Vocabulary
This is the technique used for farming to reduce runoff on steep slopes.
Contour farming
Terrace farming
This is when DNA is altered in a plant to introduce new traits.
Genetically Modified Organism
This has been shown to reduce temperatures, as well as increase infiltration in cities.
Rain garden
This is the organized growing of marine organisms for consumption.
Aquaculture
An Arizona farmer investigates the best method to control the Egyptian alfalfa weevil, the primary pest of alfalfa crops in southwestern Arizona. The farmer sows genetically identical alfalfa seeds on three plots of land and harvests the alfalfa for three years and uses a different pest control method on each plot. On plot A, the farmer does not use any pest control methods. On plot B, the farmer introduces a parasitic wasp that uses the alfalfa weevil as its primary host. On plot C, the farmer uses an insecticide. The farmer records the alfalfa yields for each plot after each harvest.
Identify the control group for the investigation.
The plot without any pesticide use
Plot A
This is what CAFOs stands for.
"Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations"
This is a solution for monoculture.
Crop rotation
Interplanting
This is the problem for the water cycle in cities.
Changes to runoff/infiltration rates
Increase in impermeable surfaces
This is the meat source with the highest demand on water per kg protein.
Beef
An Arizona farmer investigates the best method to control the Egyptian alfalfa weevil, the primary pest of alfalfa crops in southwestern Arizona. The farmer sows genetically identical alfalfa seeds on three plots of land and harvests the alfalfa for three years and uses a different pest control method on each plot. On plot A, the farmer does not use any pest control methods. On plot B, the farmer introduces a parasitic wasp that uses the alfalfa weevil as its primary host. On plot C, the farmer uses an insecticide. The farmer records the alfalfa yields for each plot after each harvest.
Identify the general type of pest control method used on plot B.
Biological control
Predator control
This is the phenomena that results from overuse of shared land.
Tragedy of the Commons
This is the use of living organisms to deter pests.
Biocontrol
This is a building that has reduced its ecological footprint.
A green building
This is the least effective method of irrigation.
Flood irrigation
An Arizona farmer investigates the best method to control the Egyptian alfalfa weevil, the primary pest of alfalfa crops in southwestern Arizona. The farmer sows genetically identical alfalfa seeds on three plots of land and harvests the alfalfa for three years and uses a different pest control method on each plot. On plot A, the farmer does not use any pest control methods. On plot B, the farmer introduces a parasitic wasp that uses the alfalfa weevil as its primary host. On plot C, the farmer uses an insecticide. The farmer records the alfalfa yields for each plot after each harvest.
If a fourth plot D were available, explain how the farmer could modify the investigation to include an additional pest control method.
Using intercropping
Using a different insecticide or biological control
This is a sustainable forestry example.
Seed tree selection
Shelterwoods
Why would someone clear cut a forest?
For short-term profits
Efficiency
To convert unhealthy forest or replace disease prone species
This is the uncontrolled spread of a city.
Urban sprawl
This is the fishing technique where nets are dragged along the bottom of the seafloor.
Trawling
The semiarid climate of Arizona poses challenges for its agriculture. Most land is used to grow crops such as alfalfa and grasses for hay, vegetables such as lettuce, and cotton. To be viable, given Arizona’s dry conditions, agricultural lands must be irrigated. The two major sources of irrigation water in Arizona are the Colorado River and groundwater.
Describe specifically why Arizona farmers may use drip irrigation over other irrigation techniques.
Drip irrigation is the most efficient irrigation technique and would have the least water lost to evaporation
This is when the ground has accumulated an excess of water soluble salts.
Salinization
This is the overall goal of Integrated Pest Management.
To reduce synthetic pesticides
What is an additional benefit to rain gardens in cities, other than increasing water infiltration?
Reduction of Carbon Dioxide
Explain how saltwater can enter a coastal aquifer AND why that is bad.
If the high point of the aquifer is depleted enough that it becomes lower than sea level, sea water will flow into the aquifer due to pressure differences. This will cause well water to be salinized as well as leading to soil salinization.
The velvet mesquite trees that populate areas of southwestern Arizona are a member of the legume family and have nitrogen-fixing bacteria in their root nodules.
Explain how a decrease in velvet mesquite trees from this ecosystem would affect the nitrogen cycle.
A decrease in mesquites would decrease nitrogen soil concentration, which decreases availability of nitrogen to other plants
A decrease in mesquites would decrease nitrogen soil concentration, because there would be less nitrogen fixation/less nitrogen-fixing bacteria