Ecology Environmental Pollution Quiz

Ecosystems occurring in water, including marine and freshwater ecosystems.

Arid regions with scarce water resources.

The process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy.

Metabolic process releasing energy from food.

Interaction where one organism benefits at the expense of another (the host).

Interaction where both organisms benefit.

Interaction where one organism benefits, and the other is neither harmed nor helped.

A specific type of amensalism where one organism produces a toxin that harms another.

The study of how ethics relate to the relationships between humans and the environment.

A natural system encompassing all living organisms (plants, animals, microorganisms) and non-living components (physical factors) interacting within an area.

Actions individuals can take to protect the environment, including planting trees, preventing pollution, purchasing eco-friendly products, and using renewable resources.

Governments' actions to reduce pollution, like establishing air quality standards, creating environmental regulations, promoting cleaner fuels, and encouraging sustainable practices.

Steps taken by governments to control pollution, including measures like setting air quality standards and promoting sustainable practices; introducing cleaner/alternative fuels, waste management etc.

Resources that can be replenished naturally in a relatively short period, such as solar and wind energy.

Rules and laws created to protect the environment and address pollution and resource use.

Actions individuals undertake to safeguard the environment.

Organisms that eat other organisms to obtain energy.

A diagram showing the amount of living matter (biomass) at each trophic level in a food chain.

Energy not passed on to the next level in a food chain, usually lost as heat.

An ecosystem is smaller than a biome, and a biome is a collection of similar ecosystems.

The biosphere reaches from the deepest ocean to the highest mountains.

The organization of organisms into different trophic levels based on energy transfer.

A linear series of organisms showing who eats whom in a specific system.

A network of multiple food chains, showing many feeding relationships.

Ecological pyramids illustrate the flow of energy and biomass through trophic levels in an ecosystem, starting with producers at the base.

The units for measuring biomass in a pyramid of biomass are grams per square meter (g/m²).

The units for measuring energy transfer in a pyramid of energy are kilojoules per square meter per year (kJ/m²/yr).

In a pyramid of biomass, dry mass is used to accurately compare the standing crop of organisms at different trophic levels.

Only about 10% of the energy available in food is incorporated into biomass in a trophic level. The remaining 90% is lost as heat or through other metabolic processes.

Types of pollution affecting the ocean, including eutrophication, acidification, and toxins.

Pollution caused by the increase in water temperature due to industrial processes.

Pollution caused by the presence of radioactive materials in the environment.

Activities like nuclear accidents, nuclear weapons use, and the use of radioisotopes are sources of radioactive pollution.

Health problems, soil damage, and genetic mutations are effects of radioactive pollution.

Solutions to radioactive pollution include proper labeling, banning nuclear tests, and other measures to prevent further spread.

Solutions for thermal pollution include creating cooling ponds and towers, as well as artificial lakes.

Weapons capable of causing widespread death and destruction.

Problems affecting the environment worldwide, like greenhouse effect, biodiversity loss, and desertification.

Gases in the atmosphere that trap heat, leading to global warming.

Thinning of the ozone layer in the upper atmosphere, allowing harmful UV radiation to reach Earth.

A region's long-term weather patterns, typically over decades.

The release of nitrogen oxides through combustion of materials like coal, oil, and natural gas.

The process where gases in the Earth's atmosphere trap solar radiation, keeping the planet warm enough to support life.

The percentage of various greenhouse gases, like CO2, CH4, N2O, and CFCs, in causing global warming.

Ozone in the stratosphere is produced by UV-light reacting with oxygen molecules.