In the course of one day, a human experiences several dozen ecosystem services other than the essential provisioning services supplying us with food, water, and the air we breathe. Explain three additional ecosystem services that are essential to
maintaining life on Earth.
What will be an ideal response?
One might begin with a focus on the ecosystem services that regulate climate (solar energy budget), the flow of water through ecosystems (water cycle), or the absorption of pollutants (microbial decomposition and the essential recycling of matter). One could also describe the basic ecosystem processes such as any of the nutrient cycles (N cycle, which provides the critical N-compounds to plants that humans consume in order to build their essential N-containing compounds of DNA/RNA, enzymes, and proteins). The carbon cycle, moving O2 and CO2 through the ecosystem via the processes of photosynthesis and cellular respiration could also be described.
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Most of Canada's commercial timber production comes from
A. Ontario B. The northern forests C. Quebec D. The West Coast
As global populations increase demands for water and global warming continues, the most sustainable source of water for poor developing countries will be
A) groundwater aquifers. B) dams to capture runoff water. C) estuaries. D) desalination plants.
Which of the following is a mathematical statement of Boyle's Law?
A) P1/V2 = P2/V1 B) P1/V1 = P2/V2 C) P1/T2 = P2/T1 D) P1/T1 = P2/T2
The main process that happens during the alpha type of radioactive decay is
A. an atom splits into two pieces. B. an electron is given off. C. an electron is absorbed and turned into a neutron. D. an alpha particle combines with a small atom to make a larger one.