Biodiversity and Conservation in Australia
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Questions and Answers

What is a primary consequence of gentrification on the natural environment?

  • Total eradication of green areas
  • Increase in endangered species
  • Decline of biodiversity
  • Creation of new green spaces (correct)

What is a significant challenge in measuring the effects of gentrification on the natural environment?

  • Limited data on housing prices
  • Uniform landscaping trends
  • Difficulty in assessing existing green spaces (correct)
  • Lack of interest from residents

How does disconnecting urban green space development from Western capitalism influence community engagement?

  • Encourages top-down decision making
  • Marginalizes community input
  • Enhances local community needs and participation (correct)
  • Focuses solely on profit maximization

What impact does gentrification have on current residents of neighborhoods undergoing change?

<p>Leads to their potential displacement (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What should be a focus of urban green space development according to the non-capitalist approach?

<p>Maintaining affordability for residents (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a reason given for addressing systemic issues in cities related to gentrification?

<p>To ensure equitable and just cities in the future (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following reflects a capitalist-driven approach to urban development?

<p>Focusing on profit-driven development (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of spaces can contribute to gentrification when created in neighborhoods?

<p>New green spaces (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does traffic in the South Bronx directly affect health outcomes for residents?

<p>It contributes to higher asthma rates exacerbated by extreme weather. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant challenge to tree growth in Red Hook?

<p>High water table leading to saturated ground. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What main outcome was revealed by the use of LIDAR in the study?

<p>There are temperature variations based on tree cover. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by the term 'urban heat island effect'?

<p>Urban landscapes that exceed surrounding rural temperatures due to infrastructure. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role do active plate tectonics play in biodiversity?

<p>They create new ecological niches leading to species diversification. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What geological feature forms much of the high ground in Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island?

<p>Terminal moraine left by glaciers. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does NYC utilize LIDAR technology in urban forestry efforts?

<p>To provide a visual representation of tree heights across the city. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary issue in Edgemere, Queens, concerning its food resources?

<p>A lack of access to fresh produce despite flooding. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of microfossils in ecological studies?

<p>They serve as biological indicators of past environments. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following accurately describes palynology?

<p>The study of pollen and spores. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What makes pollen grains particularly suitable for preservation in sediment?

<p>Their resistant outer layer. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are PCBs primarily used for?

<p>Oily solvents in the electrical industry (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to identify at least 300 pollen grains per layer during pollen analysis?

<p>To ensure a representative sample of the sediment. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the process used to extract pollen from lake sediments?

<p>Employing sieves and chemical treatments. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a primary goal of the Clean Water Act (CWA)?

<p>To protect surface water quality (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does MCL stand for in the context of drinking water standards?

<p>Maximum contaminant level (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does pollen rain contribute to the study of vegetation history?

<p>It provides layers of sediment that preserve plant signatures. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant concern regarding the long-term implications of PCBs in the Hudson River?

<p>Their classification as hormone mimickers and potential carcinogens (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which tree types were prevalent during the Late-glacial period (>12,500 years ago)?

<p>Pine, Spruce, and Fir (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of fossil can often be identified to the species level and aids in confirming local presence of a taxon?

<p>Plant macrofossils (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are pollen grains primarily composed of?

<p>Plant DNA and genetic material (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What climatic event caused a shift back to colder conditions around 11,000 years ago?

<p>Shut-off of the Gulf Stream (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What significant action occurred concerning PCBs in the Hudson River in 1977?

<p>They were completely banned for all uses (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which tree was replaced by Gray Birch at approximately 9575 years ago during the Holocene?

<p>Paper Birch (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which approach has evolved in the Clean Water Act programs in recent years?

<p>Adopting more holistic watershed-based strategies (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which agency oversees the implementation of drinking water standards set by the Safe Drinking Water Act?

<p>Environmental Protection Agency (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of vegetation management did Native Americans practice?

<p>Burning and cultivation (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which tree taxa immigrated around 8100 years ago during the early Holocene?

<p>American Beech (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What ongoing issue does the EPA face regarding the Hudson River cleanup?

<p>High levels of contamination remaining in river sediment (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What indicates that climatic warming began at 12,500 years ago?

<p>Development of mixed boreal coniferous- temperate deciduous woodland (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary source for understanding Native American influence on vegetation?

<p>Archaeological and ethnoecological research (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a notable adaptation of tree species during the early Holocene?

<p>Invasion by White Pine followed by Eastern Hemlock (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'tipping point' refer to in an environmental context?

<p>A threshold that, if surpassed, leads to irreversible environmental changes (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is Arctic amplification?

<p>The far north warming four times quicker than the global average (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the consequence of an AMOC collapse?

<p>A tipping-point-like change in a network of ocean currents (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What steps do nations need to take to avoid overheating beyond the 1.5 degree limit?

<p>Stop building new coal plants and halt new oil and gas projects (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why are red-lined neighborhoods at a higher risk for heat stress?

<p>They experience the urban heat island effect (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is Dr. Johnson's three-part suggestion for addressing climate change?

<p>Focus on personal joy, skills, and specific work needs (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which two factors have interfered with Earth's rotation on its axis?

<p>Climate change and uneven mass distribution (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main concern associated with the continuous decrease in average temperatures surpassing 2 degrees Celsius?

<p>It could trigger irreversible environmental changes (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Gentrification

The process of a poor urban area changing due to wealthier people moving in, displacing existing residents.

Built Environment

The man-made physical structures and features of a place, like buildings and roads, impacting a neighborhood.

Natural Environment

The natural aspects of a neighborhood, like green spaces and the natural landscape.

Urban Green Space Development

Creating and managing green spaces within urban environments, including parks, gardens, and open spaces.

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Western Capitalism

An economic system where profit and economic gain are primary drivers in decision-making.

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Disconnecting Urban Green Space Development from Western Capitalism

Shifting the focus of urban green space development away from profit and towards ecological and social benefits.

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Environmental Injustice

Disproportionately negative impacts of environmental issues on marginalized communities.

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Community Needs and Input

Prioritizing the desires and needs of community members when planning and developing urban green spaces.

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Urban Heat Island Effect

A phenomenon where urban areas are significantly warmer than surrounding rural areas due to the heat absorption by buildings, roads, and other infrastructure.

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LIDAR

A method to measure the heights of objects (like buildings and trees) using a laser beamed from an airplane.

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Terminal Moraine

Mounds of rubble left behind by a glacier, forming high ground in regions like Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island.

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Erratic

Large rocks deposited by a glacier that are different from the surrounding rock.

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Asthma Rates

Incidence of asthma in a population, often affected by environmental factors like air pollution.

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High Water Table

A water level close to the surface, affecting the ability for plant life to thrive.

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Geological Dynamics

Processes and forces shaping the Earth's surface, leading to the creation of mountains, archipelagos, and ecological niches.

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Biodiversity

The variety of life on Earth at all levels, from genes to ecosystems.

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Microfossils

Small, biological remains from the past, used to understand past environments.

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Pollen Analysis

Study of pollen fossils to reconstruct past vegetation and environments.

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Pollen Rain

The process of pollen falling from the atmosphere onto the ground.

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Palynology

The scientific study of pollen and spores.

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Fossil Pollen

Preserved pollen grains from the past, offering insights into ancient plant life.

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Sediment Core

A cylindrical sample of sediment taken from the bottom of a lake or bog, potentially containing preserved pollen.

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Plant macrofossils

Larger plant fossils (seeds, needles, twigs), used to identify and date plant species.

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Pollen identification

Determination of plant species using pollen surface characteristics

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Tipping Point

A threshold that, if crossed, leads to irreversible environmental changes.

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Arctic Amplification

The Arctic is warming faster than the global average.

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AMOC Collapse

A possible tipping point in ocean currents, potentially impacting climate.

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1.5-degree limit

The global temperature goal to prevent dangerous overheating.

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Urban Heat Island

Urban areas experience higher temperatures than surrounding rural areas.

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Dr. Johnson's 3-part solution

Focus on what brings joy, strengths, and necessary action to solve climate change.

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Overheating Threshold

The temperature level at which significant negative environmental changes are likely to occur.

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Factors interfering with Earth's rotation

The article does not specify the two factors.

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Late-glacial environment

A period (>12,500 years ago) characterized by herbaceous and shrub vegetation, with some pine and spruce, possibly resembling a tundra environment with scattered trees.

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Mixed boreal-temperate woodland

A woodland type that developed during the warming period after the Late-glacial, featuring a combination of coniferous and deciduous trees.

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Younger Dryas

A brief (11,000-10,000 years ago) period of colder climate characterized by the dominance of spruce, fir, and alder, with decreased oak, ash, and ostrya/carpinus.

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Gulf Stream ocean current

A crucial ocean current whose behavior, specifically reduction in salinity due to glacial meltwater, is linked to climatic changes during the Younger Dryas.

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Holocene warming

A period (starting ~10,175 years ago) characterized by warm conditions similar to today, including the expansion of oak-dominated forests and the arrival of specific tree species.

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Paper Birch replacement

The shift from paper birch (a cold-adapted tree) to gray birch (a warmer-adapted tree), occurring roughly 9,575 years ago.

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Native American landscape management

Activities such as burning and cultivation, practiced by Native Americans to increase the production of mast (nuts, acorns, etc.) of their favored plant species.

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Mast yields

The amount of nuts, acorns and other food sources produced by trees, influencing the food availability for people.

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Chlorinated Hydrocarbons (e.g., DDT, PCBs)

Lipid-soluble, long-lasting chemicals, suspected of causing cancer and hormone disruption. They circulate widely in food chains.

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PCBs and the Hudson River

PCBs, industrial chemicals, were illegally dumped into the Hudson River, leading to environmental contamination and health concerns. Cleanup efforts have been complex and controversial.

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Clean Water Act (CWA)

A US law that protects surface water quality by reducing pollutant discharges, improving wastewater treatment, and managing runoff.

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Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)

Federal law ensuring safe drinking water by setting quality standards for water supplies and overseeing compliance.

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Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL)

The highest allowable level of a contaminant in drinking water, set by the EPA.

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Air Pollution Sources

Pollutants enter the air through various activities such as industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, and other human activities

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Water Quality Standards

Specific standards for acceptable levels of pollutants in water bodies, determined by organizations and governing bodies.

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Environmental cleanup

The process of addressing and remediating environmental contamination, often involving intricate legal and political processes.

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Study Notes

Biodiversity Loss and Conservation in Australia

  • Biodiversity loss since European colonization is severe.
  • There are 4 reasons for hopeful conservation:
    • Australia is a single nation, making responses easier.
    • The country is politically stable and wealthy, which allows for consistent conservation strategies.
    • The low population density caps environmental pressure.
    • Indigenous peoples' cultural care for Country continues to manage large areas of the continent, and many Australians want no further extinctions.

Biggest Threat to Australian Biodiversity

  • Invasive species are the biggest threat.
  • Island biogeography theory dictates that the number of species on an island is determined by a balance between immigration (new species arrival) and extinction (existing species loss).
  • Invasive species rapidly colonize and increase extinction rates of existing species.

Roles of Mammals in Australian Ecosystems

  • Many extinct or declining mammal species played crucial roles in the ecosystem, like soil turnover, seed dispersal, germination, and as keystone predators.

Drivers of Plant and Frog Loss

  • Habitat clearance and degradation are the main drivers of plant loss.
  • Chytrid fungus is the main driver of frog loss. It emerged in the 1970s.

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Week 5 HW1 (PDF)

Description

Explore the critical issues surrounding biodiversity loss in Australia since European colonization. This quiz covers the main threats, particularly invasive species, and highlights the hopeful aspects of conservation efforts due to Australia's unique environmental and political context.

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