APES Unit 9 Study Guide

Ultimate Review Packet (9.1 - 9.3)

9.1 & 9.2 - Stratospheric Ozone Depletion & Reduction of Depletion

a. Identify a specific human health consequence of exposure to UV-B and UV-C radiation and
Describe how stratospheric ozone protects humans from these forms of radiation DNA mutation,
skin cancer, cataracts | stratospheric ozone absorbs energy from UV-B and UV-C radiation,
breaking down into O2 and a free oxygen atom
b. Draw out the process of UV-B and UV-C radiation driving the formation of ozone and then the
breakdown of ozone.

c. Add CFCs to your drawing and

illustrate how free chlorine atoms
break apart ozone molecules

d. Describe the purpose of the Montreal Protocol to transition from CFC use to HCFC use in order
to preserve the stratospheric ozone layer
e. Identify the two environmental benefits of transitioning from CFCs to HFOs less depletion of
stratospheric ozone and less contribution to global warming

9.3 - The Greenhouse Effect

a. Describe how greenhouse gasses warm earth’s atmosphere infrared radiation (heat) released
by/emitted from earth’s surface is absorbed by greenhouse gasses and then emitted/reradiated
back down toward earth’s surface, warming the atmosphere

b. Draw a picture of the greenhouse effect,

demonstrating how CO2, CHf and H2O
warm earth’s atmosphere

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 APES Unit 9 Ultimate Review Packet (9.3 - 9.5)
9.3 - The Greenhouse Effect (cont.)
c. Explain why water is considered a greenhouse gas, but not considered a major contributor to
climate change water vapor absorbs infrared radiation and reradiates or emits it back down
toward earth’s surface, but because it has such a short residence time in the atmosphere and is
constantly cycling through via the water cycle, it does not have a significant contribution to climate
change
d. Define the term Greenhouse Warming Potential (GWP) and identify the two factors that are used
to determine the GWP of a given molecule GWP refers to the ability of a greenhouse gas to
contribute to atmospheric warming over a 100 year period, relative to carbon dioxide. The two
factors that it accounts for are residence time of the molecule in the atmosphere and its ability to
absorb infrared radiation
e. Explain how the GWP of methane would be determined. The GWP of methane would be
determined by measuring how much infrared radiation it can absorb, relative to CO2 and how long
it remains in the atmosphere, relative to CO2.

9.4 - Increase in Greenhouse Gasses

a. Identify and explain TWO reasons that sea levels rise as global atmospheric temperature
increases atmospheric warming transfers hear to the oceans, causing thermal expansion, or an
increase in the distance of water molecules from each other, raising sea level | atmospheric
warming causes glacial and polar ice to melt, contributing runoff into the oceans that increases
total ocean volume and raises sea level
b. Describe one ecological consequence of sea level rise for coastal ecosystems increase in salinity
of estuary ecosystems (resulting in loss of species intolerant to salinity increase), flooding of
estuary/coastal ecosystems and conversion to open ocean, increased depth and decreased light
penetration in shallow coastal ecosystems like the coral reef
c. Describe one economic consequence of sea level rise for coastal communities property damage
due to increased flooding, increased insurance premiums, loss of groundwater due to salt water
intrusion, cost of relocating inland, cost of building sea walls/other barriers to rising waters
d. Describe how global warming may result in an increase in the impacts of infectious disease as
global climate warms, the range for disease vectors such as mosquitoes is projected to increase,
exposing new regions to the diseases they can transmit

9.5 - Global Climate Change

a. Explain why Earth has experienced a fairly consistent pattern of global climate change over the
past 800,000 years consistent variation in Earth’s orbit around the sun (obliquity, eccentricity, axial
precession) has exposed Earth to periods of more direct and less direct solar radiation, causing a
consistent pattern of global climate change
b. Identify TWO pieces of evidence scientists have used to measure historic temperature and CO2
concentrations of Earth’s atmosphere over the past 800,000 years and describe how one of
these pieces of evidence is used to determine either historic atmospheric temperature or CO2
level fossil records of foraminifera can be used to determine atmospheric temperature as they
have specific, known temperature tolerances which can indicate temperature during the period of
time they became fossilized | air bubbles contained in ice cores contain the same concentration of
CO2 as Earth’s atmosphere at the time the ice layers were formed | the ratio of O16 to O18 in
ancient ice core samples can indicate temperature of Earth’s atmosphere when those layers of ice
formed since warmer temperatures lead to more O18 isotope formation

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 APES Unit 9 Ultimate Review Packet (9.5 - 9.6)
9.5 - Global Climate Change (cont.)
c. Identify TWO reasons that Earth’s poles have warmed more than other regions on Earth and
Explain one of these factors the thermohaline circulation redistributes equatorial heat out toward
the poles via surface ocean currents moving poleward from the tropics | positive feedback loop of
melting polar ice, causing more dark ocean water surface to absorb more sunlight and convert it
to more heat, which melts even more polar ice
d. Explain how melting tundra permafrost generates a positive feedback loop that contributes to
global warming as Earth’s atmosphere warms, permafrost in the tundra melts, releasing methane
stored beneath it due to anaerobic decomposition of organic matter, which in turn contributes to
the greenhouse effect and warms the planet more, causing more permafrost melting and more
methane release
e. Explain how melting polar ice generates a positive feedback loop that causes more warming
melting of polar ice decreases the amount of sunlight reflected from polar regions and exposes
more dark/low albedo ocean water beneath it, which absorbs more sunlight, causing more polar
warming and melting of more ice
f. Identify TWO ecological consequences of rising sea level in coastal regions flooding or loss of
barrier islands leading to coastal erosion, increase in salinity of estuary or low-lying freshwater
coastal wetlands, decreased photosynthesis in coral reef ecosystems, flooding of estuary
ecosystem causing loss of habitat/breeding grounds
g. Explain how melting of polar ice sheets can disrupt thermohaline circulation melting of polar ice
contributes cold, freshwater to the ocean, which remains at the surface because freshwater is less
dense than saltwater. This cold, freshwater mass doesn’t sink and contribute to surface-deep
ocean water mixing and can prevent warmer surface water currents such as the Gulf Stream from
moving poleward
h. Explain how atmospheric circulation in the Hadley Cell has been altered by climate change
Hadley Cell circulation has expanded further out from the equator/poleward due to the decrease in
difference between tropical and polar temperature
i. Describe how climate change has destabilized the polar jet stream the decrease in
temperature/pressure difference between subtropical and polar regions has weakened the path of
the jet stream, causing greater variability/fluctuation in it’s latitudinal position

9.6 - Ocean Warming

a. Describe one way that ocean warming has caused migration of marine organisms since warmer
waters hold less dissolved oxygen, many species of fish have migrated deeper/poleward to colder
waters with more dissolved oxygen
b. Describe how ocean warming has disrupted reproduction of marine organisms some sea turtle
species have lost coastal hatching grounds as ocean warming causes sea level to rise, some sea
turtle species have experienced skewed sex-ratios because hatchling gender is temperature
dependent in these species
c. Describe the mutualistic relationship between coral and algae coral provide organic
matter/nutrients/CO2 to the algae and the algae provide sugars which the coral use for energy
d. Explain the process of coral bleaching as ocean temperatures rise above the range of tolerance
for the algae living in the reef, they leave/are expelled from the reef, causing the reef to lose its
color and placing the coral in a stressed state due to loss of the sugar (energy) algae were
providing

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 APES Unit 9 Ultimate Review Packet (9.7 - 9.8)
9.7 - Ocean Acidification
a. Identify the main cause for ocean acidification an increase in atmospheric CO2 concentration
b. Write out the chemical equation that demonstrates the formation of carbonic acid in the ocean
CO2 + H2O → H2CO3 (carbonic acid)
c. Write out the chemical expression that demonstrates how the formation of carbonic acid in the
ocean increases the concentration of H+ ions in ocean water
H2CO3 → H+ + HCO3- (bicarbonate ion)
d. Explain how ocean acidification impacts shell-building or exoskeleton-building marine organisms
ocean acidification causes a decrease in the availability of free carbonate ions in ocean water,
which makes it more difficult for organisms to build/maintain calcium carbonate
shells/exoskeletons
e. Identify the relationship between oceanic CO2 concentration and ocean pH inverse relationship -
as oceanic CO2 concentration increases, ocean pH decreases
f. Describe what a lower pH value indicates about the acidity and ion concentration of a solution the
lower the pH of a solution, the more acidic it is and the greater the concentration of H + ions

9.8 - Invasive Species

a. Describe how an invasive species is defined a species that can survive outside of its native
habitat and threatens/outcompetes native species
b. Identify TWO characteristics that make a species more likely to become invasive Diverse
habitat/food adaptability or ability to utilize wide range of food/habitat resources (generalist
species), high biotic potential/rate of reproduction, quick to reach sexual maturity (r-selected
species), aggressive/competitive feeder
c. Identify the means of introduction and explain one ecological impact of a specific invasive
species zebra mussels entered the Great Lakes in the ballast water of large ships and are
transported to inland lakes and rivers by small recreational boats. They aggressively feed on
algae, decreasing turbidity of water but also competing for this key food source | kudzu vine was
introduced as an erosion control species, especially in the Southern US. It grows extremely
rapidly and climbs over native vegetation, blocking sunlight from reaching it | Cane toads were
introduced in Australia to control cane beetle populations that were damaging sugarcane crops.
They rapidly reproduced and outcompeted native amphibians and small reptiles for food sources
d. Describe TWO methods humans can use to control the spread of invasive species laws that
prohibit the transport of firewood from regions known to be infected with wood-boring insects,
thinning stands of trees/removing dead or diseased trees from forests infested with fungal or
insect disease, removal/cleaning of aquatic invasive species off boats transported between inland
rivers/lakes, physical removal of invasive plants and re-establishment of natives
e. Describe an economic consequence of invasive species lost tourism revenue if flora/plants in an
ecosystem are damaged by disease, lost fishing profits/recreational fishing revenue if native fish
populations are decreased by invasive species, lost agricultural/timber products if invasive
insects/pathogens damage crops/trees, cleanup cost of removing invasive species

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 APES Unit 9 Ultimate Review Packet (9.9 - 9.10)
9.9 - Endangered Species
a. Identify TWO characteristics that make a species more likely to become extinct narrow
food/habitat requirements (specialist species), slow rate of reproduction/few offspring at a time
(K-selected species)
b. Describe TWO environmental or ecological factors that can make a species more likely to
become extinct introduction of an invasive species can increase competition for resources and
make a species more prone to extinction, rapid ecosystem change (temp, rainfall, drought, etc.)
can make a species more likely to become extinct, competition from other native species for food,
water, or habitat resources may cause a species to become extinct, global climate change leading
to rapid habitat loss
c. Describe a human action that can reduce the likelihood of a species becoming extinct
establishment of wildlife refuges/preserves to protect a species from human disruptions, captive
breeding programs to re-establish wild populations, listing of species as endangered which
enables: purchasing land critical to their habitat needs to prevent development/loss of habitat,
monitoring and restricting their trade/hunting, more strict laws/penalties for illegal poaching of
endangered species
d. Describe a piece of legislation that can be used to protect invasive species in the United States
Endangered Species Act protects endangered species by allowing the EPA to purchase & protect
habitat/breeding grounds of endangered species, prevents trade/poaching/hunting/harvesting of
endangered species, and to re-establish original population sizes of endangered species
e. Describe an international agreement that can be used to protect invasive species CITES
(Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species) is an international agreement by
many countries to monitor and prevent the trade of endangered species

9.10 - Human Impacts on Biodiversity

a. Identify the 6 major causes for declining biodiversity using the acronym HIPPCO
H - habitat loss
I - invasive species
P - population growth (humans)
P - pollution
C - climate change
O - overharvesting/overhunting
b. Identify TWO anthropogenic causes of habitat loss deforestation for
timber/agriculture/development, urbanization, draining wetlands for development, mining,
construction of dams, removing coastal wetlands for aquaculture/tourism access/development
c. Describe how habitat fragmentation occurs and explain one consequence it can have for a
population roads/pipelines/agriculture/urban sprawl can segment once continuous habitat
stretches into smaller patches/islands. This can reduce gene flow/genetic diversity in the
population by making populations smaller, can make it difficult for large territorial animals to have
sufficient hunting areas or to find mates, can intensify the edge effect which increases exposure to
competition with other species/contact with human disturbances
d. Propose a solution to reduce the effects of habitat fragmentation habitat corridors/wildlife
overpasses/tunnels that allow members of a population to move between habitat fragments
e. Explain one reason that human population growth can lead to biodiversity loss increased human
population leads to: more agricultural land which leads to deforestation/hab. loss, more FF
consumption which leads to more CO2 emissions and a more rapid rate of climate change
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 APES Unit 9 Ultimate Review Packet (9.10)
9.10 - Human Impacts on Biodiversity (continued)
e. (continued) Explain one reason that human population growth can lead to biodiversity loss
increased human population leads to: more mining of metals/FFS which leads to habitat loss,
more need for homes and urbanization which leads to habitat loss
f. Identify a specific pollutant and explain how it leads to a loss of biodiversity pesticides from
agricultural runoff can kill/cause gender imbalances in aquatic populations, fertilizers in
agricultural runoff/CAFO waste/untreated sewage/organic enrichment can cause eutrophication
leading to decline in dissolved oxygen in aquatic ecosystems and loss of aquatic species,
PCBs/DDTs/methylmercury can biomagnify in food chains and cause cancer/birth defects in the
populations of top predators, NOx/SOx can lead to acid rain which can decrease population sizes
of sensitive aquatic and terrestrial species
g. Identify and explain a specific way in which climate change contributes to a loss of biodiversity
climate change causes shifting/shrinking of biomes which can decrease population sizes of
species dependent on those biomes or cause extinction if they can’t adapt or migrate quickly
enough, climate change causes sea level rise which floods coastal ecosystems such as
mangroves/salt marshes/coral reef and decreases populations of species that depend on these
ecosystems for habitat/breeding grounds, climate change causes ocean warming which
decreases dissolved oxygen/leads to coral bleaching, global climate causes melting of polar ice
which decreases habitat for polar species causing their populations to decline or become extinct,
global climate change shifts precipitation patterns which can cause some regions to become too
dry to support plant species which causes loss of these species/consumers that depend on them
h. Explain how overharvesting of a species can decrease biodiversity or cause extinction of the
species harvesting a species at a rate faster than it can repopulate/reproduce will cause the
population size to decrease, which decreases genetic diversity and can put the species at risk of
extinction (smaller gene pool is more susceptible to additional disruptions like habitat loss, climate
change, disease, invasive species)
i. Describe how human food production has caused a decrease in biodiversity organisms that are
used by humans as food sources have become domesticated and experienced a decline in
species diversity/genetic diversity, expansion of agricultural land has caused a decline in
biodiversity due to clearing land which causes habitat loss for native species, application of
pesticides to agricultural crops causes death in non-target species and decreases their population
sizes/genetic diversity

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