Environmental Science final review

When natural selection occurs, what is the key factor that will determine which individuals will survive and
pass on the beneficial traits?

• The traits that are more useful to humans will be passed on
• Size; the larger the animal or plant, the more likely it will survive
• How large the initial population is
• The environment will determine which traits are most beneficial

Alien species often pose a threat to native species because:

• a. native species are less genetically diverse than alien species
• the non-native species does not compete with native species
• alien species often have no natural enemies in their new location
• native species refuse to mate with other native species

Given the following waste management options, which is the optimal choice?

• Depositing waste in an open pit in the ground
• Incineration of waste
• Depositing waste in a landfill
• Production of less waste material

The difference between a point source and a nonpoint source of water pollution is:

• a nonpoint source is easily identifiable
• point sources tend to be agricultural in nature
• point sources can be targeted for reduction
• nonpoint sources are less harmful to the environment

Which pollutant or pollutants are most likely to create eutrophic areas?

• nitrates and phosphates
• heavy metals
• synthetic organic compounds
• pharmaceuticals

According to the U.S. Supreme Court, which agreement or legislation gives the EPA the authority to regulate CO₂ emissions?

• the Clean Water Act
• the Clean Air Act
• the Montreal Protocol
• the Kyoto Protocol

Living in an environmentally sustainable way necessitates:

• using Earth’s resources efficiently whenever convenient.
• living without basic ecosystem services.
• sensitivity to the needs of future generations.
• living in a rural area

According to the law of conservation of matter,
I. matter can be created
II. matter cannot be destroyed
III. after a chemical reaction, the original atoms remain

• I onlt
• II only
• III only
• II and III

A negative feedback loop is:

• when feedback into the system increases the rate of progress
• seen in the example of increased greenhouse gases leading to global warming
• seen in the example o world population growth
• when a system responds to a change by returning it to its original state

Choose the correct sequence of energy flow within an ecosystem.

• Herbivores --> producers -->carnivores -->scavengers
• Producers --> herbivores--> carnivores --> scavengers
• Producers --> carnivores-->herbivores-->carnivores
• Scavengers-->producers-->herbivores-->carnivores