All flashcards
Flashcard 1: What is a major ecosystem consequence of climate warming caused by human activity?
Answer: Shifts in species ranges and timing of seasonal events. Temperature changes force species to migrate or alter life cycles.
Flashcard 2: What is the primary ecological risk of herbicide runoff into aquatic systems?
Answer: Reduces aquatic plants and disrupts food webs. Herbicides kill aquatic plants that form the base of food chains.
Flashcard 3: What is the primary ecological effect of mining on nearby ecosystems?
Answer: Habitat destruction and water contamination by tailings. Excavation destroys habitats and toxic waste pollutes surrounding areas.
Flashcard 4: What is noise pollution, and which animal process is commonly affected?
Answer: Human-made noise interfering with communication and mating. Loud sounds mask important acoustic signals between animals.
Flashcard 5: Which option best identifies a nonpoint-source pollutant: sewage outfall or lawn fertilizer runoff?
Answer: Lawn fertilizer runoff. Nonpoint sources come from diffuse, widespread areas.
Flashcard 6: Which human activity most directly increases atmospheric extCO2: planting trees or burning gasoline?
Answer: Burning gasoline. Gasoline combustion releases carbon stored in fossil fuels.
Flashcard 7: What is a key ecosystem effect of acid rain on lakes and streams?
Answer: Lower pH that stresses or kills aquatic organisms. Acidic conditions harm fish gills and disrupt reproduction.
Flashcard 8: What human activity increases the risk of wildfires in many ecosystems?
Answer: Human ignition sources and land management that increases fuels. Human activities create ignition sources and increase flammable materials.
Flashcard 9: What human activity is the most common cause of desertification?
Answer: Overgrazing and unsustainable farming in dry regions. Poor land management degrades soil and removes protective vegetation.
Flashcard 10: What is ocean acidification primarily caused by, due to human emissions?
Answer: More dissolved extCO2 forming carbonic acid in seawater. Atmospheric CO2 dissolves and lowers ocean pH levels.
Flashcard 11: What is a key ecological effect of ocean acidification on coral reefs?
Answer: Reduced calcification, weakening coral skeletons. Lower pH makes it harder for corals to build calcium carbonate structures.
Flashcard 12: What is noise pollution, and which animal process is commonly affected?
Answer: Human-made noise interfering with communication and mating. Loud sounds mask important acoustic signals between animals.
Flashcard 13: What is light pollution, and what ecosystem process can it disrupt?
Answer: Artificial night light disrupting behavior and circadian rhythms. Artificial lighting confuses nocturnal animals and migration patterns.
Flashcard 14: What is the main ecosystem effect of thermal pollution on aquatic oxygen levels?
Answer: Lower dissolved oxygen because warm water holds less extO2. Warmer water cannot dissolve as much oxygen as cool water.
Flashcard 15: What is thermal pollution, and what human activity often causes it?
Answer: Warmer water released from power plant cooling systems. Power plants discharge heated water that raises aquatic temperatures.
Flashcard 16: What is the primary ecological effect of mining on nearby ecosystems?
Answer: Habitat destruction and water contamination by tailings. Excavation destroys habitats and toxic waste pollutes surrounding areas.
Flashcard 17: What human activity is the most common cause of desertification?
Answer: Overgrazing and unsustainable farming in dry regions. Poor land management degrades soil and removes protective vegetation.
Flashcard 18: What is a primary ecosystem impact of intensive livestock grazing?
Answer: Vegetation loss, soil compaction, and increased erosion. Too many animals damage vegetation and compact soil.
Flashcard 19: What is the primary ecosystem impact of clear-cut logging?
Answer: Severe habitat loss and increased soil erosion. Removes all vegetation and topsoil, devastating local ecosystems.
Flashcard 20: What is the immediate aquatic effect of eutrophication on dissolved oxygen?
Answer: Dissolved oxygen decreases due to decomposition. Bacteria consume oxygen while breaking down dead algae.
Flashcard 21: What is habitat fragmentation caused by road building, and how does it affect ecosystems?
Answer: Splitting habitats into smaller patches, reducing connectivity and biodiversity. Roads create isolated patches that limit animal movement and gene flow.
Flashcard 22: What is eutrophication most commonly caused by in human-managed landscapes?
Answer: Excess fertilizer or sewage adding nitrogen and phosphorus. These nutrients fuel excessive algae growth in water bodies.
Flashcard 23: What is bioaccumulation, and which human pollutants commonly cause it?
Answer: Toxins build up in organisms; often mercury or persistent pesticides. These substances resist breakdown and accumulate in fatty tissues.
Flashcard 24: What is biomagnification in a food chain affected by human pollution?
Answer: Toxin concentration increases at higher trophic levels. Predators consume many contaminated prey, concentrating toxins.
Flashcard 25: What human activity directly causes deforestation in tropical ecosystems?
Answer: Clearing forests for agriculture, logging, or urban development. These activities remove tree cover for human land use needs.
Flashcard 26: What is the main ecological effect of converting grassland to cropland?
Answer: Reduced native biodiversity and altered nutrient cycling. Monoculture replaces diverse plant species and disrupts natural cycles.
Flashcard 27: What human activity is a major source of acid rain precursors?
Answer: Burning fossil fuels releasing extSO2 and extNOx. These gases react with water vapor to form acids in the atmosphere.
Flashcard 28: What is the main ecological effect of excess nitrogen on plant communities?
Answer: Favors fast-growing species, reducing diversity. Excess nitrogen allows weedy species to outcompete native plants.
Flashcard 29: What human activity most directly increases nitrogen deposition to ecosystems?
Answer: Fertilizer use and burning fuels that emit extNOx. Agriculture and vehicle emissions are major nitrogen sources.
Flashcard 30: What is the primary ecological risk of herbicide runoff into aquatic systems?
Answer: Reduces aquatic plants and disrupts food webs. Herbicides kill aquatic plants that form the base of food chains.