Unit 2.B

Question 1

Tropical rainforest characteristics

Answer 1

Decay occurs at slow rates
Poor nutrient soil
Warm temps throughout the year, lots of rain
Climbing or flying animals
Deforestation, overhunting, and farming

Question 2

Temperate Deciduous forest characteristics

Answer 2

Even rainfall all year
Warm/hot summers but cool/cold everytime else
High nutrients bc of falling leaves
Most altered biome

Question 3

Boreal Forest / Taiga characteristics

Answer 3

Regular rainfall throughout year
Very cold winters
High soil acidity and poor nutrients
Low plant diversity
Migratory birds

Question 4

Temperate Rainforest characteristics

Answer 4

Long, wet winters but short drier winters
Clay and sandy soils
High nutrient soils
Migrating animals or hibernation
Climate change

Question 5

Tropical Grassland (savanna) characteristics

Answer 5

Prolonged dry season
Hot summer, warm winters
Low minerals, high aluminum levels
Grasses die during dry season and return during wet

Question 6

Temperate grassland (prairie) characteristics

Answer 6

Hot summers, cool winters
Extremely nutrient rich
Grasses die in winter, flowers are fast growing to complete life cycle b4 winter

Question 7

Polar Grassland (arctic tundra) characteristics

Answer 7

Very cold
Organic matter is slow to decompose
Permafrost prevents snow/ice from permeating ground
Migrating mammals
Too cold for much human activity

Question 8

Chaparral (Mediterranean) characteristics

Answer 8

Dry summers, wet winters
Not very fertile
Seeds require burning
Deep roots
Animals adapted to dry conditions

Question 9

Desert characteristics

Answer 9

Rare precipitation
Slow nutrient cycle due to little bacterial activity
Takes decades to recover from disturbances
Nocturnal animals
Off-road vehicles, mining, oil drilling

Question 10

Storm water definition

Answer 10

Rain that has touched the ground

Question 11

Watershed definition

Answer 11

Areas of land where all the storm water washes to the same location

Question 12

Point source pollution definition

Answer 12

Emitted by a single, large output of pollution.

Question 13

Nonpoint source pollution definition

Answer 13

Emitted by a large number of small sources.

Question 14

Eutrophication definition

Answer 14

Addition of nutrients into a body of water

Question 15

Cultural eutrophication definition

Answer 15

Anthropogenic input of nutrients

Question 16

Dead zone definition

Answer 16

Areas of water with so little oxygen that so many things die or can’t live.
Low dissolved oxygen levels

Question 17

Turbidity def

Answer 17

How see-through water is

Question 18

Biological oxygen demand (BOD) definition

Answer 18

The amount of oxygen required by organisms in a water amount.

Question 19

Gray infrastructure definition

Answer 19

Traditional storm water management systems catch and move stormwater runoff towards a discharge point

Question 20

Low impact development (LID) definition.

Answer 20

Stormwater management approach that attempts to mimic the natural hydrologic cycle
Uses runoff on the site where it falls

Question 21

Urban sprawl definition

Answer 21

Low density development around cities and towns

Question 22

Urban heat island definition

Answer 22

Concentrated heat from cars, factories, light, AC, dark roofs, etc. In cities

Question 23

Smart growth definition

Answer 23

Collection of principles that address the negative impact of sprawl and encourage municipalities to manage growth and development better

Question 24

Abesto’s definition

Answer 24

Thin, fibrous silicate material used as insulator

Question 25

Carbon monoxide

Answer 25

Comes from broken exhaust systems on gas heaters, vehicles, generators, etc.

Question 26

Radon-222 def

Answer 26

From decay of naturally occurring uranium in rocks and soils Testing in basements

Question 27

Particulate matter definition

Answer 27

Majority are from natural sources and anthropogenic sources like tobacco and coal combustion

Question 28

VOCs def

Answer 28

Used in building materials. Has a pungent smell

Question 29

Formaldehyde definition

Answer 29

Type of VOC used in wood, boards, glues, etc. Suspected human carcinogen

Question 30

What is the biggest reason for endangered species

Answer 30

Habitat loss

Question 31

What is the edge effect

Answer 31

Warmer, dryer, and more variable conditions

Question 32

What is the theory of island biogeography

Answer 32

It describes the roles of island size and distance from mainland in determining species richness of a community.

Question 33

What does the theory of island biogeography say

Answer 33

Larger Islands closer to the mainland has an increase in species richness.

Question 34

Name an example of a buffer zone

Answer 34

Costa Rica

Question 35

What is a habitat corridor

Answer 35

It connects isolated reserves to maintain migration and movement of organisms within a larger habitat range

Question 36

What is an ecological hotspot

Answer 36

A region with particularly high levels of species richness or endemic species, experiencing serious degradation

Question 37

What is CITES

Answer 37

An agreement with 175 countries controlling international trade of threatened organisms

Question 38

What is the Endangered Species Act

Answer 38

The U.S. FWS determines species' status and protection, authorizes purchase of critical habitat, and development of recovery plans for each listed species

Question 39

What is the Nation Environment Policy Act

Answer 39

Ensures any gov agency to consider environmental impacts before starting a federal project. Requires environmental impact statements

Question 40

What is the Clean Zone on the Oxygen Sag Curve

Answer 40

High water quality High dissolved oxygen levels Low BOD demand

Question 41

What is the Decomposition Zone on the Oxygen Sag Curve

Answer 41

High BOD- spikes Algae bloom died or sewage added Dissolved oxygen levels drop Trash fish

Question 42

What is the Septic Zone on the Oxygen Sag Curve

Answer 42

Only decomposers, no fish Minimum of dissolved oxygen levels All anaerobic bacteria

Question 43

What is the Recovery Zone on the Oxygen Sag Curve

Answer 43

Trash fish Dissolved oxygen levels improve and increase BOD decreases