Environmental Science Quiz

The unintentional transfer of genes from GMOs to wild relatives or non-GMO crops, potentially disrupting natural ecosystems.

Concerns about potential long-term health effects of consuming GMOs, even though they are generally considered safe by regulatory agencies.

Ethical debates surrounding the manipulation of genetic material, including concerns about 'tampering with nature' and the control of genetic resources.

Forests provide habitats for a wide range of plant, animal, and microbial species.

Tree roots stabilize the soil, reducing erosion and maintaining soil fertility.

Forests filter air pollutants by absorbing harmful emissions, improving air quality.

Machines can work faster and more efficiently than humans, leading to increased output.

Mechanized processes can reduce the physical strain on workers, making tasks easier.

A type of commercial tree harvesting that removes all trees in a specific area, leaving behind a barren landscape. It causes significant environmental damage, including soil erosion, habitat loss, and disruption of natural ecosystems.

This irrigation method involves flooding an entire field with water, requiring a lot of water and labor to control the flow.

The most abundant greenhouse gas released during forest fires, contributing to climate change.

The practice of collecting leftover crops that have been harvested from fields, gardens, or agricultural areas.

The process where the concentration of toxins like pesticides or heavy metals increases at each higher level of a food chain. This can lead to dangerous levels of toxins in top predators.

The process where an organism accumulates toxins like heavy metals or pesticides from its environment over time. These substances build up in the organism's tissues faster than they can be broken down or eliminated.

The practice of adding materials like compost or fertilizers to soil to improve its physical, chemical, and biological properties, enhancing its fertility, structure, and overall health.

These crops are genetically modified to offer benefits such as longer shelf life, improved resistance to environmental stress, and increased yields.

Machines can work faster and with less error than humans, leading to more products being made.

The use of machines can make jobs easier on workers, reducing strain on their bodies.

Planting the same crop repeatedly can lead to the soil losing specific nutrients, making it less fertile and healthy.

When everyone grows the same thing, there's less variety of plants, making it easier for pests and diseases to spread.

Growing just one type of plant removes natural variety, making the ecosystem fragile and less resilient to problems.

Costs or benefits impacting third parties not directly involved in a transaction.

Negative externalities impose costs on third parties.

The Green Revolution refers to a period of rapid technological advancements in agriculture, increasing food production.

High-yielding variety seeds are genetically improved to produce higher yields.

Slash-and-burn agriculture involves clearing land for cultivation by cutting and burning vegetation.

Deforestation, soil degradation, and climate change are negative impacts of slashing and burning.

Government regulations like quotas and permits manage the use of common resources.

The Tragedy of the Commons describes the overexploitation of shared resources due to individual self-interest.

This irrigation method involves flooding an entire field with water, requiring a lot of water and labor to control the flow.

This method delivers water directly to plant roots through tubes or emitters, minimizing water waste and maximizing efficiency.

This irrigation method involves spraying water over plants, similar to rainfall, using a system of nozzles.

This method involves creating furrows between rows of crops and channeling water through them, maximizing water flow and minimizing waste.

This occurs when a shared resource is over-exploited due to individual self-interest, leading to its depletion. For ex: overfishing in a shared fishing ground.

This method involves harvesting only specific trees based on criteria, leaving some trees standing to maintain biodiversity and ecosystem functions.

This method removes trees in stages, leaving some trees standing for shelter and protection during forest regeneration, promoting biodiversity.

This method involves removing all trees in a certain area at once, leading to rapid regeneration but also causing habitat loss and soil erosion.

The Ogallala Aquifer, located beneath the Great Plains of the United States, is the world's largest known underground water reserve. It's a vital resource for agriculture, providing water for irrigation in many states, but its current depletion level raises concerns about its long-term sustainability.

It involves the continuous cycle of increasing pesticide use leading to greater resistance in pests, requiring even more pesticides, thus creating a vicious cycle.

They are typically made from natural sources such as compost, manure, and bone meal, offering slow-release nutrients, improving soil health, and promoting beneficial microorganisms. However, they might demonstrate slower results compared to their synthetic counterparts.

Flood irrigation involves submerging the entire field in water, resulting in a simple method, but posing significant risks to water management due to potential waterlogging and wasteful water usage.

It involves using a network of pipes and emitters to deliver water directly to the base of plants. This method is known for its efficiency and precision in water delivery, however, it comes with a higher initial cost.