Foundation of ESS
What does EVS stand for in ESS?
Environmental Value System
What term describes the relationship where both organisms benefit?
Mutualism
Which index is commonly used to quantify biodiversity by considering richness and evenness?
Simpson's Diversity Index
What process returns water vapor from plants to the atmosphere?
Transpiration
Which soil component is composed of decomposed organic matter?
Humus
A government invests heavily in renewable energy because it believes technology can solve environmental problems. Which EVS does this best represent?
Technocentric
What is the name of the process by which an ecosystem changes over time?
Succession
Name the three levels of biodiversity.
Genetic, species, and habitat diversity
What is used to determine a fishing quota?
Maximum sustainable yield
Which soil particle type has the smallest particle size?
Clay
Increased atmospheric CO₂ raises global temperatures, causing permafrost to melt and release methane, which further increases warming. What type of feedback loop is this?
Positive feedback loop
Which biome is characterized by low precipitation and sparse vegetation?
Desert
What is currently considered the greatest threat to global biodiversity?
Habitat loss
What term describes the farming of aquatic organisms such as fish or shrimp?
Aquaculture
What type of agriculture relies heavily on mechanization, fertilizers, and high inputs?
Intensive
An ecological footprint study finds that a population requires 4.5 gha per capita while only 2.0 gha per capita is available. Calculate the ecological deficit.
2.5 gha per capita
What percentage of energy is typically transferred from one trophic level to the next?
10%
What is the difference between in situ and ex situ conservation?
In situ protects species in natural habitats; ex situ protects them outside natural habitats
Name one strategy that can reduce domestic water consumption.
Examples: low-flow devices, rainwater harvesting, water metering
Why is a mixture of sand, silt, clay, and humus generally considered ideal for plant growth?
It balances drainage, aeration, nutrient retention, and water-holding capacity.
A policy reduces fossil fuel use but significantly increases food prices, causing social inequality. Which pillar of sustainability may have been overlooked?
Social sustainability
In a Lincoln Index investigation, 50 organisms were marked, 40 were captured later, and 10 were marked. Estimate the population size.
200 organisms (N = 50×40÷10)
A community contains many species but one species makes up 90% of individuals. Would Simpson's Diversity Index be relatively high or low? Why?
Relatively low because evenness is low.
Excess fertilizer enters a lake, causing algal blooms and oxygen depletion. What process is occurring?
Eutrophication
A farmer repeatedly grows a single crop on the same field every year. What agricultural practice is this, and what is one likely impact on soil?
Monoculture; reduced soil fertility, increased erosion, or increased pest problems.