Exam 2 Flashcards
Four ways that humans benefit from biodiversity.
Food and nutrition security - provide fruits, vegetables, and animal products.
Helps fight disease - plants are essential to make medications.
Provides livelihood - about 3 out of 4 jobs are focused on water, and the agriculture sectors employ about 60% of the poor working class.
Protects us - filter out water, regenerate the soil, and buffer us from natural disasters
Name at least three invasive species that live in your area. What are some of the problems they are causing? Is anything being done to control these species?
Moles: Dig up our yards and fields for planting and pasture that maintain livestock; local basis
Ticks: pass on disease to animals as well as human; on a local basis yes by vet or store
Wild Hogs: root up our gardens and fields, as well as pollute our creeks and streams; local basis, they are hunted to keep the population to a minimum
Flys: Land on livestock’s feces and then go to water sources and food and contaminate it; local basis, spray for them or put out poison
Compare and contrast an old-growth (primary) forest with a tree farm
Older Growth - dominated by old, big trees; absorbs the carbon dioxide and sequester carbon (May be limited in biodiversity, one species dominate the other that is not on purpose) Tree Farms - Are grown as even aged monoculture for timber production (monoculture on purpose) **Size, Diversity Need 4 compare and contrasts
Compare and contrast the two methods that are currently being used to preserve shortgrass prairies in Montana.
(1.) Grass-banking arrangement
(2.) Control weeds/experimenting with fire
Describe at least three methods that may be used in restoring streams. What is the main purpose of each method? List the benefits associated with each of these techniques.
(1.) Restore water supplies: “new start” rid of all wastes, pathogens/diseases
(2.) Rebuild stream: planting ground cover on uplands; filling gullies with rocks and brush, place barriers
(3.) Excavate or replace contaminated soil: pump water out or pump air into aquifers
What does the acronym ENSO stand for? Describe the weather patterns in the U.S. as a result of ENSO
El Niño/Southern Oscillation - during El Niño years, winds and currents weaken, and warm, low pressure conditions shift eastward, bringing storms to America
Describe the main anthropogenic source(s) and associated human health problem(s) for the following pollutants: lead, mercury, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, carbon and particulates.
(1.) Lead: toxic to nervous system
(2.) Mercury: cause nerve damage
(3.) Sulfur Dioxide: damages lungs (breathing in)
(4.) Carbon Monoxide: damages lungs (breathing in)
(5.) Carbon: risk of heart disease
(6.) Particulates: heart attacks, irregular heartbeat, aggravated asthma, decreased lung function, and coughing
Compare and contrast the effects of ozone in the stratosphere and troposphere.
Troposphere: reactive gasses, smog, and can cause health problems.
Stratosphere: good, shielding
After graduation, you are moving to southern California for a great job. You will need to change your water consumption habits because you have been living in an area with plenty of water and it has not been an issue. (Note: Use your own region if it is applicable.) Describe five things you can do to conserve water.
(1.) Dont flush every time you use the bathroom
(2.) Dont let the faucet run while you wash your hands
(3.) Dont water your lawn
(4.) Check your toilet, sinks, and other plumbing for leaks
(5.) Use water conserving appliances like low flow shower heads, toilet tank bowls and more
What is the Kyoto Protocol? Discuss its Pro and/or Con effect and role of the (U.S., Russia, China, etc.) governments, big business and individual citizens in meeting the standards set by the Kyoto Protocol.
Calls on the nation to roll back emissions of CO2, CH4, AND N20.
Kyoto Pros: Mitigates threat of future generations, room for innovation.
Kyoto Cons: Poor implementation, more participation.
The U.S. does not take part in the Kyoto Protocol. Russia does take part in the Kyoto Protocol
Compare and contrast the water diversion projects in China and California.
China: Water storage, flood control, dams, and electricity production.
California: rivers are drying up;destroying vegetation
Compare and contrast the cleanup and control of nonpoint and point sources of water pollution.
(1.) Non-point: runoff, hard to regulate
(2.) Point: easier to regulate, discharge pipes/sewer
Evaluate the costs and benefits (more than economic) of using coal, oil, and natural gas. In your evaluation, provide the pros and cons and the context in which each energy source would work best.
Coal:Easy to burn, produces high energy upon combustion.
Sale price: $31.83 per ton.
Oil: Easy availability, easy to produce/refine.
Sale price: $52.50 per barrel.
Natural Gas: cleanest fossil fuels, highly efficient.
Sale price: $2.50 per gallon.
Natural gas would be the best energy source to use because it is the most cost-effective, and it is the cleanest fossil fuel
A caller who wondered why no one was discussing nuclear power berated panelists discussing the problems of global warming on a radio show. How would you react to this caller? Make sure you provide at least three arguments that support your position.
I believe I would react calmly stating that nuclear power is easier said than done basically even though it has better benefits.
(1.) Radiation
(2.) Doesn’t contain greenhouse gasses
(3.) Difficult to destroy
Describe the best energy source option(s) for a rural area in a tropical developing country with no coastal access. Be sure you support why this is the best energy source for the area.
Wind would probably be the best option for this location. With the location being in the tropics, there would not be enough sunlight for solar panels due to the amount of trees that are in this type of environment. As for water, since they are not located near a costal area they don’t have water to use water as an energy source. So the best option would probably be wind turbines.
