Deck 20: soil Resources and Grasslands Restoring the Range

Question 1

What are some of the important ecosystem services provided by grasslands?

Answer 1

Grasslands provide numerous important services,including pasture and farmland for grazing livestock,nutrient cycling,soil formation and protection,carbon sequestration,protection of surface waters,and habitat for wildlife.In addition,there is a lot of research being conducted on the use of grasslands as a source of energy through the development of grassland-based biofuels.

Question 2

Which statement is INCORRECT?

A)The Great Plains are a type of temperate grassland.
B)The Great Plains lie between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains.
C)The Great Plains are also known as a rangeland.
D)The Great Plains stretch from Texas to Canada.
E)None of these answers is incorrect.

Answer 2

The Great Plains are also known as a rangeland.

Question 3

The grassland that is found in cold climates is known as a ____________________.

A)pampa
B)steppe
C)tall-grass prairie
D)savanna
E)northern mixed grass prairie

Answer 3

steppe

Question 4

One of the advantages of using land for grazing is __________________.

A)it takes less land per animal than feeding grain to livestock
B)we are turning material we cannot eat into food that we can eat
C)that plants are eaten faster than they can grow
D)that the soil becomes compacted,making it harder for seeds to germinate
E)All of these answers are advantages for using land for grazing.

Question 5

Which types of grasslands are characterized by ultra-thin layers of soil and very short growing seasons?

A)cold
B)temperate
C)savanna
D)prairie
E)rangeland

Question 6

"Grassland systems are a rich source of one of the ecosystem's goods and services: genetic resources." Explain why this statement is TRUE.

Question 7

You have been employed by a seed company to genetically modify a high-yielding wheat variety so it is resistant to the most common types of wheat diseases.Why and how could grasslands be important in your research?

Question 8

The most common cause of desertification of grasslands is_________________.

A)climate change
B)plowing too often
C)depletion of aquifers
D)overgrazing
E)leaving them fallow

Question 9

Humans rely upon grasslands to graze domestic livestock.How would degradation of grasslands impact grazing,and what affect would this have on humans?

Question 10

What is the main use of grasslands today by humans?

A)for recreational use
B)growing food for humans
C)as a food source for large grazing animals
D)for energy production
E)for housing construction

Question 11

Which of the following crops was NOT originally derived from grasslands?

A)wheat
B)rye
C)barley
D)rice
E)millet

Question 12

Which type of grasslands are also known as savannas?

A)rangeland
B)tropical
C)cold
D)temperate
E)none of these answers

Question 13

Which of the following statements are correct?

A)Grasslands are not found in Antarctica.
B)Grasslands are found on every continent.
C)Grasslands vary based on climate.
D)Grasslands are not found in Antarctica and they vary based on climate.
E)Grasslands are found on every continent and they vary based on climate.

Question 14

The Flint Hills region of the Great Plains is dominated by tallgrass prairie.Large tracts of the prairie remain because the soil was too thin and rocky to be especially good for crop production.In the past two decades,areas of tallgrass prairie have been protected in reserves because of the loss of this grassland system over time-in large part a result of domestic animal production and some crop agriculture.At the eastern border of the region,deciduous forests have been gradually moving west,replacing tallgrass prairie.What do you think is leading to this pattern of change?

Question 15

What factors lead to the maintenance of grassland ecosystems in a given area?

A)the amount of precipitation
B)the presence of grazing animals
C)periodic wildfires
D)the amount of precipitation,the presence of grazing animals,and periodic wildfires
E)both the amount of precipitation and periodic wildfires

Question 16

Which statement is correct?

A)Grasslands are biomes.
B)Grasslands receive enough rainfall to support grass and herbaceous plants.
C)Grasslands do not get enough rainfall to support forests.
D)Grasslands both are biomes and do not get enough rainfall to support forests.
E)All of these answers are correct.

Question 17

What are some of the natural and human threats that grasslands currently face?

Question 18

Grasslands provide which of the following ecosystem services?

A)nutrient cycling
B)soil formation
C)carbon sequestration
D)wildlife habitats
E)All of these answers are correct.

Question 19

All of the following are examples of grasslands EXCEPT ____________________.

A)tundra
B)steppes
C)prairies
D)savannas
E)None of these answers are correct.

Question 20

Prairies are found in which of the following biome classifications?

A)tropical
B)boreal
C)temperate
D)polar
E)None of these answers are correct.

Question 21

As desertification of grasslands continues,smaller amounts of food will be available to feed humanity.What might be some of the consequences of the desertification of grasslands?

A)increased starvation
B)movement of people from one area to another
C)social unrest
D)physical conflict between people of different cultures
E)All of these answers are correct.

Question 22

Under ideal conditions,it takes about _____________ to make 1 millimeter of soil.

A)5 years
B)10 years
C)5 months
D)1 year
E)20 days

Question 23

How does a prairie grass access water during a drought?

A)It has many shallow roots covering a large area to reach nearby rivers or streams.
B)It has long deep roots allowing it to reach water supplies.
C)It has long deep roots to hold the soil in place,thus producing a more porous soil.
D)It stays shorter in a drought and thus does not lose as much water through transpiration.
E)Grasses are not adapted to drought,so they usually die.

Question 24

What is the greatest threat facing grasslands today?

A)global climate change
B)human land use decisions
C)overgrazing
D)urbanization
E)pollution

Question 25

Which of the following layers of soil gets depleted during soil erosion?

A)A horizon
B)B horizon
C)C horizon
D)R horizon

Question 26

Which of the following does NOT explain how grazing can be beneficial to a grassland?

A)Clipping off the top part allows the sunlight to get to the new shoots.
B)Hooves can break up soil,allowing water to penetrate.
C)Breaking up soil with hooves allows new seeds to germinate.
D)Defecation and urination from grazers adds phosphorus and nitrogen to the soil.
E)Chewing a grass down to its roots helps it rejuvenate.

Question 27

Grassland that are MOST susceptible to desertification are found in ____________ areas.

A)humid
B)arid
C)cold
D)boreal
E)tropical

Question 28

Soil erosion is often caused by _________________.

A)overgrazing by livestock
B)soil compacting by large amounts of grazing herbivores
C)grasses being grazed down to the growth area
D)consumer demand for meat
E)All of these answers are correct.

Question 29

Which two processes are essential to soil formation?

A)soil erosion and overgrazing
B)decay of organic material and soil erosion
C)decay of organic material and weathering of parent material
D)weathering of parent material and overgrazing
E)desertification and weathering of parent material

Question 30

This layer contains rocks that are in the process of being broken down in order to produce new soil.Which horizon is this?

A)O horizon
B)A horizon
C)C horizon
D)R horizon
E)S horizon

Question 31

Which area seems to be at threat for major desertification?

A)New Mexico and western Texas
B)New Mexico
C)Mexico and southern Texas
D)Arizona
E)the Great Plains

Question 32

Decomposers and detritivores break down organic material to help form topsoil.Which layer of soil contains the decomposers and detritivores that aid this process?

A)A horizon
B)B horizon
C)C horizon
D)R horizon
E)O horizon

Question 33

Which of the following processes contribute to the process of desertification?

A)overgrazing by livestock
B)global warming
C)soil erosion
D)overgrazing by livestock,global warming,and soil erosion
E)both overgrazing by livestock and global warming

Question 34

Which soil layer contains the most decaying material and living organisms?

A)B horizon
B)A horizon
C)R horizon
D)C horizon
E)D horizon

Question 35

The long root systems of native prairie grasses allow them to access greater supplies of water and generally pass through which three soil horizons?

A)R,C,and B
B)O,A,and C
C)O,A,and B
D)A,B,and C

Question 36

Which of the following is a consequence of overgrazing in grasslands?

A)compaction of soil
B)reduction in water penetration
C)reduction in seed germination
D)reduced seedling growth
E)All of these answers are correct.

Question 37

Refer to Infographic 3.Discuss some scenarios that could lead the healthy grass in the first picture to begin to look like the overgrazed grass in the second picture.

Question 38

Refer to Infographic 3.Discuss three characteristics many of those areas at highest risk of desertification have in common.

Question 39

The R horizon ___________________.

A)is solid,unbroken rock
B)contains decaying and organic material
C)is less fertile but higher in mineral content
D)contains mostly surface litter
E)is the rock that is in the process of being weathered or broken up

Question 40

Soil erosion in grasslands is a direct result of _____________.

A)urbanization and soil compaction
B)soil compaction and energy production
C)plant loss and urbanization
D)plant loss and soil compaction
E)plant loss and energy production

Question 41

The animal farming technique known as __________________ allows animals to graze on one small section of a pasture for a few days before being moved to another section for grazing.

A)rotational grazing
B)terracing
C)planned grazing
D)numerical limits grazing

Question 42

What is an outcome of holistic planned grazing?

A)Keeping animals bunched for a set period of time ensures that all plants are grazed evenly,even weeds.
B)It maximizes productivity.
C)It helps keep plant biomass levels in an ideal range,which maximizes productivity.
D)It makes ranching profitable again.
E)All of these answers are correct.

Question 43

How does overgrazing lead to soil erosion?

Question 44

Explain why planned grazing is considered to be an approach based on biomimicry.

Question 45

How does undergrazing reduce the biodiversity of grasslands?

Question 46

What is rotational grazing an example of?

A)sustainable grazing
B)shelterbelts
C)a conservation reserve program
D)a conservation easement

Question 47

What provides a livelihood for many people living in Zimbabwe?

A)ranching
B)fishing
C)farming
D)raising wildlife
E)hunting

Question 48

One modern farming technique is to give livestock antibiotics to prevent infection and promote growth.These antibiotics are excreted in the fecal matter of the animals and are still active.What is the consequence of this practice on soil?

Question 49

What did Allan Savory notice about the lands grazed by wild animals at the Africa Centre for Holistic Management?

A)The plants were more abundant.
B)The rivers were cleaner.
C)There was more plant diversity.
D)The rivers were better stocked.
E)All of these answers are correct.

Question 50

How do the grazing patterns of wild herbivores make the lands healthier than those grazed by cattle?

Question 51

What are advantages of shelterbelts?

A)They increase wildlife habitat.
B)They protect the crops and grasses from wind damage.
C)They reduce soil erosion and water pollution.
D)They allow recreational use while protecting habitats.
E)They reduce taxes to the landowner if their land stays protected.

Question 52

The grassland protection mechanism that helps to reduce soil erosion,reduce water pollution,and increase wildlife habitat is known as ______________________.

A)conservation easement
B)a conservation reserve program
C)park status
D)a shelterbelt

Question 53

What were some of the problems with the concept of rotational grazing?

A)It did not help to stop desertification.
B)Savory felt it focused too heavily on limiting the number of animals allowed to graze.
C)Savory felt it focused too heavily on the amount of time the animals were allowed to graze.
D)It did not help to stop desertification,and felt it focused too heavily on limiting the number of animals allowed to graze.
E)None of these answers are correct.

Question 54

Why did the British government cull thousands of wild herds in Zimbabwe in the 1950s?

A)They were annoying the villagers.
B)More land needed to be created for ranching.
C)They were needed as a source of meat in the markets.
D)They were eating too much grass.
E)They were damaging the land.

Question 55

Which of the following is a way to protect our grasslands?

A)conservation reserve programs
B)park status
C)sustainable grazing
D)both conservation reserve programs and sustainable grazing
E)conservation reserve programs,park status,and sustainable grazing

Question 56

What is undergrazing?

A)grazing animals in a way that mimics wild grazers
B)when animals grazing on lands do not have enough grass to eat
C)the process that transforms fertile grasslands into deserts
D)grazing too many animals on a grassland and eating the plants faster than they can grow
E)grazing too few animals on a grassland to maintain it ecologically

Question 57

Designing a process,such as grazing,so that it occurs in a way that is similar to how it happens in nature is known as ______________.

A)conservation
B)biomimicry
C)environmentalism
D)ecology

Question 58

Livestock ranchers often reach legal agreements with governments that permit them to use an area of land in a defined manner.These agreements are known as _____________________.

A)reserves
B)shelter belts
C)rotational grazing permits
D)conservation easements

Question 59

What are the challenges of a planned grazing approach to grassland management?

Question 60

What happens when lands are undergrazed?

A)Grasses grow wild and take over the area.
B)There is plenty of grass for all the cattle to eat,and they grow healthier over time.
C)Weeds grow wild,and there is less cattle feed over time.
D)There is no effect to the land if it is undergrazed.
E)Desertification occurs in the area.

Question 61

What is the purpose of the Conservation Reserve Program,and what are some of the controversies surrounding it?

Question 62

Human activity has caused the degradation of grasslands.How has grassland degradation in turn affected humans?

Question 63

Science Literacy Use the following graphic to answer the next questions.
Desertification can produce drier B and C horizons.What is the most likely hypothesis for this?

A)The thick grass roots in the upper horizons take up the water before it can reach the lower horizons.
B)The grazing animals leave waste on the surface which prevents water from filtering into the lower horizons.
C)Hot fires cause the moisture to evaporate out of the soil horizons.
D)When the upper horizons are lost the lower horizons are exposed to more incoming sunlight,drying out the lower horizons.

Question 64

Science Literacy Use the following graphic to answer the next questions.
Which horizon is most fertile for plant growth?

A)the O horizon,where the surface litter occurs and water enters the soil
B)the A horizon,where organic matter decays and organisms live
C)the B horizon,where mineral content is higher
D)the C horizon,where soil is produces from rock weathering

Question 65

Science Literacy Use the following graphic to answer the next questions.
Which two layers are involved in the formation of soil?

A)A and O
B)B and C
C)C and O
D)A and C

Question 66

Science Literacy Use the following graphic to answer the next questions.
Which horizon would be the most vulnerable to desertification?

A)O
B)B
C)C
D)R

Question 67

You are working on a ranch and explaining to Jill,the head rancher,that she should use holistic planned grazing.What is the best explanation you can give to convince her?

A)Although it is the hardest to manage,it will give the best quality of pasture compared to other grazing methods.
B)Since it is the easiest to manage,she will have to do less work to get a better-quality pasture.
C)It will give a mid-quality pasture but be the easiest methods of managing the fields.

Question 68

Jill wants to do something to help prevent soil erosion on the ranch.You recommend a(n)__________________.

A)adaptive management program
B)conservation easement
C)conservation reserve program
D)shelterbelt

Question 69

Match each term in the left-hand column to the statement that it best exemplifies.

Question 70

Which of the grazing methods would contribute the most to desertification?

A)continuous
B)rotational
C)holistic planned

Question 71

Jill,the head rancher,tells you to move most of the cattle off a certain pasture.She says by grazing fewer cattle,the grass will grow thicker and recover more quickly.When she asks what you think,you tell her that __________________.

A)the cattle will eat the weeds and leave more room for the grasses,so she should put even more cattle in the pasture
B)the soil erosion will speed up without as many cattle to churn up the topsoil
C)it will increase competition between weeds and grasses,since the cattle will eat only the sweet grass and leave the weeds,then the weeds will take over
D)she should get rid of the cattle and raise chickens,which eat grain and will allow the grass to grow back