Question 1

Most plants can be considered carbon sinks; their net effect on atmospheric carbon is to reduce its concentration.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

Human activities presently fix more nitrogen than all natural sources combined.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

Scientists predict that current increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations will cause temperatures on Earth to rise, a phenomenon known as _______ _______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Scientists predict that current increases in atmospheric...

Question 4

Since 1950 the commercial fishing industry has applied continuously improving technologies for harvesting marine fish. What has been the effect of improved fishing efficiencies on ocean communities?

Accepted Answer

A)  No substantial change has occurred; the oceans are simply too big for humans to have much of an impact. 
B)  Generally beneficial; as top predatory fish have been removed the biodiversity of many oceanic communities has actually expanded. 
C)  Quite disruptive; fishing has significantly altered the food webs of many ocean communities. 
D)  Generally beneficial; the selective removal of certain large carnivorous fish has led to an increase in the number of harvestable fish. 
A)  No substantial change has occurred; the oceans are simply too big for humans to have much of an impact. 
B)  Generally beneficial; as top predatory fish have been removed the biodiversity of many oceanic communities has actually expanded. 
C)  Quite disruptive; fishing has significantly altered the food webs of many ocean communities. 
D)  Generally beneficial; the selective removal of certain large carnivorous fish has led to an increase in the number of harvestable fish.

Question 5

The graph below illustrates the relationship between fishing effort and the catch of large predatory fish, like tuna, during the past 40 years.  
What best explains the pattern illustrated in this graph?

Accepted Answer

A)  Fish are adaptive and eventually learn to avoid hooks. 
B)  Anthropogenic chemical, thermal, and sound pollution has greatly reduced the carrying capacity for large predatory fish. 
C)  Large predatory fish are at the top of their food webs where biomagnification produces the greatest impact. 
D)  Highly efficient harvesting technologies remove these fish species at rates much greater than the rates of natural replacement. 
A)  Fish are adaptive and eventually learn to avoid hooks. 
B)  Anthropogenic chemical, thermal, and sound pollution has greatly reduced the carrying capacity for large predatory fish. 
C)  Large predatory fish are at the top of their food webs where biomagnification produces the greatest impact. 
D)  Highly efficient harvesting technologies remove these fish species at rates much greater than the rates of natural replacement.

Question 6

Land and water transformations have many unintended consequences. One of the most serious is

Accepted Answer

A)  the extinction of species. 
B)  continental drift. 
C)  the increasing concentrations of atmospheric ozone. 
D)  the reduction in global atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and the subsequent decline in worldwide NPP. 
A)  the extinction of species. 
B)  continental drift. 
C)  the increasing concentrations of atmospheric ozone. 
D)  the reduction in global atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and the subsequent decline in worldwide NPP.

Question 7

What will happen in the future if humans continue to impact natural systems at the same rates as today?

Accepted Answer

A)  The environment is much too big and the human population much too small in comparison to have any serious consequences. 
B)  Human societies may experience severe disruptions in the services ecosystems provide that human societies depend on. 
C)  Some short-term changes may be experienced, but the magnitude will likely be no greater than those that have occurred naturally. 
D)  Some beneficial and necessary reductions on population growth will occur. 
A)  The environment is much too big and the human population much too small in comparison to have any serious consequences. 
B)  Human societies may experience severe disruptions in the services ecosystems provide that human societies depend on. 
C)  Some short-term changes may be experienced, but the magnitude will likely be no greater than those that have occurred naturally. 
D)  Some beneficial and necessary reductions on population growth will occur.

Question 8

The best hope for slowing the recent rapid ecological changes is to decrease the impact of _______ on Earth to a sustainable level.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The best hope for slowing the recent...

Question 9

When nitrogen is added to nitrogen-poor aquatic ecosystems, productivity _______ and the number of species _______.

Accepted Answer

A)  increases; declines 
B)  increases; increases 
C)  declines; declines 
D)  declines; increases 
A)  increases; declines 
B)  increases; increases 
C)  declines; declines 
D)  declines; increases

Question 10

Ample evidence now exists that demonstrates that human activities are strongly associated with global warming.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Net primary productivity is typically limited by the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus available to producers, when these nutrients are increased NPP increases as well.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Changes to the physical and biotic features of the earth are called land and water transformations. Which of the following is an example of a water transformation?

Accepted Answer

A)  Clearing land along an urban-growth boundary to allow a city to expand. 
B)  Constructing a dam along a river so that expanding city may increase the availability of drinking water. 
C)  Clear-cutting a forest for the lumber needed to build the homes for an expanding city. 
D)  Clear-cutting a forest to make cropland to grow the food for an expanding city. 
A)  Clearing land along an urban-growth boundary to allow a city to expand. 
B)  Constructing a dam along a river so that expanding city may increase the availability of drinking water. 
C)  Clear-cutting a forest for the lumber needed to build the homes for an expanding city. 
D)  Clear-cutting a forest to make cropland to grow the food for an expanding city.

Question 13

Global warming is likely to have much larger effects on some locations than others. Why are planners particularly concerned about California?

Accepted Answer

A)  Grapes require cool spring weather; warming could impact the California grape harvest and plunge the state into an economic recession. 
B)  Warmer temperatures mean more ocean evaporation and cloud cover reducing the sunlight needed to drive the massive agricultural industry in California. 
C)  Warmer temperatures mean more ocean evaporation and rainfall; as this runoff reaches the coast it will reduce ocean salinities and impact coastal life. 
D)  The precipitation falling on the Sierra Nevada could be rain rather than snow; melting snow gradually releases critically needed water during the spring and summer. 
A)  Grapes require cool spring weather; warming could impact the California grape harvest and plunge the state into an economic recession. 
B)  Warmer temperatures mean more ocean evaporation and cloud cover reducing the sunlight needed to drive the massive agricultural industry in California. 
C)  Warmer temperatures mean more ocean evaporation and rainfall; as this runoff reaches the coast it will reduce ocean salinities and impact coastal life. 
D)  The precipitation falling on the Sierra Nevada could be rain rather than snow; melting snow gradually releases critically needed water during the spring and summer.

Question 14

The release of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) into the atmosphere has caused a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)  increase in the amount of usable nitrogen. 
B)  decrease in the amount of ultraviolet light reaching Earth. 
C)  increase in acid rainfall. 
D)  decrease in Earth's ozone layer. 
A)  increase in the amount of usable nitrogen. 
B)  decrease in the amount of ultraviolet light reaching Earth. 
C)  increase in acid rainfall. 
D)  decrease in Earth's ozone layer.

Question 15

Nitrogen gas makes up approximately 20 percent of the air we breathe.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Converting atmospheric nitrogen into chemical forms that can be used biologically is called fixation. Which of the following organisms can fix nitrogen?

Accepted Answer

A)  insects 
B)  oak trees 
C)  bacteria 
D)  fish 
A)  insects 
B)  oak trees 
C)  bacteria 
D)  fish

Question 17

The figure below shows the predicted distribution of biomes following a 4ᵒ C increase in average global temperature.  
What biome in North America, in addition to deserts, becomes more common and how can the change be explained?

Accepted Answer

A)  Boreal forests expand because warmer temperatures reduce the extent of snow coverage and allow conifers to begin spring growth earlier. 
B)  Tundra expands because melted permafrost provides new habitat for cold-adapted grasses and herbs. 
C)  Topical forests expand because warmer temperatures expand tropical habitats, increase evaporation from the ocean surface, and provide the necessary rainfall. 
D)  Grasslands expand because warmer temperatures decrease average global rainfall, converting forest biomes to grasslands. 
A)  Boreal forests expand because warmer temperatures reduce the extent of snow coverage and allow conifers to begin spring growth earlier. 
B)  Tundra expands because melted permafrost provides new habitat for cold-adapted grasses and herbs. 
C)  Topical forests expand because warmer temperatures expand tropical habitats, increase evaporation from the ocean surface, and provide the necessary rainfall. 
D)  Grasslands expand because warmer temperatures decrease average global rainfall, converting forest biomes to grasslands.

Question 18

Carbon dioxide levels are increasing because

Accepted Answer

A)  human agriculture has greatly increased the amount of carbon dioxide given off by plants during respiration. 
B)  humans have begun releasing carbon that was formerly sequestered in fossil fuels into the atmosphere. 
C)  holes in the ozone layer have reduced the total amount of photosynthesis occurring in the biosphere. 
D)  the huge growth in the human population and domestic livestock has increased the amount of carbon dioxide being released through respiration. 
A)  human agriculture has greatly increased the amount of carbon dioxide given off by plants during respiration. 
B)  humans have begun releasing carbon that was formerly sequestered in fossil fuels into the atmosphere. 
C)  holes in the ozone layer have reduced the total amount of photosynthesis occurring in the biosphere. 
D)  the huge growth in the human population and domestic livestock has increased the amount of carbon dioxide being released through respiration.

Question 19

Because wetlands have relatively little economic value the percentage of the United States that is covered by wetlands has been relatively stable during the past 200 years.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Ample evidence now exists to show that worldwide environmental changes are occurring; one example is

Accepted Answer

A)  the increased NPP observed within the world's aquatic ecosystems. 
B)  the widespread occurrence of invasive species. 
C)  the moderate decline in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations. 
D)  the expansion of forested land as tree-replanting efforts become more accepted. 
A)  the increased NPP observed within the world's aquatic ecosystems. 
B)  the widespread occurrence of invasive species. 
C)  the moderate decline in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations. 
D)  the expansion of forested land as tree-replanting efforts become more accepted.

Exam 38: Global Change

Most plants can be considered carbon sinks; their net effect on atmospheric carbon is to reduce its concentration.

Human activities presently fix more nitrogen than all natural sources combined.

Scientists predict that current increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations will cause temperatures on Earth to rise, a phenomenon known as _______ _______.

Since 1950 the commercial fishing industry has applied continuously improving technologies for harvesting marine fish. What has been the effect of improved fishing efficiencies on ocean communities?

The graph below illustrates the relationship between fishing effort and the catch of large predatory fish, like tuna, during the past 40 years. What best explains the pattern illustrated in this graph?

Land and water transformations have many unintended consequences. One of the most serious is

What will happen in the future if humans continue to impact natural systems at the same rates as today?

The best hope for slowing the recent rapid ecological changes is to decrease the impact of _______ on Earth to a sustainable level.

When nitrogen is added to nitrogen-poor aquatic ecosystems, productivity _______ and the number of species _______.

Ample evidence now exists that demonstrates that human activities are strongly associated with global warming.

Net primary productivity is typically limited by the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus available to producers, when these nutrients are increased NPP increases as well.

Changes to the physical and biotic features of the earth are called land and water transformations. Which of the following is an example of a water transformation?

Global warming is likely to have much larger effects on some locations than others. Why are planners particularly concerned about California?

The release of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) into the atmosphere has caused a(n)

Nitrogen gas makes up approximately 20 percent of the air we breathe.

Converting atmospheric nitrogen into chemical forms that can be used biologically is called fixation. Which of the following organisms can fix nitrogen?

The figure below shows the predicted distribution of biomes following a 4ᵒ C increase in average global temperature. What biome in North America, in addition to deserts, becomes more common and how can the change be explained?

Carbon dioxide levels are increasing because

Because wetlands have relatively little economic value the percentage of the United States that is covered by wetlands has been relatively stable during the past 200 years.

Ample evidence now exists to show that worldwide environmental changes are occurring; one example is

The Nature of Science and the Characteristics of Life

Organizing the Diversity of Life

Major Groups of Living Organisms

Chemical Building Blocks

Cell Structure and Internal Compartments

Cell Membranes, Transport, and Communication

Energy and Enzymes

Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration

Cell Division

Patterns of Inheritance

Chromosomes and Human Genetics

DNA

From Gene to Protein

Control of Gene Expression

DNA Technology

How Evolution Works

Evolution of Populations

Adaptation and Speciation

The Evolutionary History of Life

Maintaining the Internal Environment

Animal Nutrition and Digestion

Gas Exchange

The Circulatory System

Animal Hormones

The Nervous System

Sensing the Environment

Skeletons, Muscles, and Movement

Defenses against Disease

Reproduction and Development

Animal Behavior

Plant Structure, Nutrition, and Transport

Plant Growth and Reproduction

The Biosphere

Growth of Populations

Interactions among Organisms

Communities of Organisms

Ecosystems

Biodiversity and People

Cancer: Cell Division Out of Control

Harnessing the Human Genome

Humans and Evolution

Smoking--Beyond Lung Cancer

Feeding a Hungry Planet

Building a Sustainable Society

Filters

Scientists predict that current increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations will cause temperatures on Earth to rise, a phenomenon known as _ _.

When nitrogen is added to nitrogen-poor aquatic ecosystems, productivity _ and the number of species _.