Ecological Consequences
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AP Environmental Science › Ecological Consequences
Riparian zones are important because .
they are centers of biodiversity, especially in arid ecosystems
they are one of the easiest ecosystems to manage
they cover vast areas of terrain
they are very quickly eroded
Explanation
Riparian zones prevent erosion and are incredibly high in biodiversity. Riparian areas are thin and ribbon-like, accompanying streams and rivers, but often long and dense.
Which is not a primary cause of deforestation?
Prejudice against indigenous peoples
Poverty
Exploitative governmental policies
Failure to account for ecological services in forest resource surveys
Explanation
Though prejudice against indigenous peoples is not a primary cause of deforestation, many indigenous cultures go extinct, much like endemic species, when their lands are taken from them.
Riparian zones are important because .
they are centers of biodiversity, especially in arid ecosystems
they are one of the easiest ecosystems to manage
they cover vast areas of terrain
they are very quickly eroded
Explanation
Riparian zones prevent erosion and are incredibly high in biodiversity. Riparian areas are thin and ribbon-like, accompanying streams and rivers, but often long and dense.
Which is not a primary cause of deforestation?
Prejudice against indigenous peoples
Poverty
Exploitative governmental policies
Failure to account for ecological services in forest resource surveys
Explanation
Though prejudice against indigenous peoples is not a primary cause of deforestation, many indigenous cultures go extinct, much like endemic species, when their lands are taken from them.
How does the 6th mass extinction significantly differ from the other 5 mass extinctions that have occurred throughout the history of Earth?
Human activities (overhunting, habitat destruction, greenhouse gases, etc.) are the primary contributing factor in the 6th mass extinction, which was not the case for the other events.
The other mass extinction events were caused by meteors striking earth, while the 6th mass extinction is a result of radical climate change.
The 6th mass extinction was a result of a meteor hitting earth, unlike previous extinction events, which were largely the result of climate change.
The 6th mass extinction is the only extinction event to have occured when dinosaurs were not inhabiting earth.
The 6th mass extinction event is projected to not be as severe in species loss as previous extinction events.
Explanation
Previous extinction events can be attributed to pathology, climate change and other natural factors. The current 6th mass extinction event is largely attributed to human activities and the resulting climate change.
Which explanation is most accurate in describing the chemical and atmospheric processes involved in ocean acidification?
Carbon dioxide is emitted by burning fossil fuels and is released into the atmosphere, increasing the atmospheric concentration of carbon. Being soluble in water, 
Sulfur produced from industrial manufacturing increases the sulfur concentration in the atmosphere, which results in sulfuric acid (
Carbon dioxide is released in the atmosphere from the burning of fossil fuels, where it interacts with water vapor in the atmosphere to form carbonic acid, which enters the ocean by precipitation, lowering the pH.
Explanation
Ocean acidification is most accurately described by the answer choice that talks about carbon dioxide being emitted into the atmosphere before being absorbed by ocean water to react with carbonate ions and form carbonic acid.
Image: "Ocean Acidification." NOAA PMEL Carbon Program. NOAA. Web. 6 Apr. 2015. <http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/co2/story/Ocean Acidification>.
Average annual rainfall and average annual temperature are the two most important characteristics in defining a biome. Which biome has the highest average annual temperature and the highest average annual rainfall?
Tropical rainforest
Boreal forest
Temperate rainforest
Subtropical desert
Explanation
The correct response is tropical rainforest. The tropical rainforest biome has by far the highest annual precipitation (300-450 centimeters per year) and highest average temperature (25-35 C). The subtropical desert and savanna are incorrect answer choice because they have low precipitation. Boreal forest and temperate rainforests have lower temperature than tropical rainforests.
Average annual rainfall and average annual temperature are the two most important characteristics in defining a biome. Which biome has the highest average annual temperature and the highest average annual rainfall?
Tropical rainforest
Boreal forest
Temperate rainforest
Subtropical desert
Explanation
The correct response is tropical rainforest. The tropical rainforest biome has by far the highest annual precipitation (300-450 centimeters per year) and highest average temperature (25-35 C). The subtropical desert and savanna are incorrect answer choice because they have low precipitation. Boreal forest and temperate rainforests have lower temperature than tropical rainforests.
How does the 6th mass extinction significantly differ from the other 5 mass extinctions that have occurred throughout the history of Earth?
Human activities (overhunting, habitat destruction, greenhouse gases, etc.) are the primary contributing factor in the 6th mass extinction, which was not the case for the other events.
The other mass extinction events were caused by meteors striking earth, while the 6th mass extinction is a result of radical climate change.
The 6th mass extinction was a result of a meteor hitting earth, unlike previous extinction events, which were largely the result of climate change.
The 6th mass extinction is the only extinction event to have occured when dinosaurs were not inhabiting earth.
The 6th mass extinction event is projected to not be as severe in species loss as previous extinction events.
Explanation
Previous extinction events can be attributed to pathology, climate change and other natural factors. The current 6th mass extinction event is largely attributed to human activities and the resulting climate change.
Which explanation is most accurate in describing the chemical and atmospheric processes involved in ocean acidification?
Carbon dioxide is emitted by burning fossil fuels and is released into the atmosphere, increasing the atmospheric concentration of carbon. Being soluble in water,
Sulfur produced from industrial manufacturing increases the sulfur concentration in the atmosphere, which results in sulfuric acid (
Carbon dioxide is released in the atmosphere from the burning of fossil fuels, where it interacts with water vapor in the atmosphere to form carbonic acid, which enters the ocean by precipitation, lowering the pH.
Explanation
Ocean acidification is most accurately described by the answer choice that talks about carbon dioxide being emitted into the atmosphere before being absorbed by ocean water to react with carbonate ions and form carbonic acid.
Image: "Ocean Acidification." NOAA PMEL Carbon Program. NOAA. Web. 6 Apr. 2015. <http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/co2/story/Ocean Acidification>.