Study Guide Ecology Test 2

Chapter 6 - “The Human Population: Demographics”

Know the relative size of the population from 1830-today;

Know the general history of the population explosion;

Differentiate between developed and developing countries;

Define total fertility rate, replacement fertility, age structure, population profile, demography, population momentum, demographic transition; Understand the 4 stages of the demographic transition;

Chapter 7 - “Issues in Population”

Understand 6 reasons why poor have high fertility rates; Understand how colonialism has kept developing countries poor; Understand what the World Bank is and what it does (pros and cons); Understand the problem of debt crisis and its effects;  Know the 5 new areas of focus to help the poor, esp. microlending;

Chapter 8 - “Soil”

Know the 3 components of the soil ecosystem; Define soil profile, humus, soil texture, soil fertility, weathering, leaching, nutrient/water holding capacity, pH,  transpiration, aeration, salinity, mineralization, erosion,  desertification, irrigation; Know differences in organic and inorganic fertilizers; Know 3 causes of erosion and how it leads to desertification; Know how irrigation leads to salinization;

Chapter 9 - “Water: Hydrologic Cycle and Human Use”

Understand the 4 processes of the water cycle and their function;

Understand what conditions produce rainfall patterns;  Understand the impact of deforestation on the water cycle; Define ground water, water table, surface water, subsidence, springs, xeriscaping and gray water recycling;  Differentiate between consumptive and nonconsumptive use; Know 3 main uses of water worldwide and options to conserve water; Understand how desalinization plants remove salt;

Chapter 10 - “The Production and Distribution of Food”

Know how the Industrial Revolution affected agriculture; Understand the Green Revolution - its benefits and limitations; Know the extent of animal farming and the consequences; Understand the pros and cons of genetic engineering our food;

Know how trade developed and how it changed self-sufficiency in food production; Define hunger, malnutrition, undernutrition, famine, and absolute poverty; Know what “FEWS” is; Understand the role of food aid; Apply the principles of sustainability to agriculture;

Extra credit: Human population growth: 1. How has the rate of man’s population growth changed over time? 2. What factors influenced this growth over the last 40,000 years? 3. How do economics (developed/developing) influence growth? 4. How does demographic transition influence growth? 5. What might happen to human population growth in the future?