Krohne Human Global Ecology Test Bank Chapter 21

Chapter 21 Human Global Ecology

Multiple Choice

1. Studies of the European tit show that
2. this species cannot adapt to climate change.
3. this species is unaffected by climate change.
4. there is variation among tits in their adaptive response.
5. egg laying is independent of climate.
6. none of the above
7. One concern about genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is that
8. they may cause mutations in humans.
9. they may increase pesticide resistance in weeds.
10. Bt corn may not be resistant to glyphosate.
11. they cannot evolve.
12. none of the above
13. Snowshoe hares may be affected by climate change
14. because they cannot tolerate high temperature.
15. the change in coat color is timed by photoperiod not by temperature.
16. the change in coat color is timed by temperature not by photoperiod.
17. they face more predators in warmer climates.
18. none of the above
19. Which of the following does not contribute to the human impact on the environment?
20. human affluence
21. the speed of change caused by humans
22. the size of the human population
23. the rapid evolution of humans compared to other species
24. none of the above
25. Studies of ice cores show that
26. CO₂ began increasing before the Industrial Revolution.
27. atmospheric CO₂ and temperature are correlated.
28. the CO₂ in the atmosphere has now reached 450ppm.
29. the ratio of isotopic forms of hydrogen is a measure of precipitation.
30. none of the above
31. Which of the following may be true of atmospheric CO₂?
32. The ocean will absorb the excess atmospheric CO₂.
33. Plant photosynthesis cannot compensate for increased atmospheric CO₂.
34. When tropical forests additional CO₂ is released into the atmosphere.
35. As permafrost melts, more atmospheric CO₂ will be absorbed.
36. none of the above
37. Studies of the response of corals to thermal stress show that
38. mtDNA protects corals from heat shock.
39. populations in thermally stable populations are less likely to adapt to high temperature.
40. corals are not sensitive to temperature change.
41. temperature affects the coral but not its symbiotic dinoflagellates.
42. none of the above
43. Climate models predict that
44. if we stabilize atmospheric carbon at current levels, the temperature will stop rising.
45. the increase in temperature across the earth will be uniform.
46. some regions will experience increased snowfall.
47. new anthromes will develop.
48. none of the above
49. Tropical species may be especially vulnerable to increased temperature because
50. they are already near their thermal limit.
51. they are less adaptable than temperate and arctic species.
52. there are no higher elevations to which species can move.
53. increased temperature will lead to higher rainfall.
54. none of the above
55. Acid precipitation
56. has least effect in lakes with granite bedrock.
57. causes cations to leach from the soil.
58. probably cannot shift the pH of the entire ocean.
59. affects terrestrial systems more than aquatic systems.
60. none of the above.
61. Which of the following is not true of nitrogen deposition?
62. It stimulates primary production.
63. At high levels, it produces the acid HNO_3.
64. High soil nitrate can leach cations from the soil.
65. It can lead to lower diversity of plankton in aquatic systems.
66. none of the above
67. The “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico is
68. due to oligotrophism.
69. the result of the toxicity of most nitrogenous compounds.
70. due to hypoxia from microbial activity.
71. due to point sources of pollution.
72. none of the above
73. Ozone-depleting substances (ODSs)
74. react more rapidly at high temperature.
75. react more rapidly in the dark.
76. are not destroyed by the reaction with ozone.
77. are inhibited by chlorine and bromine.
78. none of the above
79. The concept of nonequilibrum ecology suggests
80. that homeostatic mechanisms will reduce the human impact.
81. that human impacts are simply natural processes.
82. we should focus our efforts on ecological processes rather than specific conditions.
83. that the human population cannot reach equilibrium.
84. none of the above
85. According to Aldo Leopold’s land ethic,
86. humans are separate from natural communities.
87. nature is a commodity.
88. stewardship of the natural world is in our own self-interest.
89. humans must adopt a more anthropocentric perspective.
90. none of the above
91. Which of the following was not an important anthropogenic ecological factor in human history?
92. the Cambrian explosion
93. the evolution of agriculture
94. European colonization of the New World
95. the invention of the wheel
96. none of the above
97. Boreal vascular plants are
98. immune from the effects of climate change.
99. declining primarily from habitat loss.
100. declining primarily due to climate change.
101. declining more slowly than bryophytes.
102. none of the above

True/False

1. N₂O is an important ozone depleting substance.
2. Ecological systems have intrinsic homeostatic mechanisms.
3. Habitat degradation is anthropogenic disturbance.
4. Binomial probability analysis applies to dependent events such as the effect of global warming on hurricanes.
5. The IPAT equation probably overestimates the human impact on the environment.
6. Bleaching of coral reefs is an example of a phenomenon with a threshold effect.
7. Genetic modification of crops has led to an increase in the genetic diversity of corn, soybeans, and cotton.
8. Most ocean acidification is due to HNO₃ and H₂SO_4.
9. Desertification is accelerated by irrigation.
10. Non-point sources of pollution affect large areas; point sources of pollution affect only the local area near the emission.

Short Answer/Fill in the Blank

1. Why was the development of agriculture important in the history of human environmental impacts?
2. Why is it difficult to determine whether any particular hurricane is the result of climate change?
3. What are the key variables that determine the human environmental impact?
4. What are some of the important risks of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)?
5. How does Leopold’s land ethic change our interaction with the natural world?
6. Why is it so difficult to determine whether Hurricane Katrina was the result of climate change?