Chapter 23 Global Ecology

Question 1

The most abundant gas in earth’s atmosphere is ______.

Answer 1

nitrogen

Question 2

Organize the following layers of earth’s atmosphere in order from closest to earth’s surface at the bottom to farthest away from earth’s surface at the top.

Answer 2

thermo
meso
strato
tropo

Question 3

Earth’s atmosphere traps some outgoing radiation, allowing the surface of the earth to stay warm. This phenomenon is called the _____ effect

Answer 3

greenhouse

Question 4

Greenhouse gases ______ outgoing infrared radiation and radiate it back to the earth.

Answer 4

abosrb

Question 5

Of the solar energy shining on earth, about _____ % is reflected back into space.

Answer 5

30

Question 6

Put the following components of earth’s atmosphere (at the surface) in order from most abundant at the top to least abundant at the bottom. (Note: Not all components of the atmosphere are listed.)

Answer 6

nitrogen
oxygen
argon
carbon dioxide
ozone

Question 7

When the barometric pressure in the eastern Pacific Ocean declines, the barometric pressure in the western Pacific Ocean ______.

Answer 7

rises

Question 8

The ______ is the layer of earth’s atmosphere that has the highest concentrations of atmospheric gases. It begins right above the earth’s surface.

Answer 8

troposphere

Question 9

Gilbert Walker is credited for the identification of ______.

Answer 9

the southern oscillation

Question 10

Ozone in earth’s atmosphere ______.

Answer 10

reduces the amount of ultraviolet radiation that reaches earth’s surface

Question 11

Low values on the Southern Oscillation Index are associated with ______.

Answer 11

drought in australia and india

Question 12

Which of the following gases does not contribute to the greenhouse effect by absorbing outgoing infrared radiation?

Answer 12

nitrogen

Question 13

The Walker circulation pattern moves ______.

Answer 13

in the plane of the equator

Question 14

Most infrared radiation from the earth’s surface is absorbed by ______ gases in the atmosphere.

Answer 14

greenhouse

Question 15

Jacob Bjerknes is credited for connecting the Southern ______ with El Nino, giving a global perspective on weather patterns.

Answer 15

oscillations

Question 16

When the barometric pressure in the western Pacific Ocean increases, the pressure in the eastern Pacific Ocean decreases. This is an example of the phenomenon known as the Southern ______

Answer 16

oscillation

Question 17

During the mature phase of an El Niño event, ______.

Answer 17

precipitation in North and South America increases

Question 18

The British mathematician who identified the relationship between barometric pressure in the Pacific Ocean and monsoon rainfall in Asia is named Gilbert ______

Answer 18

walker

Question 19

During La Nina the ______.

Answer 19

western Pacific contains warmer than average seawater

Question 20

Any negative values on the Southern Oscillation Index indicate ______.

Answer 20

lower barometric pressure in the eastern Pacific Ocean

Question 21

The Walker circulation pattern is associated with ______.

Answer 21

warm air from the western Pacific rising and flowing eastward in the upper atmosphere

Question 22

Jacob Bjerknes is credited for ______.

Answer 22

connecting the Southern Oscillation with El Niño

Question 23

Which of the following is true concerning the mature phase of El Niño?

Answer 23

Droughts are common in the western Pacific.

Droughts may occur in Australia.

Barometric pressure decreases in the eastern Pacific

Question 24

The El Niño Southern Oscillation tends to have what effect on temperatures?

Answer 24

Temperatures increase in northern U.S., Canada, and Alaska.

Question 25

In North and South America, La Niña drought conditions are ______ prevalent than during El Niño.

Answer 25

more

Question 26

During El Niño, the normally ______ waters off the coast of South America become ______.

Answer 26

cool; warmer

Question 27

How did the El Niño event affect S. American fur seal populations?

Answer 27

Foraging time was increased for males and females.

Question 28

The 1982–1983 El Niño ______ precipitation levels in the Great Salt Lake basin.

Answer 28

increased

Question 29

Which of the following are correct concerning the effects of the 1982–1983 El Niño on the Great Salt Lake?

Answer 29

Grazing zooplankton numbers declined, resulting in a reduced grazing rate. Predaceous corixid bugs moved into the limnetic zone.

Question 30

During La Niñas, the northern United States, Canada, and Alaska typically experience _______ than average temperatures.

Answer 30

lower

Question 31

Under normal conditions, the salinity of the Great Salt Lake is ______.

Answer 31

approximately 3 times greater than seawater

Question 32

When El Niños ______ upwelling of nutrients, primary production ______.

Answer 32

decrease; decreases

Question 33

Phytoplankton biomass __ near the Galapagos Islands in response to the 1982–1983 El Niño. This caused a collapse up the food chain.

Answer 33

decreased

Question 34

The Great Salt Lake basin experienced _____ wet period(s) due to El Niños in the 1980s.

Answer 34

2

Question 35

The El Niño of 1982 to 1983 had what effect on the salinity of the Great Salt Lake?

Answer 35

It greatly reduced salinity allowing less salt tolerant species to invade.

Question 36

What occurred in the Great Salt Lake from 1987 to 1990?

Answer 36

Phytoplankton biomass decreased.

Question 37

The typical salinity of the Great Salt Lake ______.

Answer 37

limits the zooplankton species richness

Question 38

Graham Harrington's study of soil moisture and the survival of the narrow-leaf hopbush in Australia showed that survival ______.

Answer 38

increased with the La Niña side of the Southern Oscillation

Question 39

El Niño events are associated with ______ in the fish populations off the west coast of South America because of a related reduction in primary production.

Answer 39

declines

Question 40

The seabird populations of the Galapagos Islands ______ in response to the El Niño of 1982–1983.

Answer 40

experienced drastic declines in reproduction migrated north and south along South America

Question 41

The 1982–1983 El Niño ______ precipitation levels in the Great Salt Lake basin.

Answer 41

increased

Question 42

During wet years, female red kangaroos will often have a joey following her, a younger offspring in her _______, and a(n) ______ that will enter the pouch once it is vacated.

Answer 42

pouch embryo

Question 43

After water levels began to fall in 1987, approximately how many years did it take to reverse the changes in the Great Salt Lake following the El Niño of 1982–1983?

Answer 43

3

Question 44

Red kangaroo females will stop breeding ______.

Answer 44

when there is a severe and prolonged drought

Question 45

A study by Graham Harrington showed ______.

Answer 45

from 1884 to 1981, La Niña events were associated with widespread establishment of the narrow-leaf hopbush in Australia

Question 46

When Cairns and Grigg quantified how rainfall in southern Australia affected red kangaroo populations, they found an increase in population size associated with abundant rainfall that occurred from 1988 to ______ as a result of La Niña.

Answer 46

1989

Question 47

In the absence of human influences, nitrogen fixation is mostly carried out by free-living _____

Answer 47

bacteria

Question 48

Nitrogen-fixing crops, such as alfalfa and soybeans, fix about ______ Tg of nitrogen per year.

Answer 48

43

Question 49

Which of the following are characteristics of red kangaroos?

Answer 49

They occupy land in Australia that has occasional wet periods that alternate with severe droughts. Their reproductive cycle is tied to environmental conditions. They are the largest native herbivore in Australia.

Question 50

True or false: Over the past 100 years or so, human contributions to the global nitrogen cycle have become stable and unchanging.

Answer 50

false

Question 51

After a drought, red kangaroos will have young enter their pouches as soon as ____ after the first heavy rainfall.

Answer 51

60 days

Question 52

Seventy-five percent of the world's tropical forests occur in 10 countries. The largest single tract of tropical forest is in the country of _____

Answer 52

brazil

Question 53

When Cairns and Grigg quantified how rainfall in southern Australia affected red kangaroo populations, they found a(n) ______.

Answer 53

decline in population size associated with the 1982–1983 El Niño

Question 54

Landsat high-resolution images of the ______ Basin were analyzed by Skole and _____ to estimate deforestation rates.

Answer 54

amazon tucker

Question 55

Which of the following is not true concerning the nitrogen cycle in the absence of human manipulation?

Answer 55

Lightning has no effect on nitrogen fixation rates.

Question 56

Results of Skole and Tucker's work in the Amazon Basin estimated that deforestation occurred at a rate of ______ km2 per year from 1978 to 1988.

Answer 56

15,000

Question 57

Which of the following are sources of increased nitrogen fixation in the nitrogen cycle?

Answer 57

burning of fossil fuels planting of legumes fertilization of agricultural land

Question 58

When a forest is cut, the environmental changes that occur along the new borders of the forest are referred to as _____ effects.

Answer 58

edge

Question 59

When did industrial production of nitrogen-rich fertilizers begin?

Answer 59

Early 20th century

Question 60

In a study of the effects of fragmentation in the Amazon Basin, researchers worked with ranchers to develop fragmented tracts of forests and _______ tracts of forests of the same size to use as a comparison or control.

Answer 60

unfragmented

Question 61

Which country has the highest rate of tropical deforestation?

Answer 61

brazil

Question 62

When a small fragment of tropical forest is cut, the newly exposed edges are subject to higher levels of ______ radiation and wind.

Answer 62

solar

Question 63

Skole and Tucker estimated rates of deforestation in the Amazon Basin by ______.

Answer 63

using Landsat satellite photographic data

Question 64

Tropical forest fragmentation ______ the forest overstory and ______ the thickness of the understory.

Answer 64

decreases; increases

Question 65

Skole and Tucker's early 1990's estimate of deforestation rates in the Amazon basin were ______ than earlier estimates, including one done by the Brazilian government.

Answer 65

lower

Question 66

Edge effects ______.

Answer 66

isolate previously contiguous populations reduce habitat area occur when a forest tract is cut

Question 67

The estimated rate of global deforestation is approximately ______ km2 per year.

Answer 67

76,000

Question 68

Brazil's National Institute for Research in Amazonia and the ______ are responsible for a long-term study of forest fragmentation.

Answer 68

World Wildlife Fund

Question 69

Which of the following is not true?

Answer 69

Severe deforestation has only occurred in tropical forests.

Question 70

Which of the following is not true concerning changes that occur due to tropical forest fragmentation?

Answer 70

not true Temperatures along forest edges become cooler. true Forest edges are exposed to greater solar radiation. Areas along the forest edges are drier. Forest edges are exposed to higher winds.

Question 71

Scientists have reconstructed historic concentrations of CO2 in earth's atmosphere by analyzing ______.

Answer 71

air bubbles trapped in ice

Question 72

Physical changes due to forest fragmentation include a(n) ______ in animal diversity, including monkeys, birds, bees, and carrion and dung beetles.

Answer 72

decrease

Question 73

The Vostok ice core from around 160,000 years ago corresponds to a(n) ______ a period of low planetary temperatures.

Answer 73

ice age

Question 74

Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels ______.

Answer 74

were relatively unchanging from 1000 to mid 1700s

Question 75

True or false: Massive deforestation has occurred outside of the tropics in temperate and boreal regions.

Answer 75

true

Question 76

Much of the forested area in eastern North America was cut down by the mid- _____

Answer 76

1800

Question 77

Keeling and colleagues took measurements of present day carbon dioxide levels in the state of ______ that complement ice core data used to address changes in these levels.

Answer 77

hawaii

Question 78

Scientists from France and the former Soviet Union analyzed air _____ within glaciers (such as in Greenland and Antarctica) to determine historic atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.

Answer 78

bubbles

Question 79

True or false: World War I is associated with an increase in the burning of fossil fuels and corresponding increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.

Answer 79

false associated with a decline in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels because of a decline in global economic activity.

Question 80

The Vostok ice core revealed ______.

Answer 80

concentration of less than 200 ppm CO2 associated with an ice age

Question 81

Which of the following were used to determine historic atmospheric carbon dioxide levels over the past 1,000 years?

Answer 81

Mauna Loa direct measurements South Pole ice core Siple ice core

Question 82

If the burning of fossil fuels is contributing greatly to increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide, then the relative concentration of 14C in the atmosphere should be ______.

Answer 82

decreasing

Question 83

How does Keeling's data from Mauna Loa complement data from earlier ice core data on changes in carbon dioxide levels?

Answer 83

Data gathered from the Siple ice core and Mauna Loa independently established nearly identical CO2 levels. Two of the measurements Keeling's group made overlap the data gathered from the Siple ice core

Question 84

Overall, atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have ______ since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. This pattern changed temporarily during ______.

Answer 84

increased; the Great Depression

Question 85

Reduced atmospheric 14C levels that result from the burning of fossil fuels are called the _____ effect.

Answer 85

suess

Question 86

The amount of 14C in fossil fuels is ______ relative to amount in the atmosphere.

Answer 86

low

Question 87

Which is correct concerning stratospheric ozone?

Answer 87

It absorbs radiation associated with damaging living tissues. It absorbs ultraviolet light. It absorbs UV-B radiation.

Question 88

Chlorine released by the breakdown of _____ molecules results in the depletion of the ozone layer.

Answer 88

CFC

Question 89

As a result of the Montreal Protocol, global emissions of ______ have been reduced from 1 million tons annually to less than 50,000 tons in 2003.

Answer 89

CFCs

Question 90

Hans Suess described a(n) ______ in atmospheric 14C that is caused by ______.

Answer 90

decrease; burning of fossil fuels

Question 91

The ozone hole over the Antarctic, since its discovery in 1985, ______.

Answer 91

reached its maximum size in 2000

Question 92

Climate models predict global warming of about ______ over the next century.

Answer 92

2.6°C to 4.8°C

Question 93

In 1985, scientists discovered a(n) ______ in stratospheric ozone over ______.

Answer 93

decrease; Antarctica

Question 94

Identify examples of how ecosystems have already been affected by global climate change.

Answer 94

Forest ecosystems have experienced a greater frequency of wildfires. Coral reefs have experienced diebacks. Forests in temperate zones experienced dieback.

Question 95

CFCs ______.

Answer 95

broken down in the atmosphere ultimately cause ozone depletion were historically used as refrigerants contain carbon, chlorine, and fluorine

Question 96

What was the purpose of the Montreal Protocol?

Answer 96

Reduce and eliminate human-generated ozone-depleting chemicals.

Question 97

Identify predicted impacts of global climate change.

Answer 97

The severity of droughts will increase. The intensity of precipitation events will increase.

Question 98

After the discovery of the hole in the ozone layer in 1985 and changes to environmental policy, it is estimated that recovery of the stratospheric ozone layer will likely take another ______.

Answer 98

50 years or more

Question 99

During the past century, the average global temperature increased by about ______°C.

Answer 99

0.1

Question 100

The increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has ______.

Answer 100

resulted in a decrease in the pH of seawater

Question 101

Increased rainfall and flooding due to global climate change will likely cause ______.

Answer 101

an increase in waterborne diseases