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.

Accepted Answer

The economy is actually a subsystem of the environment, not the other way around. The environment encompasses all, providing the raw materials and resources economies rely on, and acting as a sink for waste outputs.

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

Ecological and economic systems are both subject to biophysical constraints or limits, such as the availability of resources, energy, and the carrying capacity of ecosystems. Therefore, their growth is limited by these determinants.

Question 3

An ecosystem is composed of biotic factors.

Accepted Answer

An ecosystem is composed of both biotic (living organisms) and abiotic (non-living elements like water, sunlight, and minerals) factors.

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

A consumer is an organism that eats other organisms (plants or animals) to obtain energy and nutrients. The organism that breaks down dead plants and animals is called a decomposer.

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

Carbon dioxide is necessary for photosynthesis, the process by which plants produce oxygen that humans need to breathe. Without carbon dioxide, plants would not be able to produce oxygen, and humans would not survive. However, too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere can contribute to global warming and climate change.

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

The answer of The current primary source of energy for...

Question 7

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

Accepted Answer

While oxygen is an important gas in the atmosphere, it is not the most abundant. Nitrogen makes up about 78% of the Earth's atmosphere, while oxygen only makes up about 21%.

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.

Accepted Answer

The first law of thermodynamics states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred or transformed. It does not imply that 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.

Accepted Answer

According to the second law of thermodynamics, all real processes result in an increase in entropy and heat transfer to the surroundings, making complete energy recycling 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.

Accepted Answer

Ecological succession is a dynamic process, and even in the absence of human interference, a steady-state is rarely reached as external factors such as climate change or natural disasters can disrupt the ecosystem and restart the succession process.

Question 11

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

Accepted Answer

Diverse ecosystems provide various ecosystem services such as clean air and water, pollination, and soil fertility, which directly impact human well-being and quality of life. Sustainable management and conservation of ecosystems is crucial for ensuring the continued provision of these services.

Question 12

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

Accepted Answer

The worldwide human economy is estimated to utilize about 24% of the total net primary production on land and a smaller fraction if marine primary production is considered, not as high as 80%.

Question 13

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

Accepted Answer

Predicting an ecosystem's tipping point is complex and often requires more than just observation; it involves understanding intricate interactions, feedback loops, and sometimes unpredictable external factors.

Question 14

Nonliving things in an ecosystem are abiotic factors.

Accepted Answer

Nonliving things in an ecosystem like water, sunlight, rocks, soil, etc. 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.

Accepted Answer

Invasive alien species can cause damage to both human interests and natural ecosystems. They can outcompete native species, disrupt food chains, alter habitats, spread diseases and even cause economic losses.

Question 16

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

Accepted Answer

Fish are living organisms and therefore biotic factors in a lake ecosystem. A floating log is also biotic but not as essential as fish for the balance of the ecosystem. Water, temperature, and sunlight are abiotic factors as they are not living organisms.

Question 17

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

Accepted Answer

The answer of An example of two producers and three...

Question 18

Which of the following statements is most accurate?

Accepted Answer

The statement that best reflects the laws of thermodynamics is D, which accurately describes the second law regarding energy and work. The other statements contain inaccuracies or incomplete information.

Question 19

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

Accepted Answer

Simplification of natural ecosystems often involves the loss of biodiversity and a decrease in the number of species present. This can lead to a decrease in the ecosystem's resilience, making it less able to absorb and recover from environmental stress such as climate change or natural disasters.

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

An ecosystem's carrying capacity refers to the maximum population size that it can support without causing significant damage to the ecosystem or depleting resources. Therefore, option B correctly represents a consequence of an ecosystem's carrying capacity. Options A, C, and D do not accurately represent the concept of carrying capacity. Option A implies that ecosystems will inevitably reach a tipping point with human activity, which is not necessarily true. Option C suggests that ecosystems always enter a state of equilibrium when stressed beyond their limits, which is also not always the case. Option D suggests that critical tipping points are only observed in small and simple ecosystems, which is not necessarily true.

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

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

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

An ecosystem is composed of biotic factors.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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