Exam 18: An Introduction to Ecology and the Biosphere

In suburban areas with a high density of humans, it is necessary to have a well-functioning wastewater treatment system. If engineers wanted to create a wastewater treatment system that takes advantage of natural resources, they should consider incorporating ________ into their plan.

The figure indicates that ________.

Malaria is an infectious disease transmitted to humans from a parasite that infects mosquitoes that feed on humans. World health officials have concerns that climate change may impact the transmission of malaria into tropical highland areas in Africa. If these concerns turn out to be valid, they would imply that global climate change ________.

Latitudes between the tropics and the Arctic Circle and the Antarctic Circle are called ________.

Scenario CO₂ is not the only greenhouse gas (GHG)that impacts global climate change. Other GHGs may be equally or more effective than CO₂ at trapping heat on Earth. Climate scientists determine how much a GHG may impact global warming based on two factors: the efficiency with which a GHG absorbs energy (i.e., traps heat on Earth)and the length of time (in years)that the gas remains in the atmosphere. A unit of measurement called the Global Warming Potential (GWP)is used to describe how much energy a GHG absorbs over a specific period of time (100 years is a standard time frame). All GWP values of GHGs are compared to the GWP of CO₂, which is given a value of 1. -CH₄ has a GWP over 20 times higher than CO₂. However, CH₄ emitted today lasts for only about a decade in the atmosphere, while the GWP of CO₂ can last for thousands of years. What is a possible reason that CH₄ can have such a high GWP as compared to CO₂?

Which of these biomes are maintained by fire?

In an aquatic ecosystem, what name is given to the region where photosynthesis can occur?

Global warming may trigger all but one of these results to occur. Choose the EXCEPTION.

Which biome is one of the most biologically productive of all biomes?

From the figure, which part of Earth receives the greatest intensity of solar radiation?

An effect of deforestation has been to ________.

The greenhouse effect causes an increase in global temperatures. This increase is due primarily to ________.

Which question would be investigated by someone who studies population ecology?

Scenario CO₂ is not the only greenhouse gas (GHG)that impacts global climate change. Other GHGs may be equally or more effective than CO₂ at trapping heat on Earth. Climate scientists determine how much a GHG may impact global warming based on two factors: the efficiency with which a GHG absorbs energy (i.e., traps heat on Earth)and the length of time (in years)that the gas remains in the atmosphere. A unit of measurement called the Global Warming Potential (GWP)is used to describe how much energy a GHG absorbs over a specific period of time (100 years is a standard time frame). All GWP values of GHGs are compared to the GWP of CO₂, which is given a value of 1. -In this scenario, how would you best describe CO₂?

What can moderate climate by absorbing heat when the air is warm and releasing heat when the air is cold?

Most of the temperate grassland in North America has been converted to ________.

The data in this table describe the average global temperature anomalies measured in August 2017 for Land, Ocean, and Land/Ocean combined. NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)defines a temperature anomaly as: "a departure from a reference value or long-term average. A positive anomaly indicates that the observed temperature was warmer than the reference value, while a negative anomaly indicates that the observed temperature was cooler than the reference value." (https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/monitoring-references/faq/anomalies.php) What can you conclude from these data?

What level of ecology is concerned with the adaptations of individuals?

What is one important difference between savannas and temperate grasslands?

Suppose that a group of climate scientists claims that they can predict future impacts of global climate change with 98% accuracy. Why should you be skeptical of this claim?