_____ accounts for almost 70 percent of water use.	agriculture
"Darwin's finches" reside on the Galapagos Islands. Each species has a different type of beak, however, they can all be traced back to one common ancestor. The different beaks are an example of _____.	adaptations
A _____ is a barrier that holds back water from a river.	dam
A _____ is a place that is strictly controlled in order to protect a species from extinction.	wildlife sanctuary
A benefit of aquaculture is which of the following?	The elimination of catching marine life other than the intended fish.
A blue whale is an example of which of the following?	nekton
A climatograph can show the average monthly precipitation and the average monthly temperature in a region. Together, these two factors play a large role in determining what biome a particular geographical area falls under.	true
A farmer has chosen to breed a rooster and a chicken. He selects the chicken that has historically laid the most eggs. The farmer is doing _____.	artificial selection
A farmer's fields, which are close to a stream, has experienced a lot of runoff. One possible effect of the runoff is that the stream will have a decreased level of fertilizers from the field.	false
A fisheries management official recommends that long line fishing in a certain area be prohibited during the spring and summer season of the year. What is the most likely reason for this?	Prevent the catching of sea birds during their nesting and breeding season.
A garden supply company has an advertisement selling beneficial bacteria. They claim that the bacteria will help gardeners grow better gardens because of better soil. What can some bacteria do for soil?	improve fertility
A geologist is examining a new sample of rock. She is trying to categorize it based on its physical properties. Which of the following characteristics cannot be identified based on her basic visual and tactile assessment?	melting temperature
A group of citizens will meet with the local government to discuss the creation of jobs, as well as the environmental impact of creating an office park in an area of grassland. These individuals will be discussing which of the following?	The trade-offs between conservation and economic development.
A large hole that opens in the ground as a result of overpumping groundwater is a _____.	sinkhole
A newly formed lake is most likely _____.	oligotrophic
A niche is part of an organism's habitat.	false
A population _____ follows a period of _____.	increase; scarcity
A population is experiencing exponential growth. This means it is growing _____, then _____.	slowly first, then rapidly
A population of deer is defined by _____.	the geographical area it inhabits
A rock has been formed by the accumulation of bits of minerals and soil that are pressurized together. How should this rock be classified?	sedimentary rocks
A sample of soil from a C horizon is light brown in color and has a high content of a mineral called feldspar. Which of the following statements is most likely true?	The parent material rock had feldspar minerals in it.
A small rodent lives in an area where the average temperature has been increasing drastically over a very short period of time. As a result, this species of rodent will most likely _____.	become extinct if the temperature gets too high
A society in the near future values education and career over family. More and more couples decide to wait until they have succeeded at work before they are ready to start a family. This population would most likely be _____.	declining
A species that is likely in the near future to become endangered would best be characterized as which of the following?	threatened
A species that is no longer in existence would best be characterized as which of the following?	extinct
A third-world country village gets a monthly air drop of white rice. The amount of rice is enough so that every villager never has a hungry stomach. Which of the following is a concern related to nutrition?	The rice-only diet may lead to malnutrition.
A town has plans to create a series of soccer fields in an area where there are currently trees. One negative effect of building soccer fields is increase soil erosion.	true
A transform boundary occurs where plates slide against each other.	true
A watershed is the area of land that rain and melted snow and ice collect to drain into a body of water.	true
Abiotic factors in an ecosystem does not include which of the following?	bacteria
absolute dating	process of determining a specific date of an object
abyssal zone	the deepest part of the ocean
According to the climate zone map, a desert may be either hot or cold, but is always characterized by dry conditions.	true
acid mine drainage	acidic water that seeps from piles of mine tailings as water in the environment reacts with acid-forming substances in the tailings waste
adaptation	an inherited trait that gives an organism an advantage or helps it survive in its given environment
age structure	the proportions of individuals in a population at various ages
age structure diagram	a graphical representation of the different proportions of individual ages in a population
agriculture	the science, art, and business of cultivating soil, producing crops, and raising livestock
albedo	a measure of the amount of light that a surface reflects
All of the following are examples of surface water except	aquifers
All of the weather on Earth occurs in the thermosphere.	false
alpine	high mountain biome
Although most regions of Europe are industrialized and highly developed, some people do not receive adequate nutrition because of poverty.	true
ammonification	process that occurs when bacteria convert organic materials into simple nitrogen-containing compounds such as ammonia
An agricultural pest is best described as _____.	any unwanted and destructive insect or other animal
An area where soil has eroded experiences _____.	a loss of nutrients
An earthquake causes a one 100 mile square area to be fractured into four different geographical areas. Two of the areas have a river running through them, the other two have ponds. Which of the following is a likely scenario based on the new geography?	Flying animals will be able to cross back and forth between the two areas easily.
An example of the needs of an ecosystem being at odds with those of humans is _____.	the extermination of the prairie dog pest
Aphids are beneficial insects because they are small insects that eat weeds.	false
aquaculture	raising fish in an artificial controlled environment
Aquaculture is commercial fishing.	false
aquifer	an underground layer of earth, gravel, or sand that yields water
Area A receives more than ten inches of rain per year. Area B receives less than one inch of rain per year. Which of the following is most likely true about Areas A and B?	Areas A and B are probably different biomes.
arid	type of climate where precipitation is less than evaporation, which makes it very dry
aridland	a desert, a biome with little precipitation and arid conditions
Artificial selection involves the use of robots and "test tube babies."	false
As a result of _____, grass cannot grow back quickly enough. The ground becomes bare, and the bare soil is prone to erosion and blows away in the wind.	overgrazing
As the human population grows _____.	resources will be depleted
asthenosphere	the region below the lithosphere, variously estimated as being from fifty to several hundred miles (eighty-five to several hundred kilometers) thick, in which the rock is less rigid than that above and below, but rigid enough to transmit transverse seismic waves
At time 0s, a population has 2 members. At time 2s, there are 4 members. At time 6s, there are 16 members. What type of growth is being experienced by this population?	exponential
At what temperature did water freeze on Earth 1 billion years ago?	0°C
At which location would sunlight have to pass through the thickest amount of atmosphere before reaching Earth's surface?	at the poles
At which point is evapotranspiration most likely to occur?	K
atmosphere	the thin layer of gases that surrounds earth
autotroph	an organism capable of producing its own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis
Based on the information in these age structure diagrams, which of the following countries have relatively equal birth and death rates?	Italy
Based on this graph, which of the following statements is incorrect?	If the bubonic plague reemerged, only a small fraction of the human population would be affected.
bathyal zone	zone of the ocean below the euphotic zone
beneficial insects	insects that are not harmful but instead perform beneficial tasks, such as bees pollinating flowers
benthic zone	the bottom zone of a lake
benthos	the animals in a body of water that dwell at the bottom
biodiversity	a measure of the variety of species in an environment
biological evolution	process by which a species changes over time
biomagnification	the accumulation of substances, such as pesticides or other organic chemicals, in an organism
biomass	biological material; all the plant and animal materials in an ecosystem
biome	a geographical area with similar climate and soils, which contains similar organisms
biosphere	all of Earth's ecosystems
biotic potential	a population's capacity to grow
Biotic potential and _____ determine _____.	environmental resistance; carrying capacity
Bleaching is caused by the addition of bleach containing fertilizers that enter marine systems through runoff.	false
Bottled water is considered both a renewable and non-renewable product because plastic is non-renewable, but water is renewable.	true
buffer zones	zones around an inner core of protected land that help minimize outside influences
bycatch	the unwanted fish inadvertently caught in the process of fishing, often discarded
carbon cycle	the circulation and reuse of carbon atoms, especially via the processes of photosynthesis and respiration
carnivore	organisms that only eat other consumers
carrying capacity	the maximum population of a given species that a particular habitat can sustain without degrading the habitat
Carrying capacity can vary depending on environmental conditions.	true
chaparral	coastal area near a desert with small shrubs and occasional trees
clear cutting	removal of all trees in a certain area
Clear cutting has a similar effect as controlled burning of a forest.	false
climate	a description of an area's long-term average temperature and precipitation characteristics
climax communities	final, relatively stable communities, believed by most ecologists today to be unattainable because of the fact that community change is almost always guaranteed
Commercially valuable fish may face extinction, even though fish are a renewable resource.	true
Communities make up a major component of an ecosystem.	true
community	consists of all the populations of different species that live and interact in a given area
Compared to fossil fuels, conserving water is not very important.	false
conservation	the preservation of resources through efficient and careful use
consumer	an organism that must eat to get energy indirectly from the sun
consumptive water use	water use that does not return water to its source, but instead leads to water being lost to evaporation, transported to another area, or contamination
Consumptive water use is use that does not return water to its source.	true
continental	a type of climate not influenced by the oceans; occurs within the interiors of continents
convection	the transfer of heat by the circulation or movement of the heated parts of a liquid or gas
convection current	any air current that is caused by the transfer of heat in the atmosphere
convergent plate boundary	a tectonic boundary where two plates are moving toward each other
Coral bleaching most often takes place in the shallowest parts of a reef. This would indicate which of the following?	The shallow parts are more susceptible to temperature.
core	the central portion of the earth, having a radius of about 2100 mi. (3379 km) and believed to be composed mainly of iron and nickel in a molten state
coriolis effect	observation that air and ocean currents appear to be deflected in their course of direction due to the spin of the earth on its axis
crown fires	larger fires that eventually burn whole trees
culturally eutrophic	a lake with excess nutrients from urban or agricultural land
dam	a constructed barrier built to hold back water from a river and for release during times of greater need
deforestation	the widespread cutting of large tracts of forests
Deforestation is related to global warming.	true
dentrification	process that occurs when ammonia and ammonium ions are converted back to nitrogen gas
depletion time	time required to exhaust a given amount of a mineral reserve
Depletion time describes the length of time it takes to use up	80% of a mineral reserve.
desert	a landscape that receives very little precipitation
desertification	expansion of desert lands caused by human activities and drought that accelerate soil erosion
developed country	another name for a high-income country, that is, a country with a relatively high level of per capita income
developing country	a country that is poor and whose citizens are mostly agricultural workers, but that is becoming more advanced socially and economically
divergent plate boundary	a tectonic boundary where two plates are moving away from each other and new crust is forming from magma that rises to the earth's surface between the two plates
domestic	related to private households and cities
Domestic use of water only refers to water used in private households.	false
drainage divides	a boundary between adjacent watersheds
drift mining	type of subsurface mining that involves digging a tunnel through the side of a mountain
drift net fishing	fishing technique that involves dragging long nets behind a boat and bringing in huge numbers of fish
Due to a recent drought, a farmer has lost quite a bit of soil on his fields because:	wind has carried away the dry soil.
Due to the high cost, there are very few wildlife refuges in the U.S.	false
earthquakes	series of vibrations produced in the earth's crust by the abrupt rupture and rebound of rocks in which elastic strain has been slowly accumulating
ecological niche	the role of a species in its ecosystem
ecological succession	order of changes in the composition or structure of an ecological community over time
ecology	the study of connections in nature
ecosystem	a community where populations of different species interact with one another and with their non-living environment
El Niño	a weather event that occurs when unusually warm waters from the Pacific Ocean disrupt typical global weather patterns
endangered	the species has so few numbers left that it may soon become extinct
environment	the external conditions, including natural surroundings, people, attitudes, and anything that influences the life and activities of people, plants, and animals
environmental resistance	all the factors that act to limit the growth of a population
environmental science	the study of ways in which people and animals interact with their environment
eon	the longest unit of geological time
equatorial	a region close to the equator that is characterized by warm temperatures year-round; also called tropical
era	a major division of geologic time that is a subdivision of an eon
erosion	the wearing down of land or soil by water, wind, ice, or gravity
estuary	place where ocean water and freshwater from an incoming river are mixed
euphotic zone	zone in a body of water through which sunlight can penetrate
eutrophic	a lake with a large amount or excess of nutrients
Even if you live in the middle of North America, the quality of your watershed can affect the quality of the ocean. How can this be?	Materials in your watershed are eventually transported to an ocean.
Evolutionary adaptations commonly occur during the lifetime of an individual.	false
exosphere	the last layer of the atmosphere before space
exponential growth	growth characterized by a slow start and then rapid increase
Exponential growth is when a couple has the number of children to replace themselves.	false
extinction	when all members of a species die off
famine	large-scale hunger accompanied by many deaths
fertility	the number of births to a woman over her lifetime
Fish are considered a renewable resource. However, some scientists believe that Earth's oceans are running out of economically valuable fish. What is the most likely reason for this?	They are being harvested faster than they can replenish themselves.
food chain	a linked feeding series that shows how organisms are connected to each other by feeding relationships
Food production in the twentieth century has tripled because of industrialized agriculture, and most people spend much less time and income to obtain food.	true
food security	the amount of food a human needs to live and be healthy
food web	all of the individual food chains of an ecosystem that are interconnected together
For most ecosystems, the ultimate source of energy is _____.	the sun
freshwater	water that has a low salt content; springs and lakes are considered freshwater
Funding to prevent deforestation should only be directed at tropical rainforests.	false
fungicide	a pesticide specifically targeted at fungus
Generally speaking, the maximum number of links in a food chain is _____.	5
genetic diversity	description of the differences within members of a single species
Genetic diversity is crucial to a species chance of survival over generations.	true
genetically modified food	mixing the genes of similar types of organisms to selectively breed for desired characteristics
geologic time	the period of time covering the physical formation and development of the earth
geologic timeline	a visualization of how the earth and its lifeforms have changed through geologic time
grassland	large area of land dominated by grasses
Grassland can be converted into a pasture by enclosing it.	true
groundwater	water within the soil that supplies wells and springs
groundwater overdraft	when humans exhaust groundwater supplies before the supply can be replenished naturally
gully erosion	type of soil erosion that develops when water carves away the soil until deep gullies are formed
habitat	the place where an organism lives and reproduces
habitat corridors	strips of habitat that connect several small areas of protected land so animals can freely and safely move between the different areas
habitat fragmentation	occurs when large areas of habitat are divided into small isolated patches
half-life	the time required for half the atoms in an element to divide in half
hard rock mining	type of subsurface mining that involves excavating deep underground tunnels and making underground rooms supported by pillars of rock
herbicide	a pesticide specifically targeted at weed plants
herbivore	organisms that only eat plants
heterotroph	an organism that cannot produce its own food so must eat to get energy indirectly from the sun
How are chunks of time in the geologic timeline organized?	Each chunk of time represents a time when fossils indicate that Earth's life forms were similar.
How can regulations on fertilizer use help keep freshwater life zones clean from pollution?	Helps prevent cultural eutrophication
How does biomass in a community change as succession proceeds?	increases
How is the environment shown in the picture important to aquatic life zones?	All of the above.
How would a rapid increase in emigration affect a country's population growth rate?	cause a decrease in growth rate
How would soil fertility likely change during the early years of primary succession?	gradually increase
Humans are the only species that can endanger another species.	false
Humans must depend on the environment for their survival.	true
humid	characterized by a large amount of moisture in the air
humus	dark colored organic material in soil; it is left over from the decay of living things
hunger	a condition of not having enough food
hypothesis	educated guess based on observation and experimentation
hypoxia	a condition of oxygen depletion in a body of water caused by an excess of nutrients
If a disease caused the death of 50 percent of the individuals in the 25-40 year old age range, this would have minimal effect on the individuals in younger and older age ranges.	false
If a rocky island appeared out of the water from volcanic activity, what type of organism would most likely live there first?	lichens and moss
If a small child were to release a balloon into the atmosphere, what would happen to the size of the balloon as it makes it way higher in the sky?	The balloon would become larger because the air molecules on the inside of the balloon would expand.
If enough changes occur in the gene pool of a species, it is possible that a new species would be created.	true
igneous rock	a rock that solidified from a molten or near molten state
In a cyclic population _____.	populations increase and decrease in a regular predictable pattern
In natural systems, nitrogen is lost by denitrification. Predict which of the following processes will be most responsible for replacing lost nitrogen in an ecosystem.	fixation
In order for biological evolution to occur, the ______ of an organism must change and be passed on to offspring.	DNA
In order for biological evolution to occur, the environment would have to change drastically.	false
In order to provide sufficient food for a group of indigenous people in the Amazon, a section of rainforest will be cut down to make space for agricultural land. The decrease in biodiversity is a(n) _____ between conservation and economic development.	trade-off
In the United States, the most widespread cause of species extinction is which of the following?	habitat loss
In which horizon of a soil profile is the parent material usually found?	R horizon
Increasing the price of water is one way to prevent the abuse of the water supply by both consumers and industry.	true
Industrial agriculture uses far more fossil fuels than sustainable agriculture.	true
industrialized agriculture	the practice of farming on a large scale to produce a greater output; typically requires greater consumption of fossil fuels, herbicides, pesticides, and water
industry	the people or companies engaged in a particular kind of commercial enterprise
Infant mortality rates are a good indicator of a country's overall health care and access to nutrition.	true
infiltration	the process by which water on the ground surface enters the soil
inorganic	a substance that does not contain carbon and hydrogen atoms, such as salts, rocks, and minerals
insecticide	a pesticide specifically targeted at insects
instrumental value	the value that comes from the numerous goods and services that biodiversity provides people; these include jobs, food, medicines, paper, textiles, recreation, and tourism
integrated pest management	a pest control approach that relies on pesticide alternatives and chemical sprays only as a last resort
Interest in protecting biodiversity is a relatively recent movement that coincided with the onset of global warming.	false
intertidal zone	coastal area close to the shore, where tides and waves dominate
intrinsic rate of increase	the rate at which a population would grow if it had unlimited resources
intrinsic value	the value given to an object (like the Earth) simply because it exists, regardless of its use to us, and therefore should be protected
IPM is for large-scale farmers and not for homeowners and gardeners.	false
jet streams	fast-moving currents of air
k-selected species	species that have few offspring and have slower population growth than r-selected species
latitude	a measure of distance from the equator, either north or south, on the globe
Like matter, energy cycles continuously through an ecosystem.	false
limnetic zone	the open water zone of a lake or pond
lithosphere	a layer in the interior of earth or another planet; the Earth's the mantle is sandwiched between the crust in the top and the core in the bottom
littoral zone	the zone of a lake or pond near the shore
logging	the process of cutting trees down for forest management or for timber
longlining	fishing technique that involves the use of long lines of baited hooks
macronutrient	a substance required in relatively large amounts by a particular organism for maintenance and growth
malnutrition	a condition of not having adequate nutrition for proper growth and health
mass extinction event	the extinction of a large number of species in a short period of time that is usually caused by a catastrophic global event like an asteroid
mesosphere	the middle layer of the atmosphere
metamorphic rock	a rock that has undergone chemical or structural changes by exposure to extreme heat and/or pressure
micronutrient	a substance required in trace amounts for the maintenance and growth of an organism
Mine reclamation involves reopening a mine that was previously to be void of useful minerals.	false
mineral	a naturally-occurring substance formed by geologic processes that has a characteristic chemical composition, a highly ordered atomic structure, and definite physical properties
mining	process of extracting valuable rocks and minerals from beneath the Earth's surface
monsoonal	characterized by a season of wind and heavy rain
More buffer zones would be needed around a large protected area vs. several patches of protected area of equal square footage.	false
Most energy enters the ecosystem _____.	through the process of photosynthesis
Most of North America has the same climate type.	false
mountaintop removal	type of surface mining that involves blasting the top off a mountain to expose coal
mutation	a random change in the DNA of an organism
national park	land area owned and managed by a national government and protected from development and pollution
National parks can be a double-edged sword because _____.	the crowds of people that are attracted can disrupt the ecosystem
natural resources	materials taken from the natural environment, such as water, air, and plant life
Natural resources are any materials that humans obtain from the Earth to meet our wants and needs.	true
natural selection	the process by which those individuals best adapted to their environment tend to survive better and pass their genes on to future generations, and those that are least adapted tend to be eliminated
nature reserve	an area of land protected from development for purposes of conservation or research
nekton	strong swimmers, like fish, turtles, and whales
nitrification	a two-step process whereby soil bacteria convert ammonia and ammonium ions first to nitrate ions, which are toxic to plants, and then to nitrate ions, which are used by plants
nitrogen cycle	the circulation and reuse of nitrogen atoms
nitrogen fixation	process whereby nitrogen from the atmosphere or soil solution is converted to ammonia that can be converted to plant nutrients
non-consumptive water use	water use that returns water to its source
northern coniferous forest	a type of forest biome with cool temperatures and dominated by coniferous trees
ocean currents	movement of surface ocean water in predictable paths
Ocean surface currents circulate in clockwise direction in the Southern Hemisphere.	false
Oceanic lithosphere is lighter than continental lithosphere.	false
Of all of the types of forest biomes, tropical rain forests contain the most biodiversity, even though they do not have the most fertile soil.	true
old-growth forest	a mature forest never harvested or cleared
oligotrophic	a lake with very few nutrients in it
omnivore	consumer that eats both plants and animals
On a global basis, which of the following is the largest reservoir of carbon?	fossil fuels
One difference between weather and climate is that _____.	weather is the day-to-day conditions, and climate is the conditions expected over relatively long periods of time.
One factor that drives atmospheric circulation is the movement of air from warm equatorial areas to cooler areas.	true
One of the goals of the forest service in reference to wild horses is to _____.	create revenue for the United States government through the sale of wild horses to conservationists
One of the goals of wildlife refuges is to prevent humans from interacting with wildlife.	false
One of the key characteristics that defines a desert is the constantly high temperature.	false
One of the significant characteristics of old growth forests is that _____.	some organisms only survive in the complex ecosystems of old growth forests
One reason why small patches of protected land could be disadvantageous is _____.	it would make it difficult for animals to move around and seek resources in other areas
One watershed can encompass another watershed.	true
One way to protect biodiversity is to set aside more wilderness land. Humans are not allowed in these areas.	false
Only the smallest particles of soil can be displaced by suspension because:	they are easily carried by the wind.
open-pit mining	type of surface mining that involves digging large open holes at the ground surface
ore	rock that contains a volume of economically profitable minerals
organic	a substance that contains carbon and hydrogen atoms, such as carbon dioxide, glucose, methane, and nucleic acid
organism	a single living thing
overburden	the material removed in a surface mining process, such as topsoil and rocks that lay over the ore material
overgrazing	occurs when too many livestock eat in an area for too long
Overgrazing occurs when too many animals graze for too long in a grassland area.	true
ozone	an oxygen compound (o 3) that in earth's stratosphere helps protects us from harmful radiation originating in the sun
parent material	the rock material that was weathered to form the sediments in a given soil
pasture	managed areas of grassland or fenced in meadows used for grazing livestock
period	a division of geologic time and a subdivision of an era
pest	any organism regarded as harmful or unwanted
pesticide	a substance used to control or kill pests
phosphorus cycle	circulation and reuse of phosphorus atoms
photosynthesis	process whereby green plants use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose, a high energy sugar, and oxygen
phytoplankton	drifting photosynthetic organisms like algae
pioneer species	the first species to colonize an area at the beginning of either primary or secondary succession
plantation forest	managed areas of uniformly aged trees of one or two species that are harvested for timber as soon as they are old enough to be commercially valuable
plates	a theory of global tectonics in which the lithosphere is divided into a number of crustal plates, each of which moves on the plastic asthenosphere more or less independently to collide with, slide under, or move past adjacent plates
polar	extremely cold areas of the earth
polar ice ***	a polar area of the Earth where all twelve months of the year have temperatures below freezing
Polar latitudes have a solar radiation deficit.	true
polar tundra	a polar area of the Earth with very low temperatures and a short season of plant growth
population	a group of interacting individuals of the same species occupying a specific area
population density	the number of individuals in a population found in a given area
post-reproductive	the members of a population that are past the age of being able to reproduce and are no longer able to produce offspring
pre-reproductive	a member of a population that is younger than the age of reproductive maturity
precipitation	liquid or solid water that falls from the clouds in the sky to the ground
prescribed burns	controlled and managed fires set intentionally for the benefit of the flora and fauna
primary production	biomass manufactured by photosynthetic organisms
primary succession	involves the establishment of communities where there is no soil and no life
producer	an organism that can produce its own energy from the sun or chemical source
Producers are the most important biotic factor in an ecosystem.	false
Producers make up more biomass than primary consumers because _____.	only 10 percent of the energy at each trophic level is passed on to the next level
productivity	amount of biomass produced in a given area during a given period of time
profundal zone	deep open water zone of a lake or pond; too dark for photosynthesis
Protecting endangered animals is a difficult process because _____.	some of these animals habitats overlap with areas that humans count on for their livelihoods
purse-seine fishing	fishing method that involves spotting a large school of fish, and then trapping them with a net
Purse-seine fishing is known to be the safest fishing method for protecting dolphins.	false
r-selected species	species with a high capacity for population increase
radioactive decay	the process by which an unstable nucleus of an atom spontaneously releases energy through the emission of radiation used in dating fossils and rocks
rangeland	areas of fenced in grassland used for grazing livestock
regolith	the layer of loose rock on the surface of the earth; also called mantle rock
Regulated fishing in freshwater life zones can have a positive economic impact.	true
relative dating	the process of determining the order of events in geologic time
renewable water	all the water that enters an area by precipitation and other imports minus the water that leaves the area by evaporation, plant use, and other exports
replacement-level fertility	the number of children a couple must have to replace themselves
reproductive	the members of a population that have reached reproductive maturity, that is, they can produce offspring
reserve	a deposit of a mineral resource in a quantity large enough to make a profit
Resources such as sunlight, fresh air, soil, plants, animals, and water are known as _____ resources.	renewable
rill erosion	type of soil erosion that occurs when water runs over land, carving out small channels as it flows
riparian zones	thin strips of lush vegetation around the banks of a stream
Riparian zones are attractive to livestock because _____.	they contain lush vegetation that livestock like to eat
rock	a mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
rock cycle	a series of events through which a rock changes over time between igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic forms
rodenticide	a pesticide specifically targeted at rodents
runoff	water that does not enter the ground or get used by plants, but instead runs over the land's surface
salinity	the salt content of a liquid
saltation	type of wind erosion that occurs when particles are blown into the air, travel a short distance, and then fall back to the ground, dislodging other particles as they hit the ground
saltwater	water that has a high salt content; ocean water is considered saltwater
saltwater intrusion	the movement of saltwater into places that were once occupied only by freshwater
savanna	a type of grassland with a few clumps of trees
science	a branch of study or knowledge about the physical and material world which is conducted through investigation and observation
second-growth forest	woodland growth that has replaced a burned or harvested forest
secondary production	biomass manufactured by organisms that eat plants or other animals
secondary succession	succession that occurs after a disturbance, such as fire or flood
sedimentary rock	rock formed by the hardening of material deposited
sedimentation	process that deposits soils or other materials on the ground or in bodies of water
selective cutting	removing trees in stages or in small groups and then replanting
Selective cutting is preferable to clear-cutting because it _____.	targets a small, specific area of trees
shaft mining	type of subsurface mining that involves excavating a tunnel from the surface downward to access minerals or coal deep underground
sheet erosion	type of erosion that occurs when large sheets of water flow over the land and carry soil particles away
Since 40 percent of industrial water use is non-consumptive, there is little that industry can do to conserve even more water.	false
Since climate determines the types of vegetation that can grow in a particular area, each biome may be defined by particular types of plants.	true
Since marine life is either freshwater or marine, estuaries play little importance in aquatic ecosystems.	false
sinkhole	a large hole that opens up in the ground, usually caused by the collapse of the roof of a cavern or underground cave
slumping	fast downhill movement of soil
soil	the thin upper layer of Earth's crust that supports plant life
soil creep	slow downhill movement of soil
Soil formation occurs in a relatively short amount of time since animals frequently cause the breakdown of rocks.	false
soil horizon	a distinct layer of soil that has characteristic properties
soil ph	a chemical property of soils that describes the measure of hydrogen ions in a soil sample; how acidic or basic a soil sample is
soil profile	a vertical section of soil that shows the horizon and parent material
soil texture	a physical property of soil that describes how the soil feels, and the relative components of sand, silt, and clay sized particles
Soils vary throughout the world because _____.	the composition is based on the parent rock in that location
Some countries in Africa have a negative human population growth. This is most likely due to _____.	high mortality rates from AIDS
Some forest fires are beneficial because _____.	they allow forest plants to release their seeds
Some plants require fire in order to release their seeds.	true
speciation	occurs when a new species forms because separate groups that have different adaptations within a population become reproductively isolated
species	a group of organisms that live together and can interbreed
species diversity	description of differences between all the species on Earth
Specific agricultural uses of water are all of the following except _____.	evaporation
spoils	piles of waste overburden, often piled up on the ground adjacent to a mine
steppe	a dry place that has very little vegetation, or only grasses and small shrubs but no trees
steppe	semiarid grass-covered plain
stratosphere	a layer of the earth's atmosphere that contains the ozone layer
strip mining	type of surface mining that involves digging in long parallel strips, one after the other
subsidence	the sinking of the land above an aquifer, caused by overpumping groundwater from the aquifer
subsistence agriculture	farming for only the food needed for basic survival
subsurface mining	extracting materials from deep underground
Suppose you work for a government office that needs to find a suitable place to bury barrels of poisonous liquid wastes. The soils that are used to bury the waste should have properties that will prevent the liquid from moving quickly down toward the groundwater-just in case the barrels begin to **** at some point. You should look for a soil with which type of texture?	clay rich
surface creep	when large soil particles bounce around on the ground's surface as a result of wind erosion
surface fires	the burning of the leaf litter and undergrowth near the forest floor
surface mining	extracting earth materials from just below the surface
Surface processes that work to break down rock are called which of the following?	weathering
surface water	water that has collected on the surface of the Earth
suspension	when soil particles are blown into the air by wind and travel long distances
sustainability	long-term maintenance of ecosystem components that allows them to continue through future generations
Sustainability refers to ___________.	using Earth's natural resources in a way that maintains their suitability
Sustainability refers to using resources in such a way that we ensure that they will be clean and healthy for our use.	true
Sustainable agriculture involves being able to farm and produce food _____.	without threatening the health of the environment
sustainable farming	the practice of farming where little pesticides and herbicides are used and no fossil fuels; an environmentally-friendly alternative to industrialized farming
Table sugar is not a mineral because _____.	it is not made by a geologic process
tailings	the waste material produced after an ore is processed to get the desired mineral out
temperate forest	a type of forest biome with seasons and even precipitation levels
terrestrial biomes	a large area of land characterized by similar climate, soil, and living organisms
The accumulation of DDT pesticide in eggshells is a direct result of the spraying of pesticide near eagle nests.	false
The bacteria found in soil is usually harmful and measures are taken to remove any traces of microorganisms.	false
The bridge in the picture is connecting two pieces of land that represents two distinct places. What type of boundary is this?	divergent
The continental United States is divided into two very large watersheds, one which drains into the _____ and the other into the _____.	Atlantic Ocean; Pacific Ocean
The current plight of the polar bear is an example of _____.	a specialized animal's inability to rapidly adapt to a changing environment
The diagram shows that currently about 100 gigatons/year of carbon are moved from the atmosphere to vegetation on land. Which process could decrease this number?	cutting down large areas of forests
The end of a river or stream is the _____.	mouth
The ESA is sometimes controversial because some argue that it puts the needs of plants and animals above the needs of people. People should keep in mind that _____.	plants and animals each play an important role in the ecosystem
The first pesticides relied on natural chemicals, such as those taken from chrysanthemum flowers.	true
The general trend of the growth of human population is best described as _____.	exponential
The goal of sustainable agriculture is to ensure adequate food production, while also protecting the environment by minimizing the use of non-renewable resources.	true
The information in the diagram allows you to carry out absolute dating of the fossils shown.	false
The largest formal unit of geologic time is ______.	an eon
The layer of the atmosphere where many airplanes fly to avoid thunderstorms and other turbulence is called	stratosphere
The majority of mining in the U.S. is subsurface mining.	false
The number one factor for determining what living things can survive in a body of water is	salinity
The opposite of consumptive water is water consumption.	false
The Pacific Ocean is growing larger.	false
The Pangaea theory supports the theory of plate tectonics because _____.	it is based on the idea that all the present continents were one supercontinent
The picture shows a fishing technique called trawling. How might trawling affect marine biodiversity?	Decrease biodiversity by harvesting everything in its path, so that unwanted fish are unnecessarily killed
The picture shows a location in India that is very dry and arid. Notice the tall mountains in the background; you can find high amounts of vegetation on the other side of the mountains. Which statement is most likely true for this area?	This area is in a rain shadow.
The picture shows a type of rock called a banded iron formation. The rock contains high levels of iron oxides minerals, which form only when iron at Earth's surface combines with oxygen. Approximately how old would Earth's oldest banded iron formations be?	3 billion years old
The planting of trees is detrimental to soil because it drains the soil of nutrients.	false
The primary purpose in creating national parks is to _____.	protect the land from development and pollution
The rate of primary productivity is equal to the rate of secondary productivity.	false
The rock record indicates that photosynthesis began on Earth about 3.5 million years ago.	false
The role of a watershed is to _____.	act as a drainage area.
The shape of a mineral's crystal indicates it _____.	atomic structure
The study of environmental science must involve discussion of human culture and people's opinions on politics and economics.	true
The study of living things and the surrounding abiotic environment is known as _____.	ecology
The Surface Mine Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA) states that coal mining companies must do which of the following?	restore most surface mined land by grading and replanting it
The unregulated use of fertilizers has actually benefited freshwater life zones.	false
The water that falls from the sky today as rain may have once been part of the ocean. How can this be?	The water was evaporated from the ocean, condensed in clouds, and fell as precipitation.
theory	a scientific hypothesis that has been supported by data and facts over and over again
Thermohaline circulation is mainly due to	warmer, less dense water sinking in the ocean and cold water replacing it.
thermosphere	an upper layer of the earth's atmosphere
threatened	the species currently has sufficient numbers, but their numbers are declining and they may face extinction if action is not taken to bring the numbers back up
Today, there are hundreds of chemical pesticides made from human-made materials.	true
Toxins are dumped into a lake. Which of the following is not a likely consequence?	The toxin will remain contained in that lake.
trade winds	persistent winds that blow from the subtropics toward the equator
transform plate boundary	place where plates slide against each other
trawling	fishing method that involves sending a giant scooping net to the ocean floor and bringing up everything it can
Trawling adversely affects marine life zones because it introduces invasive species into the environment.	false
Trilobites are common throughout the entire fossil record.	false
trophic level	an organism's feeding status in an ecosystem
tropical	type of climate associated with the tropics or areas near the equator, which is characterized by warm temperatures year-round
tropical forest	type of forest biome with high rainfall and year-round warm temperatures
troposphere	the layer of the atmosphere just above Earth's surface, where all our weather takes place
tundra	biome type with harsh winters and a short growing season
ultraplankton	very small photosynthetic bacteria that live in water
Unlike a mineral, a rock _____.	is made up of multiple substances
Unlike forests, the burning of grasslands is never beneficial.	false
Unlike matter, energy is not cycled through an ecosystem:	true
Unlike photosynthesis, cellular respiration _____.	does not require the intake of carbon dioxide
Unlike third-world and developing nations, the U.S. has no incidence of hungry or malnourished people.	false
Use of fossil fuels has increased the total amount of carbon in the carbon cycle.	false
valley fills	piles of material removed from a mountain during mountaintop removal mining and sent downhill in large piles
Venus has an atmosphere that is made primarily of	carbon dioxide
Vitamins are macronutrients.	false
volcano	a vent in the earth's crust through which lava, steam, ashes, etc., are expelled, either continuously or at irregular intervals
Water consumption can never exceed water renewability.	false
water cycle	describes how water moves between Earth's surface and the atmosphere and back to the surface in a never-ending cycle
Water entering a confined aquifer takes ________________.	centuries
Water is	essential to all life
Water makes up _____ of the surface of Earth.	71 percent
watershed	all the land that drains into a given body of water
weather	the state of the atmosphere for a specific amount of time
weathering	a physical or chemical process in which rocks are exposed to weather and worn down by water, wind, or ice
westerlies	west to east winds that dominate the middle latitudes of both hemispheres on Earth
Wetlands areas around an urban parking lot can filter out some of the chemical pollutants from the parking lot before they reach the groundwater.	true
Wetlands have many benefits, including recreational opportunities, fish, and improving water quality.	true
What are the components of Earth's life support system?	water, air, soil and rocks, living things
What are the drawbacks of desalinating water?	Some drawbacks of desalination are that the populations that rely on it must be close to the ocean and that the salt removed from the water is essentially wasted. Also, the process is expensive and requires a lot of energy.
What are the two main conditions used to describe an area's climate?	temperature and precipitation
What factor does not contribute to "water stress" on the Earth?	less ocean water sources
What factor is most likely responsible for the long-term trend in Europe's population growth?	fewer births
What factor is most likely responsible for the spike in Europe's population that took place from about 1800 to 1950?	industrialization
What implication does destruction of the stratospheric ozone layer have for Earth?	increase in cancers related to sun exposure
What is a marine protected area?	An area where the ocean is protected from some or all human activities.
What is a subduction zone?	a place where one plate is pushed down under another, such that it melts into the mantle
What is the most abundant gas in Earth's present day atmosphere?	nitrogen
What is the most likely explanation for the smaller size of the hypoxic zone in the year 2000?	Decrease in the amount of sediments carried into the Gulf
What is the number one determining factor in the types of organisms that can live in a body of water?	salinity
What is thought to be most responsible for the salinity of the oceans?	Chlorine gas combined with sodium from Earth's rocks.
What map symbol is associated with most of Northern Africa?	Bwh
What process is shown at point Q?	Surface runoff
When a landslide occurs, it is most like due to:	slumping
When does IPM use synthetic chemical pesticides?	only as a last resort
When farmers irrigate their crops, as much as 60 to 70 percent of the water _____.	never reaches the crop
When plate tectonics cause cracks to form, _____________.	volcanoes can occur
Which form of life on land appears in the fossil record before all the others?	plants
Which of the following actions or events did not contribute to the Dust Bowl?	With the advent of pesticides, minerals in the ground were leached.
Which of the following best defines soil texture?	the relative amounts of sand, silt, and clay particles
Which of the following best defines the word aquifer?	a layer of rock or soil that holds water underground
Which of the following best explains the natural cause of a decrease in biomass as succession peaks in a climax community?	The canopy of forests prevents sufficient light from reaching the forest floor, thereby limiting primary productivity.
Which of the following characteristics would make an organism less likely to face extinction?	diverse diet
Which of the following characterizes a monsoon area?	It has a season of strong winds and heavy rains.
Which of the following climate types is found near the equator?	tropical
Which of the following common objects uses non-renewable resources?	jewelry
Which of the following describes a rapidly expanding population?	a high birth rate and many individuals in the younger age groups
Which of the following describes the practice of drift mining?	digging a tunnel into the side of a mountain, often involving explosives
Which of the following environmental impacts of mining could result in damage to buildings, including tilting, foundation cracking and disruption of utility lines?	land subsidence
Which of the following events may be a result of a new, fatal disease that affects only senior citizens?	an increase in the death rate of post-reproductive individuals
Which of the following factors is not used to categorize terrestrial biomes?	racial distribution
Which of the following fields of study relates to the way that human cultures govern and make laws, including laws about the environment?	political science
Which of the following fishing techniques would be most destructive to fish habitat?	trawling
Which of the following geometric shapes best represents the change in energy and change in biomass from one trophic level to the next?	pyramid
Which of the following human activities would be most beneficial to soil conservation?	Grow cover crops
Which of the following is a disadvantage of synthetic chemical pesticides?	sometimes kill organisms other than the ones they were used for
Which of the following is a measure being taken to prevent the extinction of the leatherback sea turtle?	captive breeding
Which of the following is a possible scenario that could lead to a new species?	Over time, many mutations occur in the gene pool of a population of butterflies.
Which of the following is an example of a cultural control of pests?	keeping homes clean
Which of the following is an example of how human activities are impacting the survival of species?	humans creating animal sanctuaries
Which of the following is an example of primary succession?	Plant development on a layer of rock deposits.
Which of the following is an R-selected species?	rat
Which of the following is likely to happen in a deforested area?	Increase in soil erosion.
Which of the following is most responsible for El Niño?	The calming down of trade winds in the Pacific, which leads to the buildup of warm water.
Which of the following is not a characteristic that distinguishes one type of forest from another, such as Siberian vs. Tropical Rain Forest?	age of trees
Which of the following is not a factor in determining if an animal should be placed on the Endangered Species list?	The animal is visually appealing.
Which of the following is not a function of soil?	formation of igneous rock
Which of the following is not a macronutrient?	Vitamin C
Which of the following is not a mechanism for speciation?	cancer
Which of the following is not a reason why famine may occur?	Use of fertilizers
Which of the following is not a solution proposed for the Aral Sea dilemma?	discontinue the use of irrigation systems
Which of the following is not an action that could result in endangering a species?	hunting deer in designated areas during hunting seasons
Which of the following is not an advantage of conserving water?	decreasing water supply to nations that are not in compliance with the United Nations
Which of the following is not an example of an ecological service provided by forests?	livestock grazing areas
Which of the following is NOT an interpretation that can be made from an age structure diagram?	the effect of a natural disaster on population size
Which of the following is the best definition of pest?	any insect, plant, rodent, or fungus that causes harm or is unwanted
Which of the following is the era in which we now live?	Cenozoic
Which of the following is the most responsible force driving the water cycle?	Energy from the Sun
Which of the following is true of ecological succession?	Pioneer organisms move into new communities first.
Which of the following lake zones is similar to the coastal zone of the ocean?	Littoral
Which of the following lists includes only abiotic environmental factors?	soil minerals, oxygen, rain, sunlight
Which of the following most accurately describes a pasture?	an enclosed field covered with grass or similar plant and suitable for grazing by livestock
Which of the following negative impacts of mining involves rainwater seeping through piles of overburden, creating sulfuric acid?	acid mine drainage
Which of the following processes would convert inorganic phosphorus in a rock to an organic form of phosphorus?	plant uptake
Which of the following represents the correct sequence, smallest to largest, of the levels of organization?	organism, ecosystem, biosphere
Which of the following shows the correct relationship between altitude and climate?	(straight line going down)
Which of the following situations accurately describes a difference between a food chain and a food web?	A carnivore eats both a rabbit and a mouse in a food web.
Which of the following soils should most closely resemble its parent material?	a young, newly-developed soil with little weathering
Which of the following statements is true about photosynthesis and cellular respiration?	Plants perform both photosynthesis and cellular respiration.
Which of the following terms describes all of the non-living components of an ecosystem?	abiotic
Which of the following terms is most closely related to igneous rock?	magma
Which of the following uses of grasslands is least harmful to the ecosystem?	using it for range land
Which of the following winds is characterized by blowing in the middle latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere from the northeast?	northeast trade winds
Which of the following winds is characterized by blowing in the southeast in the middle latitudes in Earth's Southern Hemisphere?	southeast trade winds
Which of the following would be a good adaptation for an organism that lives in the intertidal zone?	able to survive both in and out of water
Which of the following would be one way a farmer could increase the amount of available nitrogen in his fields without adding a synthetic fertilizer?	Grow a legume crop to support the development of root nodules.
Which of the following would be used to control mice and rats?	rodenticide
Which of the following would likely extend the Earth's supply of a nonrenewable resource?	discovery of a new way to reuse the resource
Which of the following would you most want to see in your garden?	ladybug
Which organism appeared on Earth first?	brachiopods
Which organism was most likely to live at the same time as brachiopods?	trilobites
Which part of a river would have animals with very muscular bodies and adaptations that let survive in turbulent water?	Source zone
Which process is most responsible for the increase in early Earth's atmospheric oxygen levels?	photosynthesis
Which statement best describes the age of the seafloor?	It is younger near the center and older near the continents.
Which statement best describes the exosphere?	It is the last layer of the atmosphere before space.
Which statement is most true concerning carbon in sediments and rocks?	They receive the same amount from the ocean as they release to the atmosphere.
Which surface exhibits the highest albedo measurement?	fresh snow
Which surface ocean current has the warmest water?	Brazil Current
Which type of growth shows a rapid increase followed by a slow decrease to level off the population?	logistic growth
Which value most closely represents the amount of freshwater on Earth, as a percentage of the total water on Earth?	2 percent
While primary production refers to the synthesis of plant material, secondary productivity refers to the synthesis of _____.	animal tissue
Why are phytoplankton essential to aquatic life zones?	provide basis of food chains
Why is a raindrop a particularly damaging element to soil?	It causes the soil to break apart and carries it away.
Why is absolute dating more accurate than relative dating?	Absolute dating uses the half-life of an element.
Why is the majority of Earth's freshwater not readily available for our use?	It is locked up in glaciers and ice caps.
wilderness	large, undeveloped areas of land
Wilderness is land that is undeveloped by humans. Scientists estimate that a wilderness area needs to be at least 1,500 square miles in order to _____.	be sufficiently unaffected by air, water, and noise pollution from nearby human activities
wildlife refuge	an area of land where wildlife is protected from hunting
wildlife sanctuary	places set aside where hunting and fishing are prohibited or strictly controlled in order to protect given species from extinction
Wolves are a keystone species because they are _____.	so important to the ecosystem that their removal causes a catastrophic disequilibrium
Worldwide, the composition of soil is nearly identical.	false
Your classmate states that only precious minerals, such as diamonds, are valuable. Based on your lesson on the rock cycle, you _____.	agree with her; diamonds are valuable, but there are other minerals that are used in industry that have a high value, as well
zooplankton	weakly swimming, free-floating animals like jellyfish