Deck 25: Ecology

Question 1

Humans have disrupted ecosystems almost everywhere they have established themselves, at least in industrialized countries. Do you believe that humans could also improve an ecosystem?

Answer 1

Humans have disrupted ecosystems everywhere and they have established themselves especially in the industrial areas. Yes, I think humans can improve an ecosystem by controlling the laws, threats, and aggrements. Some of the measures by which an ecosystem can be controlled are:
• By using herbicides and pesticides to safeguard the crops.
• Removing of predators to obtain larger species.
• To protect the timber.
• Stopping the forest fires.

Question 2

If a vegetarian diet makes more efficient use of solar energy, should we all strive to become vegetarians for this reason?

Answer 2

Vegetarian diet makes more efficient use of solar energy. Yes, I think we should all strive to become vegetarians. This is because there is reduction of energy in each level of food chain. It makes more efficient use of solar energy.
Vegetarian diet does not include meat, poultry or fish. Still the nutritional requirements are same for vegetarian and non-vegetarians but some nutrients require special attention.
They provide health benefits like lower levels of obesity, reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, lower rate of hyper tension, low blood pressure, few cancers and chronic diseases.

Question 3

What are the principal threats to global drinking-water sources?

Answer 3

Water is a free gift for nature which is used for drinking, hygiene, sanitation and industry; it is most global resource. Water is vital during the time of emergency or disaster. To withstand the life and to prevent from waterborne illness clean and safe drinking water is essential. Water is also required for recreation events like swimming which enable good health.
Hence the public water should be monitored and controlled. Private ground water can be safe for drinking. Well water can be contaminated leading to diseases. Hence well water should maintain and treat their wells.

Question 4

Besides the hypothetical example given (in which it was observed that eating corn directly was a more efficient use of solar energy than feeding it to cattle and then eating the beef), can you think of other ways in which food chains might be shortened?

Question 5

Distinguish among a plant community, a biotic community, an ecosystem, and a biome.

Question 6

Peanut butter has many of the nutrients needed in human nutrition. On the basis of what you have learned about the diet of animals in an ecosystem, do you think it would be a good idea to live on peanut butter and water as a means of saving money?

Question 7

What is the difference between a primary consumer and a secondary consumer?

Question 8

Could succession take place in an abandoned swimming pool?

Question 9

How are short food chains more efficient in the use of solar energy than long ones?

Question 10

Why is the diet of larger herbivorous animals varied?

Question 11

What types of checks and balances exist in an ecosystem?

Question 12

How are nitrogen and carbon recycled in nature?

Question 13

What is primary succession as opposed to secondary succession?

Question 14

What are general characteristics of climax vegetation as compared with nonclimax vegetation?

Question 15

What is the greenhouse effect?

Question 16

What is the ozone shield, and what significant role does it play? What threats are there to its existence?