1. What is an ecological footprint? Using the concepts of trophic level and energy flow, explain why the ecological footprint of a vegetarian is smaller than that of a meat eater.
2. What is sustainable development and why is it important? How does it relate to environmental justice?
3. Describe the path that an atom of water would take through the water cycle. Explain and define all parts of the cycle fully.
4. What types of species are most vulnerable to extinction, and what types of factors threaten them?
5. What is a mass extinction? What is the 6th mass extinction event? Why are scientists so concerned about it?
6. What prevents a species from undergoing exponential growth forever? Be detailed in your answer- a one word answer will not earn you any credit.
7. What is interspecific competition and intraspecific competition? Which is more intense, and why?
8. What is a keystone species? Provide two examples of keystone species and the roles they each play in their ecosystem (do not use the ones provided in the textbook or lecture notes).
9. What is an invasive species? Provide three examples of invasive species and the effect they have had on their new environment.
10. Although the population growth rate (r) is decreasing, the earth’s population continues to increase. Explain what why this is. How does education and opportunity for women play into a decreasing population growth rate (r).
