Day 9: Static Quiz on Environmental science

Correct Answer: C
A more diverse ecosystem is more stable, remember this as the golden rule.

If there is less evenness among species, there will be greater diversity. If there are more number of Ecotones, there will be a lot of transition zones (e.g. ponds, grasslands etc), and there will be greater species diversity and inter-dependence.

Finally, if less number of species dominate, it is good for the ecosystem diversity even more.

Correct Answer : D
Justification: It is largely a biological process that occurs naturally. High temperature and high moisture aide the process of decomposition.
In the decomposition process, different products are released: carbon dioxide (CO2), energy, water, plant nutrients and resynthesized organic carbon compounds.

Correct Answer C: The waste materials which cannot be broken down into non-poisonous or harmless substances in nature are called nonbiodegradable waste. Examples are plastics, polythene bags, ball-point pen refills, synthetic fibers, and glass objects, metal articles like aluminum cans, iron nails, silver foil, and radioactive wastes. Cotton cloth, paper, woolen clothes, wood, etc. are bio-degradable

Correct Answer : D
In the diagram below, several levels of the ecosystem have been given.
A biome harbors a large number of species and not a particular species. Some of the major biomes of the world are forest, grassland, desert and tundra biomes.
However, a biosphere is the largest entity that subsumes the ecosystem, biomes, etc.

Correct Answer: A
Justification: As described by the Conference of the Parties to the CBD, the ecosystem approach is the primary framework for action under the Convention. “Ecosystem” means a dynamic complex of plant, animal and microorganism communities and their non-living environment interacting as a functional unit”. It is a holistic approach to conservation. It is based on the application of appropriate scientific methodologies focused on levels of biological organization which encompass the essential processes, functions and interactions among organisms and their environment. It recognizes that humans, with their cultural diversity, are an integral component of ecosystems.

Correct Answer: D
Justification: Ecological value is a non-monetary assessment of ecosystem integrity, health, or resilience, all of which are important
indicators to determine critical thresholds and minimum requirements for ecosystem service provision. Essentially, it is the worth attributed to an organism, ecosystem, product, resource or activity, in terms of benefits to the environment. It is non-monetary because the value of Ecology is evaluated in terms of its intrinsic value as a part of the earth, and not because it provides secondary benefits that can be capitalized by humans. For e.g. the value of pollination by bees can hardly be measured monetarily and is beneficial to both humans and non-humans.

Correct Answer: B
Invasive alien species (IAS) are species whose introduction and/or spread outside their natural past or present distribution threatens biological diversity. For a species to become invasive, it must successfully out-compete native organisms, spread through its new environment, increase in population density and harm ecosystems in its introduced range. To summarize, for an alien species to become invasive, it must arrive, survive and thrive. Native ecosystems that have undergone human-induced disturbance are often more prone to alien invasions because there is less competition from native species. So, A is correct, but R does not explain it because it does not take into account the context of human intervention. For example, imported red fire ants (Solenopsis invicta Buren) are more successful in establishing themselves in disturbed areas such as roadsides and agricultural fields and rarely colonize intact closed forests. Learning: Invasive alien species occur in all taxonomic groups, including animals, plants, fungi and microorganisms, and can affect all types of ecosystems. Common characteristics of IAS include rapid reproduction and growth, high dispersal ability, phenotypic plasticity (ability to adapt physiologically to new conditions), and ability to survive on various food types and in a wide range of environmental conditions.
A good predictor of invasiveness is whether a species has successfully or unsuccessfully invaded elsewhere. Islands are especially vulnerable to IAS because they are naturally isolated from strong competitors and predators. Islands often have ecological niches that have not been filled because of the distance from colonizing populations, increasing the probability of successful invasions.

Correct Answer : D
Learning: Land footprint is a consumption-based indicator, i.e. it looks at the resources needed to create a final product, or by an organization or country, wherever they are in the world. The ecological footprint is measured using a different approach, with two key differences to land footprint: Ecological footprint adds together both real land use and an calculated (but not really existing) area of forest to absorb CO2 emissions, to incorporate part of the impacts of climate change. In contrast, land footprint looks only at real land use and is often used in association with a carbon footprint to cover all climate-changing emissions

Ecological footprint adjusts land areas to global hectares, while land footprint is based on real land area – or an estimate of it

Correct Answer: A
Justification: S1 and 2: Environmentalists maintain that human beings should learn to live in harmony with the rhythms of the ecosystem and not manipulate the natural environment to serve their immediate interests. They believe that mankind is using up and destroying natural resources to such an extent that we will bequeath only a barren earth, poisoned rivers and polluted air to future generations. The roots of environmentalism can be traced back to the nineteenth-century revolt against industrialization. S3: It does not say that we cannot restore the environment. It is an attempt to balance relations between humans and the various natural systems on which they depend in such a way that all the components are accorded a proper degree of sustainability.

Correct Answer: A
Learning: This is mainly due to the intense leaching of these soils by rainfall and high temperature.
The thick brown or black substance that remains after most of the organic litter has decomposed is called humus. Earthworms often help mix humus with minerals in the soil. Humus contains many useful nutrients for healthy soil. One of the most important is nitrogen.