is altered into formic acid by our cells and can be lethal if ingested in large quantities.
Soot is poisonous to lung tissue and increases greenhouse gasses.
elements which make up ~99% of the earth’s crust and include oxygen, silicon, aluminum, iron, calcium, sodium, potassium, and magnesium
geochemically abundant elements
mineral deposits created from outwash plains of alluvium from glaciofluvial activity
placer deposits
The loss of productivity in areas due to erosion, soil compaction, forest removal, and an array of other factors is called ________.
1) stratification
2) climatization
3) desertification
4) global change
5) salinization
3) desertification
A natural ecosystem, undamaged by human activity, is ________.
1) an open system of organic materials and energy
2) an open system of inorganic materials and energy
3) an open system of organic and inorganic materials and energy
4) a closed system of organic materials and energy; everything is recycled
5) a closed system of organic and inorganic materials and energy; everything is recycled
3) an open system of organic and inorganic materials and energy
Describe the feedback loops that can take place when traffic is increased over a particular area of soil during a very hot and dry season. Be certain to describe the concepts of compaction, soil density, soil evaporation, and soil volume.
More traffic on soil increases the amount of soil COMPACTION (positive feedback) which increases soil DENSITY (positive feedback). Increased temperatures and low precipitation will cause an increase of soil EVAPORATION (positive feedback) which reduces its VOLUME (negative feedback).