Ch3 Environmental Systems

What is the main environmental issue depicted in the case study titled "Death by Fertilizer"?

• Deforestation

• Hypoxia

• Acid rain

• Global warming

Which river is shown as contributing to the hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico?

• Amazon River

• Nile River

• Mississippi River

• Yangtze River

Who is quoted as saying, "Most institutions demand unqualified faith; but the institution of science makes skepticism a virtue"?

• Albert Einstein

• Robert King Merton

• Isaac Newton

• Marie Curie

What is a system?

• A single independent component

• A network of interdependent components and processes

• A random collection of materials

• A static structure with no energy flow

What is an ecosystem?

• A simple group of plants

• A complex assemblage of animals, plants, and their environment

• A single animal species

• A non-living environment

What are state variables in a simple system?

• Pathways for resource movement

• Compartments storing resources

• External influences on the system

• Outputs of the system

What do flows represent in a simple system?

• Storage of energy

• Movement of resources

• Creation of new resources

• Destruction of resources

What process in an ecosystem involves plants converting sunlight into energy?

• Photosynthesis

• Decomposition

• Predation

• Herbivory

Which process in an ecosystem involves animals eating plants?

• Photosynthesis

• Decomposition

• Predation

• Herbivory

What is the role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

• They produce energy from sunlight.

• They break down dead organisms.

• They hunt other animals.

• They consume plants.