Question 1

In general,most ecosystems in the world have
A)remained relatively unchanged for millions of years.
B)been impacted by human activities.
C)experienced increased ecosystem capital because of human activities.
D)already been significantly harmed by global climate change.

Accepted Answer

Human activities such as deforestation, pollution, and climate change have impacted ecosystems all over the world. In many cases, these activities have caused significant changes to ecosystems and even led to some species becoming endangered or extinct. While some ecosystems may have remained relatively unchanged for millions of years, there is evidence to suggest that human activities have impacted even these ecosystems to some degree. However, it is important to note that not all human impact on ecosystems is negative; some actions, such as conservation efforts and restoration projects, can have positive effects on these important habitats.

Question 2

The concept of ecosystem capital is most likely appreciated by
A)a shrimp farmer in Thailand.
B)a lumber company in Canada.
C)a marine biologist in Florida.
D)owners of a banana farm in Brazil.

Accepted Answer

Ecosystem capital refers to the natural resources and services provided by ecosystems, such as water filtration, climate regulation, and pollination. A marine biologist in Florida is more likely to appreciate the value of these services and the impact they have on the health of marine ecosystems. A shrimp farmer in Thailand, a lumber company in Canada, and owners of a banana farm in Brazil may not directly relate to ecosystem capital in the same way as a marine biologist would.

Question 3

The phrase "ecosystem capital" is better than the phrase "natural resources" because ecosystem capital
A)includes both the ecological and economic value of natural ecosystems.
B)includes only the economic value of an ecosystem's goods and services.
C)includes only the ecological value of natural ecosystems.
D)includes neither the economic nor the ecological value of an ecosystem's goods and services.

Accepted Answer

The phrase "ecosystem capital" includes both the ecological and economic value of natural ecosystems, which is a more comprehensive and accurate representation of their importance than the phrase "natural resources" which implies only their economic value.

Question 4

Humans often manipulate the environment in ways that decrease the overall ecosystem capital because
A)short-term gains are often local,while long-term losses in regulating and cultural services are experienced regionally.
B)short-term gains are often regional,while long-term losses in regulating and cultural services are experienced locally.
C)long-term gains are often local,while short-term losses in regulating and cultural services are experienced regionally.
D)long-term gains are often regional,while short-term losses in regulating and cultural services are experienced locally.

Accepted Answer

Humans often prioritize short-term gains and overlook the long-term effects on the overall ecosystem. This results in local gains but regional losses in regulating and cultural services, which are essential for the health and wellbeing of the ecosystem and its inhabitants. Therefore, choice A is the correct answer.

Question 5

Many ecosystems are damaged by attempts to make a quick profit because
A)natural services are valued more than natural goods.
B)ecosystem services require sustained human development.
C)the value of ecosystem services is underappreciated.
D)the prices of most natural goods continue to fall.

Accepted Answer

When attempting to make a quick profit, the focus is usually on the extraction of natural goods without much thought given to the negative impacts that this may have on ecosystem services. The value of these services, such as clean air and water, is often underappreciated or not considered at all in the pursuit of profit. This can lead to long-term damage to the ecosystem, making the extraction of natural goods unsustainable in the long run.

Question 6

Sustainable exploitation of natural ecosystems will most likely
A)increase the ecosystem capital of the ecosystem.
B)decrease the ecosystem capital of the ecosystem.
C)maintain the ecosystem capital of the ecosystem.
D)convert the natural resources into ecosystem capital.

Accepted Answer

Sustainable exploitation of natural ecosystems is designed to use resources at a rate that maintains the ecosystem capital over time, ensuring that the ecosystem's ability to provide goods and services is not diminished.

Question 7

The value of programs such as the Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF)lies in
A)their ability to raise funds for coral reef research.
B)their involvement of citizens in the collection of data and the removal of invasive species from coral reefs.
C)their use of untrained volunteers to replace qualified scientists in marine biology.
D)the increase in commercial fishing yields in the Caribbean.

Accepted Answer

The value of programs such as REEF lies in their involvement of citizens in the collection of data and the removal of invasive species from coral reefs. This helps to increase the amount of information available about coral reefs and address threats to their health and survival. Additionally, it promotes public engagement and awareness of the importance of protecting these ecosystems. The other answer choices are not accurate because REEF does not primarily focus on fundraising, replacing qualified scientists with untrained volunteers, or increasing commercial fishing yields.

Question 8

-The Thailand shrimp farm in this photo was built in a mangrove wetland.Overall,the ecosystem capital in this particular region has
A)increased because of the investment in this shrimp industry.
B)increased because the shrimp farm decreases the need to harvest wild populations of shrimp.
C)decreased because the value of the shrimp farm is less than 10% of the value of services provided by the intact mangrove wetland.
D)decreased because on average,the shrimp farm only provides more valuable services than the original wetland for 50 years.

Accepted Answer

Mangrove wetlands provide a wide range of ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, coastal protection, and habitat for a diverse range of species. The conversion of these wetlands into shrimp farms typically results in a net loss of ecosystem services value, as the economic benefits from shrimp farming are often outweighed by the loss of these broader ecological functions.

Question 9

In general,humans can harvest renewable resources of plants and animals at sustainable levels because
A)ecosystems continue to change with new species replacing those that have been harvested.
B)new species are always evolving to take the place of those that are harvested.
C)organisms naturally produce many more offspring than are needed to maintain their populations.
D)people naturally harvest organisms only after they have had a chance to reproduce.

Accepted Answer

Organisms typically produce more offspring than are needed to maintain their populations, allowing for sustainable harvesting of renewable resources. This is known as the "survival of the fittest" principle, where individuals that are best adapted to their environment will survive and reproduce. However, humans must also manage and regulate their harvesting activities to ensure that they do not exceed sustainable levels and cause harm to the ecosystem.

Question 10

The pervasive alteration of global ecosystems is mainly the result of
A)global climate change.
B)increased frequency of wildfires in the past 500 years.
C)human activities.
D)the movement of continents by plate tectonics.

Accepted Answer

Human activities such as deforestation, urbanization, pollution, and overfishing have significantly altered global ecosystems. Climate change and natural disasters like wildfires may also play a role but are secondary to human impact. The movement of continents by plate tectonics is a slow process and does not directly cause pervasive alterations in global ecosystems.

Question 11

The lionfish is
A)an introduced invasive species that is causing declines in native Caribbean reef fish.
B)an invasive species in the Caribbean but is controlled by local predators.
C)threatened in many parts of its range but is recovering thanks to the REEF program.
D)valued by local Caribbean communities because of its value as food.

Accepted Answer

The lionfish is an introduced invasive species that is causing declines in native Caribbean reef fish. They have no natural predators in the Caribbean, and their population is rapidly expanding, consuming large amounts of native fish species. This is having severe ecological impacts on reef communities.

Question 12

Which of the following is an example of natural goods from an ecosystem?
A)pollination
B)ocean fish netted for food
C)control of pest populations
D)carbon sequestration

Accepted Answer

Ocean fish netted for food are a direct example of natural goods provided by an ecosystem, as they are a natural resource directly consumed by humans.

Question 13

A shrimp farm in Thailand results in
A)the short-term loss of natural services.
B)the local loss of natural services.
C)long term gains by a regional shrimp farmer.
D)specific gains to the shrimp farmer.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A shrimp farm in Thailand results in
A)the...

Question 14

In general,coral reef ecosystems globally
A)provide very little ecosystem capital.
B)are in critical condition in the Caribbean,but healthy elsewhere.
C)are recovering quickly from human-caused damage because corals grow quickly.
D)are sensitive to pollution,physical breakage and invasive species.

Accepted Answer

Coral reef ecosystems are sensitive to a variety of threats including pollution, physical breakage, and invasive species. These threats can have significant impacts on the health and resilience of coral reefs. While some coral reef ecosystems may be healthier than others, there is no evidence to suggest that they provide very little ecosystem capital or that they are recovering quickly from damage.

Question 15

Which of the following human activities have resulted in the conversion of nearly 50% of the Earth's land surface?
A)construction of roads and bridges
B)construction of all homes and buildings
C)production of crop and animal products
D)construction and operation of mines

Accepted Answer

The production of crop and animal products, specifically agriculture and livestock farming, has resulted in the conversion of nearly 50% of the Earth's land surface for the purpose of growing crops, grazing livestock, and building infrastructure to support these industries. The other options mentioned do contribute to land conversion, but not to the same extent as agriculture and livestock farming.

Question 16

Maintaining sustainable human exploitation of ecosystem capital will be increasingly difficult because of
A)overreliance on grains and other plants as a significant portion of the human diet.
B)expanding number of viral and bacterial human diseases.
C)growing pressure from human population on Earth.
D)changing temperature and rainfall patterns

Accepted Answer

The growing human population is putting increasing pressure on Earth's resources, making it increasingly difficult to maintain sustainable human exploitation of ecosystem capital. This puts a strain on biodiversity, ecosystems, and the overall health of the planet. Overreliance on specific foods or changing weather patterns may also contribute, but the primary driver of this difficulty is the pressure from an expanding human population.

Question 17

The ability of an ecosystem to replenish itself leads to
A)sustainability.
B)decreasing consumptive use.
C)the conversion of ecosystem capital from one form to another.
D)increasing natural resources but declining ecosystem capital.

Accepted Answer

The ability of an ecosystem to replenish itself, or maintain its productivity over time, is a key aspect of sustainability. This means that the ecosystem can continue to provide important goods and services to humans, without being depleted or degraded beyond a certain point. Sustainability is therefore closely linked to the concept of ecosystem resilience, which refers to the ability of an ecosystem to withstand disturbances or changes, and recover from them over time. By promoting sustainability, we can ensure that ecosystems continue to support human well-being, while also maintaining their own health and productivity in the long term.

Question 18

Regulating and cultural services provided by natural ecosystems
A)typically have the highest economic value of any components of ecosystems.
B)are public goods usually provided by markets.
C)include goods such as fresh water,wild foods,and livestock.
D)are essential but difficult to value in monetary terms.

Accepted Answer

Regulating and cultural services provided by natural ecosystems, such as air and water purification, erosion control, and recreation, are difficult to value in monetary terms as they do not have a market price. However, they are essential for human well-being and the functioning of ecosystems.

Question 19

At the mouth of the Mississippi River in Louisiana,the loss of coastal wetlands due to human activities contributed to the extent of storm damage caused by recent severe hurricanes.This loss of coastal wetlands therefore represents a
A)loss of natural goods.
B)loss of natural services.
C)long-term regional benefit to humans.
D)long-term economic benefit to humans.

Accepted Answer

The loss of coastal wetlands represents a loss of natural services, which in this case are the protection that wetlands provide against storm damage. Wetlands act as natural barriers that absorb and dissipate the energy of storms and tides, reducing the impact on coastal communities. Therefore, the loss of wetlands has increased the vulnerability of these communities to severe weather events.

Question 20

The main categories of biomes are based on differences in
A)climatic conditions.
B)the ratio of plants to animals in the biome.
C)the particular continent on which they are found.
D)the density of the plants in the biome.

Accepted Answer

The main categories of biomes are based on differences in climatic conditions, such as temperature, precipitation, and seasonal variations. These factors determine the types of plants, animals, and microorganisms that can survive in a biome. Some examples of biomes include tropical rainforest, savanna, desert, tundra, and taiga.

Quiz 7: The Use and Restoration of Ecosystems

In general,most ecosystems in the world have

The concept of ecosystem capital is most likely appreciated by

The phrase "ecosystem capital" is better than the phrase "natural resources" because ecosystem capital

Humans often manipulate the environment in ways that decrease the overall ecosystem capital because

Many ecosystems are damaged by attempts to make a quick profit because

Sustainable exploitation of natural ecosystems will most likely

The value of programs such as the Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) lies in

-The Thailand shrimp farm in this photo was built in a mangrove wetland.Overall,the ecosystem capital in this particular region has

In general,humans can harvest renewable resources of plants and animals at sustainable levels because

The pervasive alteration of global ecosystems is mainly the result of

The lionfish is

Which of the following is an example of natural goods from an ecosystem?

A shrimp farm in Thailand results in

In general,coral reef ecosystems globally

Which of the following human activities have resulted in the conversion of nearly 50% of the Earth's land surface?

Maintaining sustainable human exploitation of ecosystem capital will be increasingly difficult because of

The ability of an ecosystem to replenish itself leads to

Regulating and cultural services provided by natural ecosystems

At the mouth of the Mississippi River in Louisiana,the loss of coastal wetlands due to human activities contributed to the extent of storm damage caused by recent severe hurricanes.This loss of coastal wetlands therefore represents a

The main categories of biomes are based on differences in