SVN3M1 Chapter 5 Test Review PDF

SVN3M1 Chapter 5 Test Review 5.0. Background Information What is the difference between agriculture and aquaculture? Agriculture: crop and livestock production Aquaculture: fish and seafood production (in particular) The Green Revolution. When was it? Explain what it is. What are pros vs c...

SVN3M1 Chapter 5 Test Review 5.0. Background Information What is the difference between agriculture and aquaculture? Agriculture: crop and livestock production Aquaculture: fish and seafood production (in particular) The Green Revolution. When was it? Explain what it is. What are pros vs cons? 1950s-1970s → the introduction of new plant varieties and farming methods Pros: increased food production, more efficient irrigation and farming methods, improved machines and plant varieties Cons: increased usage of fertilizers and pesticides, higher amount of water needed, more beneficial to multinational companies as opposed to family farmers Describe what plant breeding is. What are traits that breeders incorporate into crops? Plant breeding: the art and science of changing the traits of plants in order to produce desired characteristics Traits: increased quality and yield, increased tolerance of environmental pressures/pests/pesticides, resistance to viruses/fungi/bacteria, What is the difference between primary succession and secondary succession? Primary succession: the colonization of an area previously void of soil and vegetation Secondary succession: the recolonization of an area after an ecological disturbance in which soil has remained intact 5.1. Plants And Soil What are the basic requirements of plants? Sunlight, gases, soil, water, nutrients and minerals, space Sunlight: What is the equation for photosynthesis? What is the equation for cellular respiration? Photosynthesis: CO2 + H20 → C6H12O6 + O2 Cellular respiration: C6H12O6 + O2 → CO2 + H20 + ATP (energy) Soil: purpose of soil? What is necessary in the soil? Helps support and anchor the plant to the ground Must contain water, nutrients, and minerals Water: what is it used for? Used in photosynthesis → dissolves nutrients/minerals so they could enter the root Nutrients: What are the main macronutrients plants need? How do they get into the roots? Macronutrients: nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium (NPK) Dissolved in water and absorbed from the soil by the roots Space: Why do plants need space? Plants need space to reach light and for roots, stems, and branches to grow Components of soil: How is soil made? What are the components? What are the layers of soil? What is humus and why is it important? Soil: a mixture of mineral grains, air, water, and organic material that support plant life Made from weathered rock particles, decaying organic material, bedrock, and thousands of years of activity ○ Weathered rock (45%): sand, gravel, silt, clay ○ Water (25%): rainfall or groundwater ○ Air (25%): self-explanatory ○ Organic material (5%): decaying plants and animals, bacteria, worms, fungi, insects Humus: organic material resulting from the breakdown of plant and animal remains ○ Increases water-holding ability and acidity → makes absorbing nutrients easier ○ Makes soil particles stick together and helps create crumbly soil → allows air and water in What is the purpose of living organisms in the soil? What are some examples? Worms → moves through soil, mixes organic and inorganic matter; increases amount of nutrients available, soil drainage Bacteria and fungi → decay and recycling of materials What is the ideal type of soil for agriculture? Why? LOAM → combines large spaces and water with the ability of clay particles to hold nutrients and water ○ 80% silt, 20% clay, 50% sand Soil properties: what is the porosity? What is the soil pH? What pH do plants grow best and why? Porosity: size and number of spaces among particles of soil → the more space, the more absorption/drainage pH: how acidic or basic a substance is → plants usually thrive in slightly acidic or neutral soil (6-7), but it differs; depends on rainfall (more = more acidic) and organic matter 5.2. Methods Of Mechanized Agriculture What is “mechanized agriculture”? The usage of machines and fossil fuels to raise plants and livestock for food/other human needs What is a monoculture? What kind of crops are grown? Monoculture: the growth of a single crop on a large scale of land E.g. corn, cotton, wheat, rice, soybeans Explain the advantages and disadvantages of monocultures Pros: easier and less expensive to plant and grow, increased crop yields  Cons: same crops year after year removes soil nutrients, increased usage of fertilizers, lack of biodiversity (more vulnerable to to pests and diseases) What happens to the nutrients in the soil when crops grow? Nutrients that are absorbed into the crops are removed from the field when the crop is harvested Must be replaced (or put back in the soil) What are the MACRO vs the MICRO nutrients? MACRO: nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium MICRO: boron, manganese, zinc, calcium What are synthetic fertilizers? Petrochemical products Delivers a fast boost to plants because the nutrients are delivered with water, straight to the roots ○ Makes the product easy for the plant to absorb and turn that energy into tasty fruit, luscious leaves, or beautiful flowers How are aquatic ecosystems affected? Explain how an algae bloom happens and its effects on the environment Fertilizers are dissolved by rainwater and carried into rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water ○ Eutrophication: an excess level of phosphorus and nitrogen → results in algae reproducing in large numbers Algae bloom: explosion of algae → blocks sunlight (and prevents photosynthesis); when they die, bacteria use up all the oxygen decomposing them → kills fish and other animals What is a synthetic pesticide? What are natural pesticides? What are “pests”? Examples Natural pesticides: produced by plants to defend themselves against bacteria, fungi, pests Synthetic pesticides: produced by humans → any chemical used to kill or control populations of fungi, animals, plants Pests: organisms that affect the health and growth of crops → e.g. weeds insects, fungi Advantages of the use of pesticides and disadvantages/negative effects (what is bioaccumulation vs biomagnification?) Pros: prevents loss of crops (economically beneficial), cost of pesticides is balanced by the high yields, less tending to the fields, greater profits for farmers Cons: kills non-target species, increases pesticide resistance, has negative effects on human health ○ Bioaccumulation: pesticide levels increase through generations; same species, levels increase  ○ Biomagnification: pesticide levels move to different animals → magnifying contamination What is the PMRA? Why is this important? Stands for the Pest Control Products Act Pesticide regulation → strictly regulated for risks by Health Canada Define irrigation. Explain the three different irrigation methods. Irrigation: adding water to an agricultural field to allow certain crops to grow where the lack of water would normally prevent cultivation Surface/Flood Irrigation: water flows over fields in canals/ditches on a downwards slope → inefficient; water is lost through evaporation or runoff Spray Irrigation: sprinkler system (water is sprayed above plants) → most inefficient; 35% evaporates before reaching the soil Drip Irrigation: series of pipes with placed openings to deliver water directly to roots → conserves water but is expensive to build/maintain What are GMOs? What are 4 modified traits that scientists insert into a species' genes? Give examples GMOs: an organism with altered genetic make-up → small section of DNA from one organism is inserted into another Types of traits: insect resistance (tomato, potato), herbicide resistance (corn, canola), insect and herb resistance (corn, cotton), virus resistance (zucchini, papaya) 5.3. Sustainable Agriculture What is the goal of sustainable agriculture? Producing food to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs What are the 8 methods of sustainable agriculture? Polycultures, soil conservation, soil fertility, organic fertilizers, integrated pest management, irrigation practices, renewable energy sources, and organic farming Polycultures: explain this method and why it is beneficial Polyculture: an agricultural practice where diverse species are raised in the same area Mimics natural ecosystems, increases biodiversity, helps conserve topsoil, reduces need for water/fertilizers/pesticides, results in higher yields Companion Planting: What is it? What is “The Three Sisters”? How do these crops help one another? Companion planting: planting two or more plant species close to each other so that some benefit occurs → pest control, nutrient absorption, higher yields, etc Three Sisters: Corn, beans, squash ○ Corn provides structure for beans to grow up  ○ Beans return nitrogen to the soil → benefiting squash ○ Squash provides dense leaf coverage and ground cover → prevents weeds from growing Soil Conservation: What are the benefits? What is strip cropping? Why leave the stalks, stems, and leaves on land after harvesting? Pros: reduces soil erosion, maintains soil fertility, and reduces loss of topsoil Strip cropping: planting alternating strips of one type of crop with another crop that totally covers the soil, called a cover crop ○ Leaving stalks, stems, and leaves also cover the soil, reducing soil erosion and water runoff Soil Fertility: What is it? What is crop rotation? How does it work? Soil fertility: retaining the topsoil and restoring nutrients into the soil after planting Crop rotation: growing different crops at different times on the same land → preserves nutrients ○ Plant a crop that removes nutrients from the soil (corn, cotton) → next year, plant the same area with plants/legumes that add nitrogen back into the soil (beans, peas) Organic Fertilizers: Compost, Mulch, Green Manure- explain each. What are the effects of each? Compost: produced when microorganisms in soil break down organic matter in the presence of oxygen → reduces soil erosion, adds nutrients to soil Mulch: protective ground over → reduces soil erosion, adds nutrients to soil, maintains soil temperature and moisture Green Manure: growing vegetation on a field and ploughing it into the topsoil → reduces soil erosion, adds nutrients to soil IPM: What is it? Explain the goal? What are biological methods? Give an example. What are the steps in IPM? IPM: Integrated Pest Management → uses biological organisms, chemical substances, and crop rotation to keep pests under control ○ Biological methods include introducing natural predators, parasites, or disease causing organisms Goal: keep pest populations low so farmers don’t experience economically unacceptable losses Steps: identifying pests → monitoring population levels → deciding action that needs to be taken ○ Four stages: cultural (crop rotations, polyculture, strip rotation), physical (fences, screens, physical barriers), biological (introduction to predators or parasites), chemical (natural and synthetic fertilizers) Irrigation practices: What is the best type of irrigation? Explain why. What is the downside of it? Recycled water comes from where? Drip irrigation: delivers water directly to roots of plant → 90% efficiency ○ Initial cost is much higher than other irrigation systems Recycled water: water from wastewater treatment plants that have been treated so it is safe to use Renewable Energy Sources: What are some renewable energy sources? What is the benefit of using them? E.g. solar power, wind power, hydropower Reduces the use of fossil fuels → better for the environment (in every way) Organic farming: What is an organic product? Organic product: a product that has been produced according to standards defined by the government and independent agencies → without the use of fertilizers, pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, synthetic additives, or GMOs 5.4. Livestock Production What is livestock? What is it an important source of? Livestock: domesticated animals raised to provide products for consumption and usage Important source of proteins, irons, fats, and other nutrients What is the difference between rangelands and enclosed pastures? What are examples of each? Rangelands: ecosystems dominated by grasses, wildflowers, and shrubs ○ E.g. grasslands, woodlands, and deserts Enclosed pastures: fenced area covered by grasses and legumes ○ E.g. farms (of any sort) What are confined animal feeding operations? What is the purpose of them? CAFOs: energy intensive industrialized systems where animals are housed in small spaced Fed for rapid growth What are the advantages of rangelands, enclosed pastures, CAFO? Rangelands/enclosed pastures: important in the grazing industry, provides food for livestock, reduces soil erosion, regulates flow of water CAFOs: reduces risk of overgrazing, lower cost, provides employment What are disadvantages of rangelands, enclosed pastures, CAFOs? Rangelands: prone to overgrazing → damages ecosystem Enclosed pastures: biodiversity is affected and controlled (the introduction or removal of certain plants or predators) CAFOs: requires large amounts of fossil fuels for production, produces a lot of waste and runoff, constant use of antibiotics Raising livestock sustainably. Explain rotational grazing, smart pasture operations, polyculture systems. Rotational grazing: confining animals to a small area of pasture for a few days, then shifting them to a new location → everything is eaten equally, fertilized with manure Smart pasture operations: feeding animals a grass diet in a smaller pasture → less energy and maintenance, smaller than CAFOs Polyculture systems: more than one type of livestock is grown at a time → e.g. cattle and chicken graze, then grain is grown using the fertilized soil 5.5. Fisheries And Aquaculture What is aquaculture? What do developed countries depend on? Aquaculture: also known as “fish farming” → breeding, raising, and harvesting of animals in specially designed aquatic environments Developing countries focus on locally caught fish, while developed countries focus on industrial-scale fishing What is overexploitation? What is the harm in overexploiting? Explain why it is bad for the environment? Overexploitation: the harvesting of a resource to near extinction → results in loss of biodiversity and the potential collapse in vulnerable (fish) stocks What are signs that marine resources are being overexploited? Fish species previously labelled as ‘unacceptable’ are now being marketed to consumers ‘Newly discovered fish’ are overfished What are the effects of overexploitation on sustainability? What technology is used to locate fish? Ocean liners, GPS and sonar systems, and spotter plants are all used to locate a large amount of fish What are the three different fishing methods that can affect the sustainability of marine ecosystems? Longline fishing boats, trawlers, pots and traps Explain each method: longline fishing, trawlers, pots and traps Longline fishing: up to 130 km of lines 2m apart to catch fish (basically a large fishing line) → can result in by-catch Trawlers: using a heavy and large net to drag across the ocean bottom to catch fish and seafood → kills organisms not caught by the net, creates clouds of sediment, large amounts of by-catch Pots and traps: wire or wooden cages set across the seafloor used to catch seafood → when dragged on the ocean floor during harvesting, can lead to increased death rates Harvesting fish and seafood sustainably: What are the methods to harvest wild fish? (purse seines, spotter planes, hook and line fishing) Why is this a sustainable method? Purse seines: using a large circular net to catch schools of fish → doesn’t touch seafloor and by-catch rates are low Spotter planes: used (along with purse seines) to spot schools of fish → doesn’t damage anything Hook and line fishing: has less hooks than longlines → less by-catch Why are aquacultures on land-and-base ponds or warehouses more sustainable? Growing herbivorous fish allows for less feed needed Fish that feed on different levels of the ecosystem creates an ecologically balanced system Wastes, such as manure and dead worms, are used to fertilize the ponds, encouraging algae growth (a source of food for the fist, and the cycle repeats)