Impact on Land

Big Idea 6: Earth Structures

Human Impact on Ecosystems (CS1)

Big Idea 6: Earth Structures

• Over geologic time, internal and external sources of energy have continuously altered the features of Earth by means of both constructive and destructive forces. All life, including human civilization, is dependent on Earth's internal and external energy and material resources.

Identify the impact that humans have had on Earth, such as deforestation, urbanization, desertification, erosion, air and water quality, changing the flow of water. (SC.7.E.6.6 - DoK 2)

• As the human population has evolved over time, we have had great impact on our Earth.

• As civilization developed, urbanization has occured as people live in close proximity and develop the land around them with man-made resources.

• In order for urbanization to occur, land is cleared of vegetation to provide space and materials used for building and construction. This is called deforestation.

• The Industrial Revolution brought with it, many factories and increased carbon emissions.

• The agriculture industry has grown in order to meet the demand of increasing human population which has caused negative effects on land, animals, and our climate as pesticides and fertilzers are used to grow crops and animals are farmed and raised for meat.

• The deforestation, urbanization, and industrialization that have come with civilization have all lead to the production of increased greenhouse gases as fossil fuels are burned, which has caused our global climate to change with overall higher temperature patterns and extreme weather occuring worldwide.

Multiple Choice

Increased erosion is one effect human activities have on the environment. Which of the following activities would result in an increase in erosion?

• clearing trees to build roads

• using fertilizers and pesticides

• disposing of chemicals improperly

• burning fossil fuels such as coal and oil

Multiple Choice

Deforestation occurs when large areas of trees are cut down. Which of the following impacts on the environment would result from deforestation?

• increased erosion

• colder temperatures

• decreased carbon dioxide

• greater oxygen production

Multiple Choice

Whaling was a very profitable profession until whale populations crashed. The global community came together to enact a ban on whaling. However, Japan and Norway have not agreed to stop whaling. Which of the following is the most likely consequence of their decision?

• The whale populations are bouncing back very successfully and are unaffected by Japan and Norway continuing to whale.

• The whale populations are not rebounding as quickly as they might if all of the countries agreed not to hunt whales.

• The whale populations have mutated into new kinds of organisms.

• The whales are getting better at avoiding capture.

Multiple Choice

A strip mining company wants to lease some land that is currently part of a national park. They promise to reclaim the land should any minerals be mined from the area, and they are willing to pay top dollar for the rights. As an ecologist, what factors would you raise with the local government?

• the threat to local biodiversity

• management of the land after the company leaves

• the new jobs that would be created

• the increased traffic in the area

Multiple Choice

The northern elephant seal was almost hunted to extinction in the 1800s. By the late 1890s, approximately one hundred seals were left, reducing the gene pool of the population. What will be the consequence of this reduction?

• Competition within the population will increase.

• The surviving elephant seals will be better able to adapt.

• Inbreeding will be less frequent among the remaining population.

• The elephant seals will be more vulnerable to environmental change.

Multiple Choice

Salt water is an abundant resource but unusable for irrigation and drinking. As demands on freshwater sources increase, the use of desalination processes to remove salt from ocean water is increasing. A concern of desalinating water is the large amounts of recovered salts that are returned to the ocean. Which of the following describes the most likely impact of desalination on the surrounding ocean environment?

• Methane gas would pollute the ocean environment as shoreline organisms begin to die and decay.

• Alteration in ocean salt levels would cause loss of species and unbalanced populations in marine food webs.

• Nonrenewable resources in the ocean environment would become depleted and upset the ecosystem's balance.

• Increased levels of salts and minerals in the ocean would result in overpopulation of marine bivalves due to strengthened shells

Multiple Choice

Which of the following issues is the cause of the other environmental impacts caused by humans?

• pollution

• human population growth

• climate change

• habitat destruction

Multiple Choice

Human impact on the environment is often more dramatic than the impact of most other living things because humans have a greater

• need for water

• need for food

• ability to alter the environment

• ability to adapt to change

Multiple Choice

Process that moves sediments and rocks from one place to another.

• Erosion

• Deposition

• Weathering

• Pollution

Multiple Choice

How does plastic effect sea life?

• Microplastics create dead zones in the oceans.

• Plastics provide habitats for marine life.

• Wildlife such as dolphins, seals and seabirds often eat plastic, mistaking it for food.

• None of the above

Multiple Choice

Climate change causes extreme weather conditions such as:

• Flooding

• Heat Waves

• Hurricanes

• All of the above

Multiple Choice

What are the greatest problems facing plants, animals, and people?

• introducing new species that can cause problems

• habitat destruction

• illegal hunting

• all of the above

Multiple Choice

Why do the populations of invasive species grow so quickly?

• Invasive Species are native to an area.

• Invasive species are prey to many animals.

• Invasive species have no predators.

• Invasive species keep the ecosystems in equilibrium.

Multiple Choice

What is one way to prevent climate change?

• avoid dumping in storm drains

• turn off electricity when you are not using it

• pick up after your pet's litter

• open windows

Multiple Choice

What is biodiversity?

• a population of a species

• the growth of cities

• destruction of natural habitats

• a variety of organisms

Multiple Choice

Which is an effect of climate change?

• melting of sea ice

• burning of fossil fuels

• cutting down trees

• vehicle exhaust

Multiple Choice

Which is a cause of climate change?

• melting of sea ice

• cutting down trees

• severe storms

• changes in plant life

Multiple Choice

What is the greenhouse effect?

• the burning of fossil fuels causes gases to mix with water in the atmosphere

• ground level ozone and vehicle exhaust react in the presence of sunlight

• certain gases such as carbon dioxide act like a blanket and keep the sun's energy close to earth

Multiple Choice

What do organisms release in the carbon/oxygen cycle?

• carbon dioxide

• oxygen

Multiple Choice

What do plants release in the carbon/oxygen cycle?

• Carbon dioxide

• Oxygen

Multiple Choice

The process in which organisms use oxygen to release the stored energy in sugar.

• photosynthesis

• respiration

• decomposition

• combustion

Multiple Choice

The process in which plants use energy from the sun to convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and glucose.

• respiration

• decomposition

• photosynthesis

• combustion

Multiple Choice

Most water pollution is the result of

• human activities.

• drought.

• volcanic eruptions.

• storms.

Multiple Choice

What is the major cause for air pollution?

• factories and cars

• cigarretes

• deforestation

• oil spills

Multiple Choice

The largest threat to biodiversity is

• bacteria

• fungi

• humans

• plants

Multiple Choice

When human-made chemicals and garbage find their way into nature and harm the air, soil, and water it is called

• pollution

• habitat destruction

• overexploitation

• climate change

Multiple Choice

The threat to biodiversity that occurs when the homes of different species are destroyed

• pollution

• habitat destruction

• overexploitation

• climate change

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT a threat to biodiversity?

• Pollution

• Deforestation

• Invasive Species

• Ecological Succession

Multiple Choice

Which of these is one cause of deforestation?

• Urbanization

• Buying a Christmas tree during the holidays

• Overbreeding birds in the wild

• Cutting down the tree in your backyard

Multiple Choice

The primary cause of invasive species introduction is

• too much food

• human actions

• weather events

• asteroids

Multiple Choice

How do invasive plants damage the environment?

• Compete with native species

• Change plant community

• Alter diversity

• All of these

Multiple Choice

Why should we conserve fossil fuels?

• They are expensive

• One day they will run out

Multiple Choice

How long does it take for fossil fuels to form?

• 100 years

• 10,000 years

• millions of years

Multiple Choice

We can prevent water pollution by:

• Reduce the use of plastic.

• Properly dispose of chemicals.

• Clean up after your animals.

• All of the above

Multiple Select

Water pollution occurs when:

• Harmful substances enter a water supply

• Industries dispose of waste safely and correctly.

• Industries cut costs with waste disposal.

• None of the above.

Multiple Choice

What is deforestation?

• Clearing Earth's forests on a massive scale

• Eating too much vegetables

• Going to a forest and pulling weeds

• Clearing the five trees in my backyard

Multiple Select

Deforestation does not cause animals to lose their habitats.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Which of the following are fossil fuels?

• Coal, Water, Oil

• Oxygen, Coal, Oil

• Coal, Oil, Natural Gas

• None of these

Multiple Choice

If the human population decreased, the amount of carbon would _________.

• Stay the same

• Increase

• Decrease

Multiple Choice

Which one of these does not add CO2 to the atmosphere?

• cooking with gas

• planting trees

• burning wood

• riding in a bus

Multiple Choice

When humans burn fossil fuels, most of the carbon quickly enters the as carbon dioxide.

• Water

• Atmosphere

• Sun

• Air