Environmental Quality Engineering CE 264

Questions and Answers

What is the primary reason prey need to breed successfully?

To escape predators

To compete for resources

To prevent extinction (correct)

To adapt to new environments

What defines intraspecific competition?

Competition between members of different species

Competition for the same mates

Competition for resources in different environments

Competition among individuals of the same species (correct)

Which factor increases the likelihood of survival during competition?

Being healthier and quicker (correct)

Living in more crowded environments

Having fewer offspring

Being less adapted

What is the competitive exclusion principle?

No two species can occupy the same ecological niche simultaneously. Signup and view all the answers

How does competition shape the evolution of a species?

By influencing mating privileges Signup and view all the answers

What happens to less well-adapted individuals when resources are limited?

They are more likely to be denied mating privileges. Signup and view all the answers

Why is competition among the same species often intense?

Individuals share similar needs. Signup and view all the answers

Which strategy do predators commonly use to overpower their prey?

Strategies like strength and speed Signup and view all the answers

What basic ecological concepts are emphasized in environmental quality engineering?

Interactions between living organisms and their environments Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of water and wastewater quality parameters?

Carbon footprint Signup and view all the answers

What is a key factor in identifying sources of pollution in the environment?

Identifying human activities that release pollutants Signup and view all the answers

Which type of diseases is associated with excreta?

Waterborne diseases Signup and view all the answers

How are excreta disposal systems classified?

Based on water use and point of treatment Signup and view all the answers

What is one advantage of on-site sanitation systems?

Reduction of pollution in local water bodies Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes a significant process in managing solid waste?

Composting and recycling Signup and view all the answers

What does the quote by John Muir imply in the context of environmental quality?

Everything in nature is interrelated Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the energy level as you move up the trophic levels from producers to top carnivores?

Energy level decreases sharply. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a chemical limiting factor?

Nitrogen Signup and view all the answers

What is a limiting factor?

A factor in short supply affecting organism distribution. Signup and view all the answers

Which group consists of the primary consumers in an ecological pyramid?

Herbivores Signup and view all the answers

How does the law of limiting factors relate to organism survival?

It focuses on the balance of limiting factors above or below required levels. Signup and view all the answers

What is true about the number of top carnivores in an ecological pyramid?

They are fewer in number than secondary consumers Signup and view all the answers

What role does predation play in ecosystem interactions?

It is an interaction where the predator kills and consumes the prey. Signup and view all the answers

What does the pyramid of numbers illustrate about ecological groups?

Herbivores are greater in number than carnivores Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is considered a physical limiting factor?

Precipitation Signup and view all the answers

Excess or absence of which factors can impact an organism's survival?

Both chemical and physical factors Signup and view all the answers

What kind of pyramid results from a parasitic food chain?

Inverted pyramid Signup and view all the answers

What could potentially happen if a limiting resource is in too short supply?

It can destroy an organism or limit its distribution. Signup and view all the answers

What does the pyramid of biomass measure at each trophic level?

Total biomass or dry matter Signup and view all the answers

In an upright pyramid of biomass, which ecosystem characteristic is reflected?

More producers than consumers Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following groups is a secondary consumer in the ecological pyramid?

Birds Signup and view all the answers

What results when the pyramid of numbers is narrower at the top?

Fewer top carnivores than herbivores Signup and view all the answers

Which statement describes the pyramid of numbers in grassland ecosystems?

Producers outnumber all consumer levels Signup and view all the answers

Among the following organisms, which would be classified as a primary producer?

Trees Signup and view all the answers

What happens to energy as it moves through trophic levels in an ecosystem?

It typically shows a 90% loss. Signup and view all the answers

Which principle explains that matter is neither created nor destroyed during physical or chemical changes?

Law of Conservation of Matter Signup and view all the answers

What is the flow of energy through an ecosystem primarily conducted by?

Food chains Signup and view all the answers

According to the second law of thermodynamics, what happens to energy during transformations?

Some energy is lost as heat. Signup and view all the answers

Which law states that energy is neither created nor destroyed in physical or chemical changes?

1st Law of Thermodynamics Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between biotic and abiotic components in ecosystems?

They interact for maintenance of life processes. Signup and view all the answers

How does energy keep an ecosystem functioning?

By flowing in one direction. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a major law operating in ecosystems?

Law of Matter Conservation Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Course Overview

Focus on Environmental Quality Engineering including ecological concepts and pollution.
Knowledge of water quality and its characteristics, as well as water-related diseases.
Examination of human excreta management systems and sanitation practices.
Introduction to solid waste management principles and processes.

Environmental Concepts

Ecosystem functions are guided by natural laws and the interaction between biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components.
Energy flow in ecosystems happens through food chains, with a notable loss at each trophic level, exemplifying energy principles.

Energy Principles

The Law of Conservation of Matter: Matter is neither created nor destroyed; it changes forms.
The First Law of Thermodynamics: Energy changes form but is never created or destroyed.
The Second Law of Thermodynamics indicates the direction of energy transformation and its quality.

Trophic Levels and Ecological Pyramids

Trophic levels range from producers (e.g., trees) to top carnivores (e.g., lions, tigers).
Pyramid of numbers shows the quantity of organisms at each trophic level.
Upright and inverted pyramids represent biomass and energy distribution differently, with sharp declines in energy as levels ascend.

Limiting Factors

Organism survival is heavily influenced by both chemical (e.g., carbon dioxide, nitrogen) and physical factors (e.g., temperature, light).
Limiting factors can restrict population size and distribution, and their availability is crucial for organism success.

Organism Interactions

Predation involves predators killing prey, requiring adaptation for survival in both parties.
Competition occurs over shared resources, categorized as intraspecific (within species) or interspecific (between different species).
The Competitive Exclusion Principle states that two species cannot occupy the same ecological niche simultaneously, leading to intense competition among similar species.

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Description

This quiz covers the fundamental concepts of environmental quality engineering, focusing on pollution sources, water characteristics, and health impacts related to water and wastewater. Students will explore environmental laws and the relationship between pollution and public health.