ESRM 100 EXAM #1 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Plankton play a key role in the carbon cycle. They are responsible for what percentage
of CO2 removal from the atmosphere? - Answers -50%
How much of the earth's water is available for agricultural use? - Answers -<3%
The Chernobyl disaster released large quantities of radioactive particles into the
atmosphere, which spread all over the world. How long did it take for the radiation to
travel around the world? - Answers -3 days
The age of the Earth is based on evidence of radiometric age dating of meteorite
material and is consistent with the ages of the oldest-known terrestrial and lunar
samples. Approximately how old is the Earth - Answers -4.6 billion years
What might make solving environmental problems more challenging? - Answers -lag
time
What is environmental wisdom? - Answers -A concept that explains that the world is an
interconnected place; where both, humans and the natural environment are always
connected. The goal of this concept is to allow people to approach environmental
information with some useful skepticism and knowledge.
According the theory of the Balance of Nature, ecological systems: - Answers -are
unchanging and constant
As stated by environmentalists, the increase in the human population rate is the main
source of all environmental problems. It is due: - Answers -to the fact that as more
people are added to the planet, the finite resources of the Earth become accessible to a
larger number of people. The population will consequently either use more resources or
reduce their per-person use
It is estimated that 66 to 100 million gigatons of carbon are stored in the ________ as
sedimentary rocks. - Answers -lithosphere
In ecology, a disturbance is a temporary change in average environmental conditions
that causes a pronounced change in an ecosystem. After this process, the first plants to
appear in the area are called _________. - Answers -pioneer species
What is one way we can start to achieve zero population growth? - Answers -
emphasize family planning
Low-severity fire is a _____________ to the landscape that encourages the
regeneration of vegetation, ecological succession and species re-establishment in some
ecosystems such as Ponderosa pine forests - Answers -distrubance
, The increasing concentration of the pesticide DDT around the Channel Islands in
southern California in the 1970s: - Answers -led to fish contamination that was passed
up the food chain to bald eagles, which resulted in thin-shelled eggs that broke easily.
The bald eagle then became an endangered species.
Dune grasses _________ succession on sand dunes. - Answers -facilitate
The ______________ is a measure of human demand on the Earth's ecosystems. It is
a standardized measure of demand for natural capital that may be contrasted with the
planet's ecological capacity to regenerate. - Answers -ecological footprint
The death of trees due to the incidence of disease or environmental problems is defined
as _________. - Answers -indirect deforestation
Migration of species over the land bridge between Siberia and Alaska during the last ice
age was stopped when the land bridge was covered by rising sea levels, and new
species evolved. This is an example of: - Answers -geographic isolation and divergent
evolution
The late-successional species are plant species that are tolerant to ____ levels of
irradiance but requires high levels of nutrients to grow. __________ can be cited as an
example of adaptation of late-successional species. - Answers -low, shade tolerance
Under what circumstances might you want to clear-cut a forest? - Answers -If the
species you want to plant grows in early successional stands.
Which of the following are TRUE about the Everglades Restoration Plan, the world's
largest environmental project on a wetland? I) Transformation of 35% of the Everglades
total area in rice cultivation lands, in order to maximize food production in the region; II)
Improvement of water quality, especially control of nutrients from agricultural and urban
areas; III) Creation of a hydroelectric power station in the area. The amount of energy
produced in this unit will be able to provide around 41% of the total energy consumed in
Florida State; IV) Enhancement and recovery of native and endangered species. -
Answers -II and IV
Place the following stages of succession in the correct order: I. Larger plants, including
trees, enter and begin to dominate the site. II. Small-statured and rapidly growing plants
with quickly spreading seeds appear. III. Development of a mature forest. I. Low-
growing vegetation that is specially adapted to unstable conditions move in and help to
stabilize the physical environment. - Answers -4, 2, 1, 3
In the evolution of species, patterns of speciation and extinction are least likely to be
affected by: - Answers -local changes in the weather
Plankton play a key role in the carbon cycle. They are responsible for what percentage
of CO2 removal from the atmosphere? - Answers -50%
How much of the earth's water is available for agricultural use? - Answers -<3%
The Chernobyl disaster released large quantities of radioactive particles into the
atmosphere, which spread all over the world. How long did it take for the radiation to
travel around the world? - Answers -3 days
The age of the Earth is based on evidence of radiometric age dating of meteorite
material and is consistent with the ages of the oldest-known terrestrial and lunar
samples. Approximately how old is the Earth - Answers -4.6 billion years
What might make solving environmental problems more challenging? - Answers -lag
time
What is environmental wisdom? - Answers -A concept that explains that the world is an
interconnected place; where both, humans and the natural environment are always
connected. The goal of this concept is to allow people to approach environmental
information with some useful skepticism and knowledge.
According the theory of the Balance of Nature, ecological systems: - Answers -are
unchanging and constant
As stated by environmentalists, the increase in the human population rate is the main
source of all environmental problems. It is due: - Answers -to the fact that as more
people are added to the planet, the finite resources of the Earth become accessible to a
larger number of people. The population will consequently either use more resources or
reduce their per-person use
It is estimated that 66 to 100 million gigatons of carbon are stored in the ________ as
sedimentary rocks. - Answers -lithosphere
In ecology, a disturbance is a temporary change in average environmental conditions
that causes a pronounced change in an ecosystem. After this process, the first plants to
appear in the area are called _________. - Answers -pioneer species
What is one way we can start to achieve zero population growth? - Answers -
emphasize family planning
Low-severity fire is a _____________ to the landscape that encourages the
regeneration of vegetation, ecological succession and species re-establishment in some
ecosystems such as Ponderosa pine forests - Answers -distrubance
, The increasing concentration of the pesticide DDT around the Channel Islands in
southern California in the 1970s: - Answers -led to fish contamination that was passed
up the food chain to bald eagles, which resulted in thin-shelled eggs that broke easily.
The bald eagle then became an endangered species.
Dune grasses _________ succession on sand dunes. - Answers -facilitate
The ______________ is a measure of human demand on the Earth's ecosystems. It is
a standardized measure of demand for natural capital that may be contrasted with the
planet's ecological capacity to regenerate. - Answers -ecological footprint
The death of trees due to the incidence of disease or environmental problems is defined
as _________. - Answers -indirect deforestation
Migration of species over the land bridge between Siberia and Alaska during the last ice
age was stopped when the land bridge was covered by rising sea levels, and new
species evolved. This is an example of: - Answers -geographic isolation and divergent
evolution
The late-successional species are plant species that are tolerant to ____ levels of
irradiance but requires high levels of nutrients to grow. __________ can be cited as an
example of adaptation of late-successional species. - Answers -low, shade tolerance
Under what circumstances might you want to clear-cut a forest? - Answers -If the
species you want to plant grows in early successional stands.
Which of the following are TRUE about the Everglades Restoration Plan, the world's
largest environmental project on a wetland? I) Transformation of 35% of the Everglades
total area in rice cultivation lands, in order to maximize food production in the region; II)
Improvement of water quality, especially control of nutrients from agricultural and urban
areas; III) Creation of a hydroelectric power station in the area. The amount of energy
produced in this unit will be able to provide around 41% of the total energy consumed in
Florida State; IV) Enhancement and recovery of native and endangered species. -
Answers -II and IV
Place the following stages of succession in the correct order: I. Larger plants, including
trees, enter and begin to dominate the site. II. Small-statured and rapidly growing plants
with quickly spreading seeds appear. III. Development of a mature forest. I. Low-
growing vegetation that is specially adapted to unstable conditions move in and help to
stabilize the physical environment. - Answers -4, 2, 1, 3
In the evolution of species, patterns of speciation and extinction are least likely to be
affected by: - Answers -local changes in the weather
