FINAL EXAM ENV. SYS. 2024 sv

Front

What is point source pollution?

Back

Point source pollution refers to contaminants that enter a waterway from a single, identifiable source, such as a pipe or a ditch. An example is an oil spill from a boat.

Front

What is sulfur dioxide and how is it produced?

Back

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is a gas produced when fuels containing sulfur are burned in the presence of oxygen. It is a significant air pollutant.

Front

What happens to the energy that is not transferred between trophic levels?

Back

90% of the energy is converted to heat energy and is lost to the environment, while only 10% is passed on to the next trophic level.

Front

What is a producer in an ecosystem?

Back

A producer is an organism that can make its own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis. An example is grass.

Front

Which biome has the highest biodiversity?

Back

The tropical rainforest has the largest number of species of plants and animals due to its warm climate and high rainfall.

Front

Define biomass in an ecological context.

Back

Biomass refers to the total mass of living matter within a given area or volume, often used to measure the productivity of an ecosystem.

Front

What is the greenhouse effect?

Back

The greenhouse effect is the warming of Earth's surface due to the trapping of heat by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Front

Explain the concept of ecological succession.

Back

Ecological succession is the process by which ecosystems change and develop over time, often following a disturbance.

Front

What is the difference between autotrophs and heterotrophs?

Back

Autotrophs are organisms that produce their own food (e.g., plants), while heterotrophs are organisms that consume other organisms for energy (e.g., animals).

Front

What role do decomposers play in an ecosystem?

Back

Decomposers break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem and supporting plant growth.