5.12 - Sustainability

Which of the following is NOT a major environmental indicator?

• Water pH

• Atmospheric CO2 levels

• Biodiversity 

• Global average temperature

Which of the following BEST describes how biodiversity functions as an environmental indicator?

• Lower genetic biodiversity is an indicator that environments are becoming less polluted

• Declining species biodiversity on earth indicates that environmental change is occuring too rapidly for species to adapt

• Higher ecosystem biodiversity is an indicator that habitats are rappidly changing and undergoing secondary succession

• The higher earth's genetic biodiversity, the more species there are on earth and the healthier the environment must be

Which of the following BEST describes how food production indicates environmental health?

• As we produce more food, we put more strain on our soil and water resources, which threatens environmental health

• Food production indicates that we are eating more meat, which is beneficial for environmental health since animals can graze in areas that are too dry for planting crops

• As we produce more food, it indicates that our soil is healthy and able to continue producing increasing amounts of food

• All of the above are correct descriptions of how food production serves as an environmental indicator