CHS Human Impact Review

Salt water is an abundant resource but unusable for irrigation and drinking. As demands on freshwater sources increase, the use of desalination processes to remove salt from ocean water is increasing. A concern of desalinating water is the large amounts of recovered salts that are returned to the ocean. Which of the following describes the most likely impact of desalination on the surrounding ocean environment? 

New fuels are being produced by converting corn and grasses into compounds containing alcohols that can be broken down for energy in various engines. Which of the following is a reason researchers are conducting this practice?

The presence of wastes, such as plastic bags and motor oil, in lakes and streams miles away from developed areas suggests that

DDT and other pesticides used over 50 years ago are still affecting the environment today. Scientists have found these substances in recent glacier runoff. Glacier runoff occurs during the summer, when precipitation that has fallen on glaciers during the winter is released. Ice layers from existing glaciers have been analyzed. The results of this analysis show that the concentrations of DDT and other pesticides were highest about 10 years after the use of these substances was banned. 

This information shows that:

The northern elephant seal was almost hunted to extinction in the 1800s. By the late 1890s, approximately one hundred seals were left, reducing the gene pool of the population. What will be the consequence of this reduction? 

A community is concerned about the water quality of a nearby lake. Increased sedimentation in the lake is endangering the native habitat. The increased sedimentation is most likely caused by which of the following?

When fertilizers run off farmland into streams and ponds, the nitrogen content of the water increases. This can lead to rapid growth of algae in a process called eutrophication. How can this process affect other organisms in the water? 

Salt water is an abundant resource but unusable for irrigation and drinking. As demands on freshwater sources increase, the use of desalination processes to remove salt from ocean water is increasing. A concern of desalinating water is the large amounts of recovered salts that are returned to the ocean. Which of the following describes the most likely impact of desalination on the surrounding ocean environment? 

What is the carrying capacity of the graph?

What is happening at point A?

New fuels are being produced by converting corn and grasses into compounds containing alcohols that can be broken down for energy in various engines. Which of the following is a reason researchers are conducting this practice?

What happens when an ecosystem becomes less biodiverse?

The presence of wastes, such as plastic bags and motor oil, in lakes and streams miles away from developed areas suggests that

A community has had an increase of 5% in their population within the last year. As a result, city officials have planned to build a new commerce center that includes clothing stores, supermarkets, and restaurants. What is the most important consideration the local government should have about the environmental effects of this project prior to approving the plan?

DDT and other pesticides used over 50 years ago are still affecting the environment today. Scientists have found these substances in recent glacier runoff. Glacier runoff occurs during the summer, when precipitation that has fallen on glaciers during the winter is released. Ice layers from existing glaciers have been analyzed. The results of this analysis show that the concentrations of DDT and other pesticides were highest about 10 years after the use of these substances was banned. 

This information shows that:

Which of the following have been changed or altered due to climate change ?

The northern elephant seal was almost hunted to extinction in the 1800s. By the late 1890s, approximately one hundred seals were left, reducing the gene pool of the population. What will be the consequence of this reduction? 

Mercury occurs naturally in the earth's crust, but human activities, such as mining and fossil fuel combustion, have led to widespread global mercury pollution. Mercury emitted into the air eventually settles into water or onto land where it can be washed into water. Mercury, which can adversely alter the neurological and reproductive systems of humans and wildlife, has long been known to contaminate fresh-water lakes, fish and fish-eating birds, including loons and eagles. How does the story of mercury show the importance of continued monitoring of ecosystems?

A community is concerned about the water quality of a nearby lake. Increased sedimentation in the lake is endangering the native habitat. The increased sedimentation is most likely caused by which of the following?

Which statement supports the claim that a dam can harm a river ecosystem?

When fertilizers run off farmland into streams and ponds, the nitrogen content of the water increases. This can lead to rapid growth of algae in a process called eutrophication. How can this process affect other organisms in the water? 

The above chart shows the greenhouse gas emissions in 2013 based on the percentage of total emissions different industries produce. The chart also shows the amount of different types of greenhouse gasses by the percentage of the total emissions these gasses make up. An

agent of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been asked to advise Congress on which part of the economy and which gas they should start regulating. Which suggestion would make the greatest impact on the environment?

A strip mining company wants to lease some land that is currently part of a national park. They promise to reclaim the land should any minerals be mined from the area, and they are willing to pay top dollar for the rights. As an ecologist, what factors would you raise with the local government? 

What is one way farmers can manage their irrigation systems better to conserve water supplies?

Whaling was a very profitable profession until whale populations crashed. The global community came together to enact a ban on whaling. However, Japan and Norway have not agreed to stop whaling. Which of the following is the most likely consequence of their decision?

Many large bodies of water have been developing “garbage patches” in the calm centers of

their waters. One of the largest is the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch” which is twice the size of

Texas. Above is a sample of items found in this patch and how long it would take them to

naturally decompose. Four students are trying to come up with a plan to decrease the amount

of trash finding its way to the patch. Here are their ideas.

1.Sara- We should start banning waxed milk cartons and switch to plastic

2.Devon- We should burn all of our trash to keep it from ending up in the ocean

3.Mike- We should stop using aluminum cans and switch to a new type of container

4.Tina- We should start finding ways to use less plastic so we throw less away

Which students’ idea would have the greatest positive impact the environment while reducing the amount of trash going to the ocean?

Mullet are local estuarine fish that move in schools and feed on plankton and plant matter. Natural predators of the mullet include spotted sea trout, sharks, pelicans and dolphins. The graph below shows how the number of mullet in an area has changed over time. 

Based on the data, one student concludes that a new predator was introduced into the area during this time period. Which of the following is a likely alternate explanation for the change in the mullet population?

A city has put in a permit request to make a new landfill. The local government ha responded by asking for a detailed report of the local environment and how they plan to monitor it once the landfill has been built. Why would the government feel a monitoring plan is important?

Which of the following are abiotic factors that shape ecosystems?

A new soda company is looking to market to people trying to reduce the amount of waste they make. The creators of the soda are looking to design the packaging to have the least impact on he environment once you finish drinking it. Which strategy would make the product the most eco friendly?

The common brushtail possum is a marsupial native to Australia. This possum was introduced to New Zealand where it had no natural predators and had an abundant food supply. Which of these likely occurred a few years after the introduction of this possum to New Zealand?

Which of the following would be an example of sustainable land use?

the diagram shown represents a food web. the numerals I, II, III, and IV represent four nutritional levels within the community in which different species compete.

which is an abiotic factor that is needed to make this marine environment a self-sustaining ecosystem?

The Amazon rainforest is currently being burned down at an alarming rate. According to the

New York Times, most of the deforestation is being illegally caused by ranchers. Cattle is a $6

Billion industry in Brazil. In 2009 an agreement between the largest beef packing plants and

Brazil was reached to stop the deforestation. The packing plants agreed to only purchase cattle

from established, legal farms. The hope was that deforestation would stop. Recently many

countries began putting sanctions or bans on Brazilian beef. Which of the following statements

best explains why the rest of the world want to stop the deforestation of the Amazon?

Avoid Being Eaten

The snowshoe hare is the prey of many woodland animal. Foxes, cayotes, martens, and weasels hunt for hares by the day, while the Great Horned Barn owls hunt for them on silent wings at night. The snowshoe hare survives this predation partly as a result of the effects of changing environmental conditions, on the expression of genes for fur color, resulting in effective camouflage. in winter months, the hare has white fur, which blends into the snowscape. During the warm months, the fur changes to a reddish brown.

Some favorite foods of the hare during the winter months are twigs of the maple, birch, and apple trees. Grasses and clover replace the diet during spring and summer. Hares tend to feed during the hours of dusk and dawn, when light is low and the predators are inactive.

Food supply is the only limiting factor, which graph represents a possible relationship between the population snowshoe hares and their food supply over a 10-year period?

Button cell batteries are used in small portable electronic devices such as watches, cameras,

digital thermometers, calculators and toys. Although there are no federal regulations prohibiting

throwing button cell batteries in the regular garbage, they should be recycled due to the

hazardous materials contained within them. What is the best explanation for why these

batteries should be recycled?

Base the answer to the following question on the diagram of a food web and your knowledge of biology.

If the population of mice is reduced by a disease, which change will most likely occur in the food web.

The graph shows the percent change in price of various types of food from 1985 to

2014. All of the bars below zero represent a fall in price, while the bars above zero represent

a price increase. How does the information in the graph support the political cartoon?

Car exhaust has been blamed for increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in the air. Some scientist believe this additional carbon dioxide in the air may cause