Deck 2: The Natural Environment and the Human Economy: an Ecological Perspective

Question 1

The environment is a subsystem of the economy, acting both as a source of raw material
inputs and as a 'sink' for waste output.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

The growth of both ecological and economic systems is limited by biophysical
determinants.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

An ecosystem is composed of biotic factors.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

A consumer is an organism that breaks down dead plants and animals into simpler
compounds.

Question 5

Carbon dioxide is a necessary chemical compound, without which humans would not
survive.

Question 6

The current primary source of energy for our planet is fossil fuels.

Question 7

Oxygen, which is absolutely necessary for life on Earth, is the most abundant
atmospheric gas.

Question 8

The first law of thermodynamics concerns the conservation of energy and implies that
although energy can be transformed from one form into another, energy loss is always
greater than energy gained.

Question 9

Thermodynamics asserts that all real processes are irreversible, and as such complete
energy recycling is impossible.

Question 10

Given that nature is usually constant, ecological succession implies that an environment
would eventually reach a steady-state stage that would persist indefinitely.

Question 11

Human welfare depends directly on the sustainability of diverse ecosystems, which are
responsible for the flow of ecosystem services.

Question 12

The world-wide human economy is utilizing as much as 80 percent of the total net
primary production, annually.

Question 13

With observation, one can predict an ecosystem's tipping point, which is the minimum
critical threshold before the loss of ecosystem functions.

Question 14

Nonliving things in an ecosystem are abiotic factors.

Question 15

Invasive alien species are introduced deliberately or unintentionally outside their natural
habitats where they cause damage to only to those things that are of interest to humans.

Question 16

An example of a biotic factor in a lake ecosystem is:

A) A floating log
B) Water
C) Fish
D) Temperature
E) Sunlight

Question 17

An example of two producers and three consumers in the food ecosystem are:

A) Maple tree, grass, fox, rabbit, hawk
B) Oak tree, grass, fungi, caterpillar, frog
C) Maple tree, fungi, deer, wolf, squirrel
D) Maple tree, grass, worm, rabbit, frog
E) None of the above

Question 18

Which of the following statements is most accurate?

A) Photosynthesis involves the natural transformation of one form of energy to another
through the synthesis of complex inorganic compounds.
B) Entropy derives from the second law of thermodynamics and is a practical concept in
economics for the shaping of environmental policy.
C) CO2, H2O, NH4+, PO4^3- are important inorganic compounds, but CO2 is one compound
that is unnecessary for life.
D) The second law of thermodynamics states that energy required to do work is not
completely renewable and that waste heat cannot be re-used continually.
E) All these statements are equally accurate.

Question 19

The simplification of natural ecosystem has which of the following effects?

A) The ability of ecosystems to withstand environmental stress increases.
B) An ecosystem's resilience decreases.
C) Forest ecosystems have an easier time to recovery because of decreased competition from
Other plant species.
D) Simplification of the natural ecosystems reduces the need for insecticides, herbicides and
fungicides.
E) Both a and d are correct.

Question 20

Which of the following represents a correct consequence of or is implied by an ecosystem's carrying capacity?

A) Ecosystems generally cannot accommodate any stress from human activity before
reaching their tipping point.
B) If 5,000 rabbits is the maximum population that a particular ecosystem can accommodate,
then this represents the ecosystem's carrying capacity.
C) If human activity were to stress an ecosystem beyond its tipping point, then the
ecosystem enters a dynamic state of equilibrium.
D) Only small scale, simple systems are known to exhibit critical tipping points.
E) All of the above are correct.

Question 21

If an ecosystem is characterized by wide-ranging interrelationships among a large number of species, then

A) The loss of one species should not be detrimental to the ecosystem as a whole.
B) The ecosystem is more resilient than one with smaller interrelationships.
C) The climax stage is likely near its maximum.
D) Processes in the atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere remain in healthy dynamic
equilibrium through various material cycles.
E) All of the above.

Question 22

An unusually hot summer causes the caterpillar population to decrease. This is an example of temperature as:

A) As a carrying capacity.
B) As a limiting factor.
C) As a climax.
D) Showing increases in entropy.
E) All of the above.

Question 23

An ecological community in the final stage of succession, in which the species composition remains relatively stable until a disturbance such as fire occurs is called a(n):

A) Ultimate community.
B) Final stage community.
C) Climax community.
D) Entropic community.
E) Primary succession community.

Question 24

Which of the follow is accurate about the oxidation process?

A) It depends on the availability of oxygen, moisture content, and temperature of an
ecosystem.
B) Oxidation would takes place at a much slower rate in the artic than at the equator.
C) In nature, oxidation results in the partial decomposition of organic matter.
D) Only a) and c).
E) A), b), and c).

Question 25

For the ecological economist, it is clear that

A) The human economy cannot expand beyond the scope of the biosphere.
B) The biosphere is "bounded" by the economic subsystem.
C) Nature acts as only as a source to the basic material requirements of the human
economy.
D) The neo-classical worldview sufficiently addresses the role of the biosphere in the
human economy.
E) None of the above.