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ENVS 120 Midterm 2
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Who originally lived on the land Emory was founded on? | The Muscogee people |
| What does Emory define as sustainability? | Providing a good quality of life for the current generation without sacrificing the wellbeing of future generations |
| What are the first 3 core areas of sustainability at Emory? List some advancements made in each area. | 1. Academics: ENVS courses 2. Climate Solutions: Reduce GHG. 3. Food and Dining, Purchasing: Most of food should be local/ sustainable |
| What are the last 4 core areas of sustainability at Emory? List some advancements made in each area. | 4. Transportation: Biofuel & electricity. Promote biking 5. Waste: Compost, Plastics & Metals, Mixed Recycling, White Paper, Landfill. Stainless steel takeout 6. Wellbeing and Student Engagement 7. Other: Biodiversity, Buildings, Energy, Water |
| What are the 4 strategic action areas from the Emory sustainability reading? Be able to identify which area a specific action/commitment would fall into. | 1. Culture change ("image" and attitude) 2. Leadership and curriculum (courses like ENVS 120) 3. Landscape and infrastructure 4. Partnerships |
| What are the characteristics of life? | 1. Life grows exponentially (as long as resources allow) 2. Life needs energy (Photosynthesizers, Chemosynthesizers) 3. Life pollutes (waste released by metabolism) 4. Life is versatile |
| What are the differences between a population, a species, and a community? How are species named? | Species: Individuals sharing traits, distinct from others (e.g., American black bear) Population: Members of species LIVING IN AN AREA (e.g., Black bears in Yellowstone) Community: GROUP of INTERACTING POPULATIONS in an area Two-part binomial nom |
| What are the differences between biotic and abiotic factors; ecosystems and ecotones? | Biotic factors: Living (ex: other animals, plants, microscopic organisms) Abiotic factors: Nonliving (ex: water, climate) Ecosystems: Community + factors affecting them. Ecotones: Transitional regions BETWEEN ecosystems (ex: between land and water) |
| Know the differences between autotrophs and heterotrophs and their sub-types (chemosynthesizers, consumers, etc) in terms of how they get energy. | Autotrophs: Produce organic material -> chemosynthesizers (energy from inorganic chemical reactions, ex: hydrothermal vents) Heterotrophs: Consume organic material as energy -> consumers and decomposers |
| What are the equations for photosynthesis and respiration? | 6CO2 (carbon dioxide) + 6H2O (water) -light-> C6H13O6 (glucose) + 6O2 (oxygen) C6H13O6 (glucose) + 6O2 (oxygen) -> 6CO2 (carbon dioxide) + 6H2O (water) + ATP |
| What are the differences between food chains and food webs? | Food chain: Where energy and nutrients go as they move between organisms. Food web: Interconnection of food chains (ex: humans can eat corn OR rabbits) |
| What are trophic levels, primary and secondary consumers, decomposers, etc? | Steps in the food chain Primary consumers: Feed on plants Secondary consumers: Feed on the animals that eat plants Decomposers: Break down organic material |
| What is the difference between density-dependent and –independent factors? How can we regulate a population’s size? | DD factor: Impact increases with increased population density (ex: disease) DI factor: Effects are independent of the density of the population (ex: spring freeze, fire) Only DD factors can regulate a population. |
| What is meant by critical number? | Critical #: Minimum population base allowing the survival and recovery of a population |
| How does energy flow through ecosystems and between trophic levels? How much incoming solar energy gets absorbed? How much passes to plants? How much passes between trophic levels? | Energy moves UP in trophic levels (one-way street). About 50% of incoming solar energy is absorbed. Only 1-2% is passed to plants. When energy is passed between trophic levels, only 10% of the initial energy amount makes it to the next level. |
| What are biogeochemical cycles? How do these differ from energy flow in an ecosystem? You don’t need to know all aspects of each cycle, but should know how humans impact each of the 3 biogeochemical cycles in the lecture. | Cycles in which nutrients are recycled and reused NOT a one-way street. 3 cycles: 1. Carbon. Humans add CO2 2. Phosphorus. Mining and fertilization add phosphorus. Leads to algae blooms. 3. Nitrogen. Agriculture draws N from air |
| Which planetary boundaries have we already crossed? How does this tie in with the doughnut economic model? | NCBBLOF: Novel entities Climate change Biosphere Biogeochemical flows Land-system change Ocean acidification Freshwater change We have to balance the planet and society. |
| What are the 5 types of species interactions? Be able to identify examples of each. How do feedback loops work in these different interactions? | 1. Predation (one benefits, other harmed) +,- 2. Competition (both harmed) -,- 3. Mutualism (both benefit) +,+ 4. Commensalism (one benefits, other not affected) +,0 5. Amensalism (one unaffected, other harmed) 0,- |
| What are the ways that temperature and precipitation changes impact organism behaviors (Fontúrbel article, Fig 3)? | Climate change -> Droughts, Warmer temps Droughts hurt plants -> Resource shortage Warmer temps -> Lower NRG, Greater NRG expense Plants die, animals die -> Decreased species interactions, affects species composition |
| How many species have been classified? How many may exist? | 2.14 million species classified. Up to 8.7 million might exist. |
| How is biodiversity defined/ calculated? | Biodiversity: Variety of life on earth. Calculated by: 1. Total count of species (abundance) 2. How close in abundance the species are (evenness) |
| What makes an ecosystem diverse? How is biodiversity changing? | Simpson’s Diversity Index = 1 – ∑(n/N)^2 n = total # of organisms in each population N = total # of organisms in whole community 1: High 0: None 927+81 species have gone extinct since 1500 |
| What is the difference between instrumental and intrinsic value? | Instrumental value: When an organism benefits another entity (like humans) Intrinsic value: When something has value for its own sake |
| What is ecotourism? What are endemic species? | Ecotourism: Visiting a place to observe wild species or unique ecological sites Endemic species: Only found in one type of habitat (species = population) |
| How do extinction rates today compare to the long-term rates? (lecture and Leffer reading) | Past: 1-5 species/ year Current rates are 100-1,000 times greater than past rates |
| How many mass extinctions have there been in the last 500 million years? What threshold needs to be crossed for us to be in one now? (Leffer reading) | “Big 5” mass extinctions Must kill off at least 75% of species at the time |
| What are biodiversity hotspots and where are most found? | Areas rich in plant and animal life but under grave threat. Most are found in warmer/ tropical climates. |
| What is the HIPPO model (what do letters stand for)? What is #1 cause of species decline? | HIPPO outlines causes of biodiversity loss Habitat destruction (#1, 36% of all extinctions) Invasive species Pollution Population (human) Overexploitation |
| What is the difference between exotic (alien) and invasive species? | Both are introduced into an area from somewhere else. Exotic (alien) species die out or populations stay low Invasive species spread and eliminate native species |
| Which invasive species discussed in class is associated with coral stress? | Lionfish |
| How many assessed species are threatened according to the IUCN? What is the Red List Index and what does it show? | >48,600 species Proportion of species expected to survive without additional conservation actions. Shows birds are least threatened, while coral species are moving towards extinction risk the fastest. |
| Where are risks of extinction highest globally? Which taxa have the highest/lowest risk? | South America. Lowest risk: Birds Highest risk: Amphibians |
| How does the ESA protect species (3-part process and 2 divisions)? | ESA protects species through… 1. Listing: is the species at risk? 2. Designate critical habitat: where could the species go? 3. Recovery plans Fish and Wildlife: Terrestrial + Freshwater Marine Fisheries: Sealife |
| What are some of the critiques against the Endangered Species Act? What are some points for success of the ESA? | Critiques: Big investment for low return Successes: 99% of listed species have not gone extinct. 44% of species have stabilized or increased. Gray wolf recovery. Bald eagle and peregrine falcon recovery. Whooping crane recovery. |
| Which year had the highest total disaster damage on record? | 2023 |
| What general trend about disaster damage is visible from 1980-2024? | The number of reported natural disasters has increased very rapidly. The spread has gotten noticeably wider for floods and extreme weather events (storms, hurricanes, etc). |
| What does “from risk to resilience" mean in Pulwarty et al. (2022)? | Being able to "roll with the punches" Risk = Interaction of Hazard x Exposure x Vulnerability = Potential for adverse consequences for systems Resilience: Capacity of a system to continue to function under change |
| How are climate change and disaster risk reduction (DRR) connected? | Climate change makes disaster risk reduction harder |
| Why is governance identified as a root cause of vulnerability? What factors increase vulnerability to risk? | Governance provides a direct link between climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. Social and economic inequalities Access to information Ecosystem degradation Displacement |
| How does systematic risk differ from single-hazard risk? | Systematic risk occurs when hazards, exposure groups (population, infrastructure, etc), and vulnerabilities interact to create risk. Single-hazard risk is due to just a single event. |
| What are multi-hazard early warning systems and why are they important? | Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems show how hazards/ impacts can co-evolve, matters bc threats, hazards, risks and their implications are intertwined. |
| What are the 4 main marine pollutants? | 1. Oil 2. Sewage sludge 3. Chemicals 4. Non-point-source pollution and trash |
| How do we determine if something is a pollutant? | 1. Harmful to living organisms (testing doesn’t predict long-term effects, also organism-specific) 2. Hindrance to marine activities 3. Reduction in quality of sea water |
| What are the main sources of oil spills (and their approximate contributions)? | 1. Natural seeps (47%) 2. Human sources (53%)-> Extraction (6%), Transportation (22%), Consumption (72%) |
| How is sewage sludge formed and what law made it illegal to dump it in the oceans? | Byproduct of wastewater treatment: 1. Primary treatment: Filter solids 2. Secondary treatment: Bacteria, then chlorine to kill most organic material Clean Water Act (1972): No dumping of sludge in ocean after 1981 |
| What causes Minimata disease? | Mercury poisoning. This is why it’s dangerous to eat a lot of fish. |
| Which chemical is linked to declines in bird populations? | DDT- Pesticide used in agriculture in 1940s-1970s. Water -> Fish -> Birds. Made eggshells thin. |
| What is the difference between Bioaccumulation and Biomagnification? | Bioaccumulation: Organisms concentrate pollutant from seawater over time Biomagnification: Organisms gain more pollutant by eating other contaminated organisms |
| What is non-point source pollution? | Can’t identify one main entrance cause (ex: trash, storm drain runoff, pesticides, road oil) |
| How does plastic travel in the ocean and how does it affect marine life? | Ocean currents make a circular path that traps plastic in the middle. Marine life gets entangled and eats the plastic, which can’t be broken down in the stomach. |
| How long do various trash items last (be able to broadly compare them)? | Check image on study guide Glass bottle > Fishing line > Plastic bottle = Diaper > Plastic beverage holders > Aluminum can > Styrofoam and other plastics |
| What are macroplastics? What makes up the largest source of macroplastics on the mesophotic reefs in the Pineiro reading? | Plastics bigger than 5 cm Fishing |
| Of the 4 predictors of anthropogenic debris densities in coral reef systems, which are positively correlated with greater abundance of both consumer plastic debris and fishing plastic debris (Pineiro, Fig 4)? | Greater depth Greater human population within 10 km NEW INFO: Farther away from markets Closer to MPAs |
| What are Marine Protected Areas? How many are there in the world? | Locations like oceans, seas, and large lakes, which receive protection because of their recognized natural, ecological, or cultural values 16,500. NOT 300,000 |
| What % of US waters are protected in some way? What US coral reef zones are most protected? | 26% Florida |
| How can MPAs improve ecosystems? | MPAs… 1. Increase biomass 2. Increase density of organisms 3. Increase species richness |
| How can MPAs be more effective? | INVOLVING LOCALS |
| Understand the symbiotic relationship between corals and zooxanthellae and how both benefit, including how corals get energy and grow. | Coral is made of polyps, which are home to zooxanthellae Zoo make energy from sunlight. Energy given to polyps. Polyps: Shelter Zoo: Energy Corals grow by adding CALCIFIED material to their edges |
| Why are coral reefs so important to the biosphere? | Corals provide habitat and food source for 25% of marine species |
| What happens during coral bleaching? Can corals recover from being bleached? When was the first global mass bleaching? | Zoo become stressed and can’t convert sunlight to energy very well. Extra energy -> Chemicals harmful to coral -> Zoo get kicked out BLEACHED DOES NOT MEAN DEAD. Corals CAN recover. 1998 |
| How is the rate of bleaching occurrence changing/predicted to change in the future? What percentage of corals were bleached in the 2023-2025 bleaching event? | Global bleaching events are becoming more frequent and more severe. NEED TO KNOW: 84% of corals bleached in 2023-2025 event |
| How does climate change impact coral bleaching through temperature and acidification (also in Harvey article)? | Too hot or too cold ¼ of anthropogenic CO2 gets absorbed by ocean Acidification process reduces carbonate availability for calcifiers like corals to build skeletons Can also dissolve corals: TIPPING POINT 2080 |
| What are the two ways diseases expose the coral skeleton? | 1. Consume living tissue (polyps) 2. Cause large patches of living tissue to fall off |
| What disease is currently most concerning in the Caribbean? | Stony coral tissue loss disease |
| What invasive species are most impactful to coral reefs? | 1. Macroalgae 2. Invertebrates like sponges, jellyfish, worms, mollusks, etc. 3. Lionfish, which eat the parrotfish that eat harmful algae |
| What are dead zones and how do they form? | Dead zone: Hypoxic (low oxygen) or no oxygen at all Caused by agricultural pollution and pet waste. Excess nutrients cause algae bloom (growth of phytoplankton). Phytoplankton die, bacteria decompose them. Bacteria consume oxygen. |
| Why is sediment or turbid water a stressor? | Block sunlight Settle and smother coral Turbidity kicks up sediment |
| What direct negative impacts do humans have on coral reefs? | 1. Touching: Standing, taking pieces, gear, breakage 2. Pollution 3. Feeding marine life 4. Sunscreens, lotions, makeup 5. Unsustainable fishing |
| What are some ways to protect coral reefs? How do MPA’s affect the chance of reef survival after a disturbance? | 1. Reduce GHG emissions 2. MPAs 3. Regulations on sewage, agriculture, coastal development, and alien species introduction MPAs: Corals are 6 times more likely to recover after a disturbance if not affected by human activity |
| What is coral gardening? How does it differ from past ecological restoration projects? | Growing coral in nurseries and outplanting it into degraded reefs. Past projects relied on transplantation of coral from a donor site to a damaged site. |
| How has coral gardening indirectly helped local economies? | 1) restoring reefs that have become preferred dive sites 2) developing a “Coral First Aid” PADI dive specialty course to tourists 3) training local fishermen to become “coral gardeners” |
| What are the two main ecological concerns of coral gardening as a method for species and reef recovery? (Lirman and Schopmeyer reading) | 1. Genetic impacts on existing populations 2. Spread of disease |
| Prior to the 2000s, what caused mass coral bleaching events? After the 2000s? How is coral bleaching tied to disease? | 1980s: Diseases 1992: Hurricane Andrew 2000s: All other stressors get greater weight, especially human impacts Coral bleaching increases susceptibility and spread of disease |
| How has global coral cover changed over time? Is the US in the Paris Agreement? | Global coral over has declined by more than 50% from 1957-2007 Models suggest only 10% of reefs worldwide will survive The US is currently not part of the Paris Agreement |
| What is restoration and why is it important? What is active restoration; intervention? | Restoration: Aiding the recovery of an ecosystem HELPS PREVENT AVOIDABLE LOSSES Restored ecosystems can survive w/o help Active restoration: Needed where unassisted natural recovery unlikely Intervention: Actions taken to restore an ecosystem |
| What are the types of Coral Restoration? | 1. Structural: Stabilize substrate 2. Artificial reefs 3. Direct transplantation 4. Coral gardening 5. Larval enhancement 6. Assisted evolution: Breeding 7. Ecosystem: Reducing stressors & increasing services |
| What is the main success of the Coral Restoration Project? | Have every genotype recorded as 2023 saved in a gene bank |
| What is the Coral Rescue Project? How many corals have they collected? | Project to preserve Florida's coral genetic diversity 2437 |
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