2011年AP环境科学简答题真题+答案+PDF下载
1. Read the following article from the Fremont Inquirer and answer the questions that follow.
(a) As mentioned in the article, there are several possible explanations for the increase in mountain pine beetles.
(i) Provide one reason why fire-suppression policies lead to increased beetle activity.
(ii) Reduced winter mortality of beetle larvae is likely a consequence of global climate change. Describe TWO ways that the activities of the beetles might enhance climate change.
(b) The widespread death of trees leads to a series of changes in a forest ecosystem. Identify TWO physical changes that occur in the forest ecosystem as the result of the death of mature trees. For each physical change you identify, describe an impact of that change on the forest ecosystem.
(c) As the article states, the number of managed honeybee colonies has dropped significantly over the past few decades. Describe TWO specific economic consequences of the collapse of the managed honeybee colonies.
(d) Pollination by native insects is considered an ecosystem service. Identify a different ecosystem service and explain how that service benefits human society.
2. Coral reefs are produced when corals acquire calcium ions (Ca2+) and carbonate ions (CO32−) from seawater and deposit solid CaCO3 to form their exoskeletons. Scientists are concerned that relatively rapid decreases in ocean water pH will hinder the deposition of CaCO3. The graph above shows the amount of CO2 dissolved in ocean water and ocean water pH (shown in parentheses) since 1850 and the predicted changes through 2100.
(a) Explain how an increase in the amount of dissolved CO2 in ocean water results in a decrease in the pH of ocean water.
(b) Explain why the movement of carbon into the ocean has been increasing since 1850.
(c) In order to model the effects of ocean acidification on coral reefs, some simplifying assumptions can be made. Use the assumptions in the table below to perform the calculations that follow.
Assume that the total global area of corals growing in reefs is 2.5 × 1011 m2.
Assume that corals grow only vertically and that the average vertical growth rate of corals is 3 mm/year.
Assume that the average density of CaCO3 in corals is 2 × 103 kg/m3.
(i) Calculate the current annual global increase in volume, in m3, of CaCO3 in coral reefs. Show all steps in your calculation.
(ii) Calculate the current annual global increase in mass, in kg, of CaCO3 in coral reefs. Show all steps in your calculation.
(iii) Because of ocean acidification, it is expected that in 2050 the mass of CaCO3 deposited annually in coral reefs will be 20 percent less than is deposited currently. Calculate how much less CaCO3 , in kg,is expected to be deposited in 2050 than would be deposited if ocean water pH were to remain at its current value.
(d) Identify and describe one likely negative environmental impact of the loss of coral reefs.
(e) Identify one environmental problem (other than one due to ocean acidification or loss of coral reefs) that affects marine ecosystems on a global scale.
2011年AP环境科学简答题真题余下省略！
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