Environmental Science Core Assessment Study Guide

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Environmental Science Core Assessment

Study Guide

Name:

Period:

Define each of the following words.

Key Terms:

Ecosystem

Habitat

Abiotic

Biotic

 Limiting factors

Carry capacity

 Adaptations

Food chain

 Food web

Energy Pyramid

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Herbivore

Carnivore

 Omnivore

Scavenger

 Decomposer

Producer

 Cycle

N 2 cycle

 C-O 2 CYCLE

 Biodiversity

Habitat Fragmentation

 Habitat destruction

 Clear cutting

Selective cutting

Pollution

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Air pollution

Water pollution

Land usage(pollution)

 Reduce

Reuse

Recycle

Renewable resources

 Non-renewable resources

Energy conservation

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Chapter 1

The graph above shows how the size of the squirrel population in a city park changed over time. On the graph below plot the total population of the squirrels each year, and answer the accompanying questions.

1992

Squirrels 350

1998

500

1999

405

1993

300

1994

210

1995

310

1996

395

1997

550

Squirrel Population in a City Park 1992-1999

1992 1993 1994 1995

Year

1996 1997 1998 1999

1) Over which time period(s) did the squirrel population decrease?

2) Over which time period(s) did the population increase?

3) In which year did the population reach its lowest point? What was the size of the population that year?

4) Give at least three reasons a population size changes.

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5)

Identify three limiting factors that can prevent a population from increasing. Explain how each factor limits a population’s size.

c. a. b.

In 1990, there was just one farmhouse on a square kilometer of land. The land was sold to a developer who planned to build a total of 20 houses. While some of the houses were being built, a scientist collected the data in the table below.

Year

Number of

Rabbits per km 2

Number of

Houses per km 2

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

56

51

46

75

72

64

60

8

10

13

3

5

1

2

1997

1998

1999

35

29

21

14

16

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6) The last four houses were built in the year 2000. Based on the data in the table, predict what happened to the number of rabbits in the year 2000.

7) Explain how you arrived at this prediction.

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8) Give at least 3 environmental issues that could result with continued habitat fragmentation of the neighboring open space.

The eyes of the owl and the rabbit shown in the diagram below give each animal a different advantage. The front-facing owl eyes allow the bird to accurately judge distance when swooping in on prey. The side-facing rabbit eyes allow the animal to detect the motion of possible predators.

9) The specialized eye types of these animals are examples of:

(a) disruptions of the natural balance

(b) the interdependence of living things

(c) adaptations for survival under certain conditions

(d) involuntary responses to stimuli

The diagram below shows the head structure of four different birds.

10) The birds’ beaks show how the birds

(a) compete for the same food in their community

(b) require different amounts of food for survival

(c) store food for the winter months

(d) are adapted to get food from different sources

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11) Feathers, wings, and the hollow bones of birds are examples of

(a) adaptations for flight

(b) responses to stimuli

(c) unnecessary body parts

(d) reproductive structures

Base your answers to the following questions on the diagrams of a food chain and energy pyramid below and on your knowledge of science. Food chains and energy pyramids are used to help us understand the flow of energy in an ecosystem.

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12) If the producers die during a summer drought, the cricket population would most likely decrease increase remain the same

Explain:

13) If the number of frogs increases, predict what would happen to the population size of the third and fourth level consumers?

Explain:

14) If a snake dies and is not eaten by a hawk, which energy role is responsible for returning the nutrients back into the soil?

The table below shows the deer population in Arizona for a 30-year period.

15) What is the most likely reason that the deer population decreased from 1920 to 1935?

(a) There was less air pollution.

(b) More water was available.

(c) Fewer hunting licenses were issued.

(d) There was increased competition for food.

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Chapter 2

The diagram below gives information about carbon dioxide and oxygen in the atmosphere.

16) What is the name of the process represented in this diagram that produces the oxygen?

(a) photosynthesis

(b) metamorphosis

(c) respiration

(d) fertilization

Base your answers to the following questions on the diagram below, which shows a partial food web.

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17) Which group of organisms is missing from this food web?

(A) carnivores (B) herbivores (C) omnivores (D) decomposers

18) How many organisms in this food web feed on the mice?

(A) 5 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 4

19) Which organisms in this food web are omnivores?

(A) birds (B) plants (C) grasshoppers (D) rabbits

20) Give an example of a carnivore, a producer, and an herbivore shown in this food web.

Carnivore: ________________________________

Producer: ________________________________

Herbivore: ________________________________

The diagram below shows a deer and green plants.

21) Which statement best describes the relationship between the deer and the plants?

(a) The deer supplies food and oxygen to the green plants.

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(b) The deer supplies food and carbon dioxide to the green plants.

(c) The green plants supply food and carbon dioxide to the deer.

(d) The green plants supply food and oxygen to the deer.

Chapter 3

The average life expectancy of humans in the United States increased from 63.3 years in 1943 to 77.6 years in

2003. This, combined with other factors, has led to an increase in population.

22) State one way the increase in human population affects other species.

Base your answers to the following questions on the information and illustration below.

Manatees are mammals that live in the warm, clear water environment of Florida’s shallow rivers. They are large, peaceful, gentle, curious creatures and slow-moving swimmers. They spend many hours each day feeding on water plants. Manatees must surface to breathe every 15 minutes.

The manatee’s environment is changing because of hotels and homes being built along Florida’s rivers, and the change is affecting them in a negative way. Noise and activity from people and boats scare them. Manatees can be seriously injured by powerboat propellers because the manatees cannot tell the direction from which the

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boats are coming. The water plants the manatees use for food are being destroyed. As a result of these and other changes in their surroundings, manatees are on the endangered species list and may one day be gone from

Florida’s rivers.

23) List two environmental conditions that might lead to the disappearance of manatees from Florida’s rivers.

24) From an environmentalist’s point of view, why should the manatee be protected?

25) Why is it important to protect biodiversity?

26) Name at least 3 ways an individual can help save biodiversity? a. b. c.

Chapter 4

Base your answers to the following questions on the passage below and on your knowledge of science.

Acid Rain

Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide are pollutants released into the atmosphere from the burning of fossil fuels. These pollutants combine with moisture in the air to form acid rain. A main source of these pollutants can be traced to power plants located in the Midwestern United States. Due to weather patterns, the effects of acid rain have been most severe in the northeastern United States, including New York State.

The acid rain destroys the natural balance in lakes and streams and kills many species of fish. Acidic conditions affect not only lakes and forests, but also buildings and statues composed of limestone and marble. Other materials, such as metals, ceramics, glass, paints, and leather, are affected by acid rain.

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27) Which two pollutants combine with water vapor in the air to produce acid rain?

28) Identify two actions that could be taken to reduce the amount of acid rain. a. b.

Use the table below to answer the questions about greenhouse gases.

29) Identify the greenhouse gas of the greatest percentage.

30) State 3 human activities that are a source of this gas. c. a. b.

The diagram below shows some ways in which groundwater can be affected by humans

.

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31) Which statement is best supported by the diagram?

(a) Chemicals applied by farmers lower the level of pollution in drinking water.

(b) Drinking water can become polluted from unsuspected sources.

(c) Human activities do not affect groundwater.

(d) Toxic waste is safe if buried below the level of the basements of nearby homes.

32) For each of the following categories of waste disposal, give three examples of waste products.

Recycle: a. b. c. a. b. c.

Compost: a. b. c.

Hazardous:

33) As the human population increases, describe how it would affect our energy sources, and the amount of waste generated by us. a.

Waste-

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b.

Energy-

34) Where would the ideal location be for each of the following? a.

Wind Farm- b.

Hydroelectric Power Plant- c.

Solar Power Plant-

Chapter 5

Identify each energy resource in the diagram below then classify each as a renewable or nonrenewable.

Resource RENEWABLE or NON-RENEWABLE energy resource

Coal

Animals

Water

Natural gas

Oil

Wind

Plants/trees

Sun

Compare one of the renewable energy sources and one of the fossil fuels you identified above. In your answer, be sure to:

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a. b. c.

35) Describe how we use the renewable energy source.

36) Describe how we use the nonrenewable fossil fuel.

37) Explain what makes the renewable energy source renewable.

38) Explain what makes the fossil fuel nonrenewable.

39) What is meant by conservation of energy? a. b.

40) What is energy efficiency? Give an example of a product that is efficient.

41) Why is it so important for humans to save energy? Think: does energy cycle or flow?

42) Give 3 ways to save energy at home?

43) Is it true that computers and TVs use electricity even when they're turned off?

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