Apes Free Response Questions

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Chapter 14b: Many people rely on mineral resources everyday and never realize it. From the jewelry they wear, to the soda can they throw away, to the metal that makes the car they drive – all are products of mining extraction and manufacturing. These products seem invaluable to us as a resource but leave a devastating mark on our Earth’s surface.

- Explain THREE different methods of removing mineral deposits from the Earth.

- List TWO types of minerals and their use in our society.

- Discuss the difference between a high-grade ore and a low-grade ore.

- Identify and explain THREE environmental effects that mining of resources has on the environment.

FRQ 8 – Rising Ocean Levels (Unit 2)

Chapter 19b: Many Scientists are worried about the increasing rate at which glaciers and the polar ice caps are melting. The extra water that is being released back into the oceans could make the world’s ocean level raise a significant amount.

- Discuss TWO environmental concerns assuming that the ocean level were to rise.

- Discuss TWO economic concerns if ocean levels rise.

- Discuss a piece of legislation or other governmental programs which would work to alleviate effects of global climate change.

FRQ 9 - Ecosystems (Unit 3)

Chapter 3: Ecosystems are complex communities made up of a myriad of living organisms interacting with the non-living environment. Each organism has a specific role in sustaining life within the ecosystem.

- Identify the producers in a terrestrial ecosystem compared to those in an aquatic ecosystem.

- Identify and describe the decomposers and their role in the ecosystem

- Discuss, using the second law of thermodynamics, the quality of energy as it moves through the trophic levels of an ecosystem

- If a primary producer typically captures 5,000 units of energy from the sun, how much usable energy will be available to a tertiary consumer in the ecosystem? Using the rule of ecological efficiency, explain how much useful energy is typically available in the next trophic level of an ecosystem.

FRQ 10 - Biodiversity (Unit 3)

Chapter 4a: Scientists are alarmed at the drastic decline of amphibians in the last decade. In particular, frog populations seem to be declining at an alarming rate. The population decline seems to be linked to effects of exposure to harmful factors that occur at different points during this life cycle. Some of the environmental threats are natural while others are generated through human activities. Frogs are also sensitive to pesticides that make their way into our soil, air, and water.

- Other than pesticide poisoning, identify & describe TWO possible reasons for the frogs’ decline in the ecosystem.

- Describe some reasons why the frog may be particularly susceptible to pesticide poisoning in the environment

- Certain amphibians are considered indicators species for the ecosystem. Give an example of another indicator species and explain the environmental threat that may give warning to.

- Identify TWO characteristics of species who are specialists that make them more vulnerable to environmental threats.

FRQ 11 – Species Role (Unit 3)

Chapter 4b: The Endangered Species Act is designed to preserve species who are on the brink of extinction. This means that their numbers are sufficiently low and unless some action is taken, they will be lost forever. However, many scientists argue that risk of extinction is not the only reason to save certain species. There are other compelling reasons to save species, such as their role in the community and their ability to alter community structure.

- Should we attempt to preserve indicator species? Why or why not?

- Should we attempt to preserve keystone species? Why or why not?

- Should we attempt to preserve early succession (pioneer) species? Why or why not?

- Should we attempt to preserve predatory species? Why or why not?

- Should we attempt to preserve invasive species? Why or why not?

FRQ 12 – Invasive Species (Unit 3)

Chapter 9: Due to increased globalization of technology and transportation, humans can travel almost anywhere in the world quite freely. The same can be said, in many cases, for other species on the planet as well. Many organisms are non-native to the areas they now frequently inhabit. Some non-native species have been deliberately introduced while others have been introduced accidentally. All however, have lasting impacts on their new environment.

- Identify what an invasive species is. Distinguish between how these species are accidentally introduced or deliberately introduced into the new environment.

- Give an example of an invasive species and the area they impact. Explain some characteristics of why invasive species succeed in their new environment.

- Explain why some ecologists call invasive species biotic pollution.

- Discuss two ways we can reduce the negative invasive species problems.

FRQ 13 – Species Interactions (Unit 4)

Chapter 5a: Southern sea otters, an endangered species, are typically found along the southern shores of California. They feed upon an abundant amount of clams, mussels, crabs and sea urchins that are common in the kelp forests they inhabit. Although fur traders hunted that species to near extinction in the early 1900s, they have made a strong come back in the last 50 years.

- Use the graph,

- Determine in what year did the southern sea otter population in California reach 2,500?

- Based on the graph, how did the California sea otter population changed from 1997 to the year 2007?

- According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the sea otter population will need to reach 8,400 individuals before it should be removed from the endangered species