EXAM-
Section 1: Multiple-
Choose the best answer for questions 1–
1. Primary production is an example of
an ecosystem service.
an environmental indicator.
heterotrophic activity.
I only
II only
I and II
II and III
I, II, and III
2. Which of the following is likely to increase biodiversity within a biome?
Landscape fragmentation
Introduction of an invasive species
Immigration of humans
Speciation
A disease epidemic
3. The United States produces 8 million tons of oranges in a single year. However, many orange crops are succumbing to a deadly invasive bacteria. If 10,000 hectares of orange cropland are lost in a year to this bacteria, and a single acre can produce 20 tons of oranges, what percentage of the total orange crop is lost to the disease in a year? (Note that 1 hectare = 2.5 acres.)
2 percent
6 percent
10 percent
20 percent
24 percent
Questions 4 and 5 refer to the following experiment:
A group of scientists wanted to test the effects of increased greenhouse gas concentrations on plant growth. They hypothesized that elevated levels of CO2 would increase plant biomass after 2 weeks, whereas elevated levels of N2O and CH4 would have no effect. To test this hypothesis, they placed red maple (Acer rubrum) tree saplings in incubators, and then subjected each sapling to one of three treatments. The treatments included 10 ppm of CO2, N2O, or CH4 gas above ambient concentrations. Each treatment had four replicates. After 2 weeks, they measured plant biomass.
4. Which is a flaw of this experiment?
The experiment lacks a control treatment.
10 ppm is a negligible increase of CO2 relative to ambient concentrations.
The hypothesis is actually a null hypothesis.
The measured response variable does not relate to the hypothesis.
N2O gas is not a greenhouse gas.
5. As hypothesized, the researchers found that plants exposed to elevated CO2 had increased biomass after 2 weeks, whereas plants exposed to elevated N2O and CH4 did not exhibit any change in biomass. Which would be a deductive statement based solely on these results?
Elevated levels of CO2 are due to global climate change.
Reduced levels of CO2 due to global climate change will decrease red maple production.
An observed increase in red maple production is probably due to elevated levels of CO2.
Increases in red maple production in nature are probably not due to elevated levels of N2O or CH4.
CH4 and N2O are not likely to be biologically important greenhouse gases for tree growth.
6. During the nuclear fission process, the transformation between a parent and daughter isotope involves
the creation of ionic bonds.
a release of neutrons and energy.
an increase in total energy.
the transformation of chemical energy to potential energy.
the transformation of heat energy to kinetic energy.
7. Which group of compounds is listed in order of increasing pH?
OH−, H2O, CaCO3
CaCl, LiCl, HCl
NaOH, BaO, OH−
NaOH, H2O, H2SO4
HF, NaCl, NaOH
8. You have installed a solar-
3
10
22
32
45
EXAM-
9. Which of the following is involved in generating electricity through nuclear fission?
A positive feedback loop
Creation of chemical energy
Release of kinetic energy
I only
II only
III only
I and II
I and III
10.Calculate the energy efficiency of converting coal into heated water if the efficiency of turning coal into electricity is 35 percent, the efficiency of transporting the electricity is 90 percent, and the efficiency of hot water heaters is 90 percent.
10 percent
17 percent
28 percent
32 percent
60 percent
Question 11 refers to the following graphs:
11.According to the intermediate disturbance hypothesis, which graph best represents the effects of predator density (x axis) on prey species richness (y axis)?
i
ii
iii
iv
v
12.Which describes a key difference between photosynthesis and aerobic respiration?
Photosynthesis generates organic compounds whereas aerobic respiration generates inorganic compounds.
Photosynthesis releases energy whereas aerobic respiration consumes energy.
Photosynthesis uses energy derived from external sources whereas aerobic respiration uses energy derived from internal sources.
Aerobic respiration has a higher energy efficiency than photosynthesis.
Photosynthesis consumes chemical energy whereas aerobic respiration generates chemical energy.
13.In an acre of grassland, net primary productivity is best measured as
carbon taken up by plants in sunlight plus carbon released by plants in the dark.
carbon taken up by plants in sunlight.
aboveground biomass of plants.
aboveground and belowground biomass of plants.
carbon taken up by plants in sunlight minus carbon released by plants in the dark.
14.Ocean acidification represents a key component of the
nitrogen cycle.
hydrologic cycle.
phosphorus cycle.
carbon cycle.
sulfur cycle.
15.Which would best estimate the resilience of a forest ecosystem?
Measurement of tree biomass once before and immediately after a forest fire.
Measurement of tree biomass once before a drought and annually for the decade following the drought.
Measuring LD50 values in various herbivores exposed to a common herbicide.
Daily measurement of stream discharge and sediment loads.
Measurement of net primary productivity before and after the introduction of an invasive herbivore.
16.When does the South Pole experience 24 hours of sunlight per day?
From the March equinox to the September equinox
From the September equinox to the March equinox
Only on the March and September equinoxes
Only on the December and June solstices
From the December solstice to the June solstice
EXAM-
17.Heavy precipitation over the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) and the windward side of mountain ranges are both caused by
the Coriolis effect.
prevailing winds.
adiabatic heating.
reduced air pressure.
the El Niño–
18.Which of the following is NOT true regarding an El Niño–
An ENSO event relies on thermohaline circulation.
An ENSO event brings warmer air temperatures to South America.
Glacial melting could eliminate thermohaline circulation.
An ENSO event typically starts around Christmas.
ENSO events are driven by a reversal of trade winds.
Question 19 refers to the following graph:
19.Which biome does this graph represent?
Boreal forest
Temperate rainforest
Temperate grassland
Temperate seasonal rainforest
Tropical seasonal forest
20.The limnetic zone is defined as the area of a lake where
algae and emergent plants grow.
sunlight does not reach.
nutrient levels are primarily oligotrophic.
the thermocline exists.
phytoplankton are the only photosynthetic organisms.
Question 21 refers to the following table, which contains the number of different spider species found in a survey of 1-
Gardens | |||||
A | B | C | D | E | |
Grass spider | 2 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
Orb weaver | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | |
Jumping spider | 8 | 3 | 4 | ||
Wolf spider | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
Sac spider | 7 | 3 | 2 |
21.Which garden has the highest Shannon’s Index?
Garden A
Garden B
Garden C
Garden D
Garden E
22.Which of the following is NOT a key idea of Darwin’s theory of natural selection?
Individuals differ in their phenotypes.
Differences in traits can be passed on from parents to offspring.
The genotype of an organism determines its phenotype.
Not all offspring can survive.
Differences in traits are associated with differences in the ability to survive and reproduce.
23._____ is a change in the genetic composition of a population as a result of descending from a small number of colonizing individuals.
The founder effect
Inbreeding depression
Gene flow
The bottleneck effect
Genetic drift
24.Which human activity is most likely to decelerate the pace of evolution?
Monocropping corn of the same genotype
Fragmenting habitat
Overharvesting fisheries
Enforcing size limits on hunting
Connecting lakes through an artificial canal
EXAM-
25.Over long time periods, global climate change may change the ___________ of a species.
realized niche
fundamental niche
extinction rate
I only
II only
I and II
I and III
I, II, and III
26.Which is least likely to affect the carrying capacity of a habitat for a particular species?
Abundance of a limiting nutrient
Limited food
Density-
Abundance of competing species
Population distribution
27.Suppose that a population of squirrels can increase by 70 percent each year under ideal conditions. For a population of 30 squirrels living in a temperate forest, what is the most likely number of squirrels after 3 years of population growth?
30 × e0.5 × 3
30 × e0.7 × 3
70 × e30 × 3
0.7 × e30 × 3
0.5 × e30 × 3
28.Which is a requirement for the existence of a metapopulation?
A system of habitat corridors that link individual populations
The presence of both r- and K-selected species
Variation in the size of individual populations
I only
II only
I and II
II and III
I, II, and III
29.Which is NOT true regarding keystone species?
Keystone species can be mutualists with other species.
Keystone species are often rare individuals in a community.
Keystone species are most likely to be commensalists.
Keystone species can be highly lethal to several species in a community.
Keystone species may interact with only a single other species.
30.During the last ice age, glaciers covered much of the higher latitudes in North America. Considering the factors that influence the diversity of a community, which of the following is probably NOT true?
At northern latitudes, genetic diversity of a given fish species is greater than at southern latitudes.
At northern latitudes, large lakes contain more fish species than small lakes.
At northern latitudes, large lakes have larger populations of each species than small lakes.
At northern latitudes, large lakes have experienced fewer species extinctions than small lakes.
At northern latitudes, small lakes were colonized by new species faster than large lakes.
31.In 2012, there were 2 births per 100 people and 5 deaths per 1,000 people in Peru. What is the approximate doubling time of Peru’s population? Assume equal rates of immigration and emigration.
5 years
15 years
47 years
72 years
86 years
32.Which is most likely to be the replacement-
1.8
2.0
2.2
3.0
3.5
33.Which is most likely to result in an increase in pollution?
An increase in GDP
Switching from inland to offshore oil drilling
A shift from subsistence energy sources to natural gas
An increase in affordable health care
An increase in the use of family planning
34.A population with an age distribution shaped like a pyramid
exhibits a stable population size.
is likely to exhibit a high population momentum.
has a high crude birth rate.
I only
III only
I and II
I and III
II and III
EXMA-
35.The four factors represented in the IPAT equation include
impact on the environment, population size, affluence, and total fertility rate.
infant mortality rate, population size, affluence, and total fertility rate.
impact on the environment, population size, affluence, and technology.
industry, population growth, architecture, and technology.
industry, population growth, affluence, and technology.
36.Divergent plate boundaries are responsible for creation of new rock
along transform fault boundaries.
at the bottom of the ocean.
through volcanic activity.
above geological hotspots.
adjacent to subduction zones.
37.Which of the following statements about earthquakes is NOT true?
An earthquake of magnitude 8.0 on the Richter scale occurs about once every year.
Earthquakes occur when rocks of the asthenosphere rupture along a fault.
Earthquakes are most common along fault zones.
The Ring of Fire describes a geological circle on Earth where earthquakes are likely to occur.
An earthquake of magnitude 4 on the Richter scale is 100 times greater than an earthquake of magnitude 2.
38.Which contributes to the physical weathering of rocks?
Acid rain
Burial in sediment
Volcanic activity
Growth of plant roots
Deposition
39.A field containing soil that is 60 percent clay can hold a tremendous amount of nutrients but often has poor crop growth. What is the most likely explanation for this phenomenon?
Excessive concentrations of nutrients in soil can become toxic to many types of plants.
Clay can hold heavy metals that are toxic to plants.
Soil that is 60 percent clay can deprive plant roots of oxygen.
The base saturation of clay soil is too high for most plants.
Earthworms are unable to penetrate clay soils.
40.Which type of mining is potentially the most harmful to human health?
Open-
Mountaintop removal
Strip mining
Subsurface mining
Placer mining
41.Saltwater intrusion is likely to occur when
a cone of depression is created near a coastal ecosystem.
humans drill into a confined aquifer near the coast.
farmers irrigate their crops with an excess of saline water.
an artesian well is created near the coast.
the soil near a coastline allows for rapid water drainage.
42.The Dead Sea, which lies on the border between Jordan and Israel, is one of the saltiest lakes on Earth. Suppose you are a geologist exploring the area. What geological factors would you expect to see that might explain this salinity?
High concentrations of uranium in or around the Dead Sea.
Lack of outlets for water to escape
Relatively impermeable soil at the bottom of the lake
I only
II only
III only
I and II
II and III
43.Which is a positive externality that results from the construction of a hydroelectric dam?
Construction of a fish ladder to help migrating fish pass the dam
Millions of fish killed when they are sucked into the dam turbines
Creation of valuable lake shoreline that promotes housing and tourism
Loss of seasonal flooding that promotes downstream fish diversity
Changes in the temperature profile of the river before and after the dam
44.Which of the following describes a limitation of drip irrigation systems?
Drip irrigation requires far more work for annual crops than perennial crops.
Drip irrigation is efficient, but encourages weed growth.
When considering the total cost of materials and water, drip irrigation is one of the most expensive irrigation methods.
Drip irrigation cannot supply sufficient water for most types of crops.
Drip irrigation uses a tremendous amount of energy.
EXAM-
45.Which represents water consumption at a power plant?
The plant withdraws cold water from a stream and later returns warm water to the stream.
The plant contaminates water with by-
The plant withdraws cold water from a stream and later releases water vapor from a cooling tower.
In the plant, water passes through a hydroelectric turbine.
Water is condensed after it has been converted to steam.
46.Which is NOT likely to lead to a tragedy of the commons?
Power plants emitting air pollution
Farmers siphoning water from a county aqueduct for irrigation
Office staff using a common coffee machine
A ranch charging farmers to board their horses
Eliminating laws that regulate permits for sport hunting
Question 47 refers to the following graph:
47.The graph shows the population growth of bighorn sheep through time for a 10-
0
10
30
35
45
48.Which of the following is NOT an outcome of a prescribed forest burn?
Dead biomass is retained in the forest.
Nutrients in dead material are liberated for primary producers.
The risk of forest fires is minimized.
Habitat is provided for early-
The burning of the forest can stimulate the growth of other plant species.
49.Exurban communities are similar to
urban communities with low population densities.
suburban communities with low population densities.
suburban communities not connected to any central city.
urban communities whose services are no longer funded by a major city’s government.
urban communities that are now converted into suburbs.
50.One U.S. city recently held a town hall meeting to decide on the best way to address growing problems of urban sprawl. Several suggestions were considered. Which of the following suggestions does NOT follow the EPA’s principles of smart growth?
Fund individual communities within the city to develop a theme that makes each community distinct from adjacent neighborhoods.
Provide public transportation for routes that circle the city in order to encourage driving of personal cars within the city.
Involve neighborhood residents in making decisions regarding regulation of local services and development of new infrastructure.
Develop apartments and condominiums in the same areas.
Avoid the development of businesses in green spaces.
51.Which contributes significantly to obesity in the United States?
Insufficient access to vegetables due to diversion of crops for animal feed
Lack of nutritional information
High availability of inexpensive food with low nutrient content
High rates of iron deficiency among people
High caloric expenditure among people
52.To produce 10,000 kg of cattle, a farmer uses 50 acres of corn as cattle feed. If a single acre produces 4,000 kg of corn, what is the energy subsidy of beef? Assume mass can be used as a substitute for energy.
0.4
2.5
20
80
200
EXAM-
53.Which of the following describes how intercropping alters the ecology of a farm?
Intercropping increases the carrying capacity of insect herbivores more than monocropping.
Intercropping promotes plant mutualisms.
Relative to monocropping, intercropping increases the prevalence of disease outbreaks among crops.
I only
II only
III only
I and II
I, II, and III
54.Which of the following statements about no-
No-
No-
Organic farms are less likely to use no-
No-
No-
55.Which provides protection against the risks that genetically modified crops pose to global crop biodiversity?
No-
Integrated pest management
Broad-
Use of a pesticide treadmill
Buffer zones around crops
Question 56 refers to the following table:
Fuel source | EROEI |
Biodiesel | 1 |
Liquid petroleum | 20 |
Ethanol from corn | 2 |
Ethanol from sugarcane | 5 |
Natural gas | 10 |
56.All of the fuel sources listed in the table can be used in personal vehicles. Assuming that each vehicle achieves approximately the same MJ per passenger-
Biodiesel
Liquid petroleum
Ethanol from corn
Ethanol from sugarcane
Natural gas
57.The typical home in the United States uses 1.25 kW of electricity. One wind farm has 50 wind turbines, each of which produces 2 MW of electricity when the wind is blowing. If the capacity factor of the wind farm is 0.2, how many homes can this wind farm supply with energy?
10,000
16,000
21,000
22,400
25,100
58.Which two nonrenewable energy sources are typically extracted together?
Liquid coal and oil sands
Petroleum and oil sands
Petroleum and coal
Petroleum and natural gas
Uranium and coal
59.Which statement best explains why overall energy use has remained relatively constant even though energy intensity has decreased?
We are nearing the peak of the Hubbert curve.
The average number of electrical devices per human has increased steadily.
Power plants are becoming more efficient and are now producing more electricity.
We have switched to less energy intense forms of fossil fuels that have a smaller impact on the environment.
We continue to find more oil reserves, so the supply of energy has increased while demand has remained relatively steady.
60.In the following equation, which describes the fission of uranium, what do i, ii, and iii represent?
i + 235Uranium → ii + 91Krypton + iii
1 neutron, 142Boron, heat energy
1 neutron, 142Barium, 135Cesium
1 neutron, 142Barium, kinetic energy
Kinetic energy, 142Boron, potential energy
Potential energy, 142Barium, kinetic energy
61.Which of the following will NOT result in energy savings?
Increasing insulation of walls and ceilings in a residence
Replacing LED bulbs with CFL bulbs
Using a passive solar design in the construction of a new building
Installing sensors to turn off lights when a room is vacant
Implementing a financial incentive to encourage less driving
EXAM-
62.Biomass is created through the conversion of __________ energy into _________ energy, which can then be used to generate electricity. In contrast, tidal energy involves the conversion of _________ energy into electricity.
Kinetic/potential/mechanical
Chemical/potential/potential
Solar/ kinetic/potential
Chemical/kinetic/kinetic
Solar/chemical/kinetic
63.Concentrated solar thermal systems implement
active solar technology.
photovoltaic cell technology.
passive solar technology.
smart grid technology.
Energy Star appliances.
64.Which of the following factors should NOT be considered when determining the EROEI of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles?
Efficiency of isolating hydrogen from water or natural gas
By-
Energy produced by the reaction between hydrogen and oxygen
Efficiency of electric engines
Energy required to compress or liquefy hydrogen for transport
65.The primary purpose of a smart grid is to
improve the efficiency of energy production.
improve the efficiency of energy transportation through power lines.
improve the capacity factor of power plants.
streamline energy distribution and reduce excess energy capacity on electrical grids.
generate more affordable energy for consumers.
66.In the northeastern United States, during what time(s) of the year are lakes located near agricultural fields in temperate ecosystems most likely to experience the highest biochemical oxygen demand?
Throughout the entire growing season
Primarily during the spring
Primarily during the summer
Throughout the year
During the fall
67.You want to conduct a natural experiment to test whether leakage from a manure lagoon has an adverse effect on a nearby stream. What is an appropriate null hypothesis for your experiment?
There will be a higher abundance of an indicator species in the stream before the lagoon began leaking than after it began leaking.
There will be a higher evenness of an indicator species in the stream before the lagoon began leaking than after it began leaking.
There will be a lower abundance of an indicator species in the stream before the lagoon began leaking than after it began leaking.
There will be no difference in the abundance of phytoplankton in the stream before the lagoon began leaking and after it began leaking.
There will be no difference in the abundance of an indicator species in the stream before the lagoon began leaking and after it began leaking.
68.Which of the following minerals is ultimately responsible for the yellow color of streams that drain from abandoned mines?
Salt
Pyrite rock
Aluminum
Coal
Sulfur
69.Which of the following is NOT an example of a consequence of biomagnification?
Incidences of human cancer associated with spraying crops with pesticides
Formation of ovaries in male fish
Suffocation of fish as a result of inert pesticide ingredients
Thinning of bird egg shells
Increasing concentrations of iron at higher levels of a food chain
70.A group of researchers monitored the health of all streams and rivers in a single watershed. Several streams in a part of the watershed were found to have a high content of silt, large boulders, and a low diversity of insects and fish. What would be the most direct inference from this description?
Most of the sediment load in the stream is probably from a natural source.
The surrounding area probably has a high amount of impervious surface.
The primary cause of low insect and fish diversity is industrial pollution.
There is probably a high biochemical oxygen demand in the benthos of the stream.
The streams have very low resilience.
EXAM-
71.Atmospheric brown cloud results from a combination of
primary and secondary pollutants.
PM2.5 and O3.
volatile organic compounds and O3.
I only
II only
III only
I and II
II and III
72.Which location has been experiencing greater amounts of acid rain in recent years?
The central United States and the Mississippi River
The West Coast of the United States
The northeastern United States
Areas east of the Rocky Mountains
The southeastern United States
Question 73 refers to the following figure:
73.One city recently conducted a multiyear survey of the percentage of various atmospheric pollutants from commercial and industrial practices. Based on the pie charts, what practice was most likely implemented between 2010 and 2011?
The city instituted a cap-
Several power plants reduced the temperature at which fuel was combusted.
Automobile use was limited by enforcing a toll on major roadways.
The city began enforcing policies that mandated every car have a working catalytic converter.
Power plants began installing electrostatic precipitators in their smokestacks.
74.Identify i, ii, iii, and iv in the following equations, which show the interaction between CFCs and ozone:
i + ii → 2O
iii + CFC → iv + O2
UV-
UV-
UV-
O2, CFC, O3, ClO
UV-
75.The release of radon-
the use of asbestos in building insulation.
radioactive decay of uranium and polonium-
the use of granitic rock in construction material.
the use of electronic equipment, such as copy machines.
poor ventilation in buildings.
76.More than half of the material in the solid waste stream that is recovered before ending up in a landfill or incinerator is
yard waste.
paper products.
plastic products.
glass products.
food scraps.
77.Which statement regarding composting is NOT true?
Composting can be a way to divert material from the landfill.
Efficient composting requires the material to be mixed frequently.
Composting produces a substantial amount of carbon dioxide.
Efficient composting requires an abundance of anaerobic bacteria.
Meat and dairy products are typically not composted.
EXAM-
Questions 78–
In one particular landfill that has been capped, 80 percent of the annual precipitation runs off without infiltrating the surface. The remaining 20 percent infiltrates and leaches through the soil. There is no leachate collection system, so any water that infiltrates the surface eventually enters the groundwater. Suppose that this 50-
78.What is the concentration of aluminum in the water that leaches from the landfill?
20 mg/L
25 g/L
25 mg/L
250 mg/L
2,500 g/L
79.To determine the effect of aluminum leachate on human health, researchers conducted a series of toxicity tests on rats. They found 20 percent mortality among rats given water containing 2 g/L of aluminum, 50 percent mortality among rats given water containing 5 g/L of aluminum, and 90 percent mortality of rats given water containing 10 g/L of aluminum. What is the safe concentration of aluminum in drinking water for humans?
2 mg/L
5 mg/L
20 mg/L
50 mg/L
500 mg/L
80.As one moves away from the landfill, the concentration of aluminum in the groundwater decreases by half every 1 km of distance due to adsorption of aluminum by soil and groundwater dilution. At what minimum distance from the landfill would it be safe to drink the groundwater?
1 km
3 km
10 km
15 km
20 km
81.Which statement best describes the difference between the Superfund and Brownfield programs?
Superfund sites are currently hazardous to human health whereas Brownfields are potentially hazardous to humans in the future.
Superfund sites are limited to cities whereas Brownfields can occur in both urban and rural locations.
The Superfund program only funds the cleanup of wastes deemed hazardous under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, whereas the Brownfield program funds the cleanup of all hazardous wastes.
Superfund sites are generally reclaimed for human uses (e.g., recreation) whereas Brownfields are cleaned but never reclaimed.
Superfund sites are federally funded and reserved for locations with high public health risk whereas Brownfields are state funded and designated in less hazardous locations.
82.Which of the following is NOT likely to provide an incentive for a township to initiate a recycling program?
Tipping fees that exceed the value of recycled goods
A stable demand, but low supply of recycled cardboard
Construction of a landfill with a low tipping fee
Initiation of an integrated waste management program
Initiation of an upcycling program
83.The majority of emergent infectious diseases arise
when people generate resistant bacteria by not completing antibiotic dosages.
when a disease unexpectedly jumps from an animal to human host.
from prion mutations.
from consumption of uncooked meat.
from sexual transmission.
84.Which could be a set of treatment and control groups for a retrospective study on the effects of endocrine disruptors on humans?
A group of farmers that are planning to spray crops with atrazine and a group of farmers that are planning to use organic pesticides
A group of construction workers that have been exposed to asbestos and a group of construction workers that have been exposed to PCBs
A group of children with mothers exposed to PCBs during pregnancy and a group of children who were exposed to DDT after they were born
Members of a town that was downwind of a commercial farm that sprayed pesticides and members of a town that was downwind of an organic farm
Humans raised when DDT was used and humans raised after DDT was no longer used
EXAM-
85.Which of the following is an application of the innocent-
Policies enacted as a result of the Stockholm Convention
Allowing the use of a pesticide that has a low risk to human health
Banning the use of certain nanoparticles until further research has assessed their risk to human health
Dividing the LD50 of a chemical by 1,000 to determine safe levels of human consumption
Laws that permit the sale of drugs for human use only if the drug has been tested for toxicity
86.After spraying pesticide on his crops, a farmer notices that the population of amphibians in a nearby wetland has begun to decrease. The concentration of pesticide in the water is well below the LD50 value for amphibians. Based on this information, which is the most likely explanation for the decrease in amphibian population?
There was a lack of nearby source populations to recolonize the wetland.
There were synergistic interactions between the pesticide and environmental factors.
An emerging infectious disease was killing susceptible individuals.
The pesticide does not biomagnify in the amphibians.
Wetland conditions allowed for a longer persistence time of the pesticide than laboratory studies revealed.
87.Suppose it was discovered that the genetic diversity of a bacteria species responsible for disease in mice was declining. What is a likely outcome(s) of this decline?
Loss of ecosystem resilience
Increase in disease prevalence
Loss of regulating services
II only
III only
I and II
I and III
I, II, and III
88.Which is NOT associated with smaller habitat sizes?
A decrease in genetic diversity
A decrease in edge habitat
Lower resiliency
Loss of habitat diversity
Faster extinction rates
89.Which agreement regulates the shipping of endangered or threatened species within the United States?
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
The Lacey Act
The Endangered Species Act
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
National Environmental Policy Act
90.The Galápagos Islands, located off the coast of Ecuador, contain a rich diversity of endemic plants and animals. Several of the islands are entirely off-
A wildlife refuge
A national park
A biosphere reserve
Multiple-
A managed resource protection area
91.Which is true of invasive species?
Invasive species are defined as species that come from other countries.
By definition, all exotic species are invasive.
All invasive species spread rapidly.
Invasive species typically have few ecological interactions.
Invasive species must come from another continent.
92.Which is NOT true regarding greenhouse gases?
Greenhouse gases with high global warming potential persist in the atmosphere for tens to hundreds of years.
Greenhouse gases absorb infrared radiation reflected by Earth’s surface.
Greenhouse gases with high warming potential include compounds derived from both natural and anthropogenic sources.
Some greenhouse gases filter out harmful ultraviolet radiation.
Greenhouse gases that contribute to warming of Earth are located in the stratosphere.
93.Where is denitrification NOT likely to occur?
Topsoil of freshly tilled croplands
Sediments of a deep lake
Well-
Compacted, wet soils under cattle farms
Recently flooded cropland
EXAM-
Question 94 refers to the following graph:
94.The graph shows average CO2 concentrations during each season for two countries from 2009 to 2010. Based only on the information in the graph, which statement best explains what the graph shows?
Country B has higher per-
Country B experiences warmer fall and winter temperatures than country A.
Average CO2 concentrations for country A are increasing relative to average concentrations for country B.
Country B experiences higher levels of spring and summer primary production.
Country B is more industrial than country A.
95.Which phenomenon is part of a negative feedback with regard to global warming?
Increased absorption of atmospheric CO2 by the ocean
Methane production from peatland decomposition
Increased evapotranspiration from plant growth
CO2 release from forest fires during dry spells
Reduced albedo resulting from melting ice
96.Which statement is NOT true regarding U.S. carbon emission output and politics?
The United States was the only developed nation that did not sign the Kyoto protocol.
Total carbon emissions in the United States have increased over the past two decades.
A switch from coal to natural gas has led to a major decrease in carbon emissions.
The U.S. EPA is legally required to regulate greenhouse gases.
Total carbon emissions in the United States have decreased since 2007.
Question 97 refers to the following figure:
97.Where will the equilibrium point be if demand for a good increases, and the negative environmental externalities are internalized into the price of the good?
i
ii
iii
iv
v
98.In the United States, which organization is most likely to address issues related to sick building syndrome in the work environment?
EPA
OSHA
DOE
WHO
UNDEP
99.Which of the following are incentive-
Cap-
Green taxes
Required reclamation of open-
I only
II only
III only
I and II
II and III
100.Which is most likely to discourage environmental inequity?
NIMBY politics
Higher carbon emissions in developed nations
Technology transfer
Racial segregation
A higher abundance of landfills in economically poor areas
Section 2: Free-
EXAM-
Write your answer to each part clearly. Support your answers with relevant information and examples. Where calculations are required, show your work.
1. The City of Philadelphia recently replaced one out of every 10 trash bins with solar-
Describe four positive externalities of installing solar-
Describe six cradle-
Suggest one way that the installation of solar-
The price of a regular trash bin is $300, and it has a lifespan of 20 years. The price of a solar-
Describe two ways that you might determine if solar-
2. The country of Costa Rica has an abundance of climactic, geographic, and biological diversity. However, in the last century intensive farming and population growth have led to a 75 percent reduction in its forests. In the 1980s, the government of Costa Rica began to address concerns about the loss of forest with a series of political and environmental programs. These programs, designed to generate more sustainable economic development, include land protection and conservation of biodiversity.
Costa Rica lies just north of the equator and contains a series of mountain ranges that run the entire length of the country.
Given its geographic location, what is likely to be the prevailing wind pattern across the country? (1 point)
Describe how mountain ranges contribute to the climactic, geographic, and biological diversity observed in Costa Rica. (1 point)
Given that Costa Rica is bordered by the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, how are weather patterns in the country likely to be affected by the El Niño–
Describe four ecosystem services that are provided through the protection of land and how the Costa Rican government may profit from each of them. (4 points)
To promote economic sustainability, a large proportion of land was protected through debt-
EXAM-
3. To fully understand how inorganic and organic material flows through ecosystems, environmental scientists often create energy and nutrient budgets. These budgets are similar to a financial budget that you might create for yourself; just as you account for money that goes into and out of a bank account, environmental scientists account for energy and nutrients that flow into and out of an ecosystem. Understanding energy and nutrient budgets for farmlands is particularly useful, because it allows farmers to improve crop yield and farm sustainability. However, accounting for all inputs and outputs is often very difficult.
List three possible inputs and three outputs of organic material to a cropland. (2 points)
List three possible inputs and three outputs of inorganic material to a cropland. (2 points)
Define gross primary productivity (GPP) and describe how a farmer could measure GPP on a cropland. (2 points)
For most crop species, farmers only harvest aboveground primary production. All belowground plant material is left to decompose.
Describe the processes of ammonification and dentrification. (2 points)
Discuss how the spraying of fungicides might alter the nitrogen budget of a farmland. (2 points)
4. On April 26, 1986, a series of power surges occurred during a routine systems test at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Russia. These surges resulted in the most catastrophic nuclear accident in history, and released 80 petabecquerel of radioactive material on 200,000 km2 of surrounding land (1 petabecquerel = 1015 becquerel). This created an immediate, severe, and lasting health hazard for humans and wildlife. Although most wildlife died without producing viable offspring, a recent press release suggested that animals may be adapting to low levels of chronic radiation:
Exposure to radiation generates health problems through the formation of free radicals that damage DNA and other organic molecules. Twenty-
Describe the processes that could have led to changes in antioxidant production in birds around Chernobyl. (2 points)
Define the bottleneck effect, describe how it may apply to wildlife populations around Chernobyl, and discuss potential problems associated with the bottleneck effect. (2 points)
Discuss the importance of having intact bird habitat in areas surrounding Chernobyl that were not exposed to radiation. (2 points)
In general, birds that produce high levels of antioxidants exhibit lower levels of reproduction than birds that produce lower levels of antioxidants. However, researchers hypothesize that birds that produce high levels of antioxidants in the area around Chernobyl are likely to have a higher overall fitness than birds in the area without this trait. Design an experiment to test this hypothesis. In your experiment, define
a null hypothesis. (1 point)
treatments and controls. (1 point)
a description of the experimental procedure. (2 points)