Ecology and Sustainable Development Fundamentals

True or False Statements

1. The challenges for sustainable development are intergenerational equity, assigning duties, and interconnection. True
2. Chemistry helps ecology by creating future models to predict the consequences of environmental issues. True
3. Biology is the science that studies the interactions between living things and their environment. True
4. A population is the living and nonliving things sharing the same space and time. False. A population refers to a group of individuals of the same species living in the same area, not living and nonliving things. The correct term is ecosystem.
5. Life may not be able to exist without the heterotrophs due to that are the base that drives the entire ecosystem. False. Life may not be able to exist without autotrophs, as they are the base that drives the entire ecosystem by producing energy through photosynthesis.
6. The word ecology is formed by the two Greek words oikos (home) and logos (study). True
7. Sustainable development is divided into three main pillars: environmental, social, and politics. False. Sustainable development is divided into three main pillars: environmental, social, and economic.
8. Physics researchers examine the consequences of how acid rain affects soil and water systems in an environment. True
9. A food chain is the transfer of food energy from one trophic layer to another trophic layer. True
10. The migration of species is a type of interaction in the ecosystem. True

Notable Figures in Ecology and Science

1. Carl Linnaeus – Traveled widely to classify plants and is sometimes called the father of taxonomy.
2. Rachel Carson – Published a book in 1962 about the consequences of DDT (a pesticide).
3. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek – Created the microscope and observed bacteria, fungi, and spermatozoa.
4. Arthur Tansley – Coined the term “ecosystem.”
5. Alexander von Humboldt – Stated that maps help observe the locations of different species of living beings.
6. Charles Darwin – Traveled to the Galápagos Islands and developed the theory of evolution by natural selection.
7. Carl Linnaeus – Father of taxonomy, which names and classifies living beings.
8. Eugene Odum – Contributed to ecology by developing concepts related to ecosystem structure and function.

Key Concepts

Retail Step in the Food Supply Chain & Economic Sector

• The retail step involves selling food products directly to consumers through supermarkets, grocery stores, and markets.
• This step belongs to the tertiary sector of the economy.

Three Interconnections of the Ecosystem

• Energy Flow – The transfer of energy from the sun to producers, consumers, and decomposers.
• Nutrient Cycles – The movement of essential nutrients (e.g., carbon, nitrogen) through the ecosystem.
• Food Chains and Food Webs – The relationship between organisms based on feeding interactions.

Three Reasons to Study Ecology

• Understanding Environmental Issues – Helps address problems like climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss.
• Conservation of Biodiversity – Aids in protecting species and maintaining ecosystem balance.
• Sustainable Resource Management – Guides responsible use of natural resources for future generations.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Researchers monitor the impact of DNA soil microorganisms on the health of plant roots. Which branch of ecology best relates to this study?
   A) Microbiology B) Embryology C) Biotechnology D) Genetics
2. Which activities are related to the manufacturing of raw material into a good?
   A) Secondary activities B) Tertiary activities C) Primary activities D) Environmental issues
3. Which activities are related to the extraction of natural resources from nature?
   A) Secondary activities B) Tertiary activities C) Primary activities D) Environmental issues
4. What is a major cause of deforestation around the world?
   A) Increased rainfall B) Agricultural expansion and logging C) Preservation efforts D) Wildlife protection laws
5. What is the primary cause of ozone layer depletion?
   A) Deforestation B) Use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) C) Carbon dioxide D) Agriculture
6. What term refers to the increase in the superficial temperature of the world?
   A) Global warming B) Ozone depletion C) Acid rain D) Climate change
7. What is known as good or bad actions that change the environment due to natural or human activities?
   A) Environmental changes B) Environmental impacts C) Environmental issues D) Environmental outcomes
8. What environmental problem is very common in the state of Veracruz?
   A) Deforestation B) Ozone depletion C) Acid rain D) Climate change
9. Which part of the food supply chain involves packaging and labeling food products?
   A) Production B) Processing C) Retailing D) Distribution
10. Which environmental issue is primarily caused by greenhouse gas emissions?
    A) Ozone layer depletion B) Global warming and climate change C) Desertification D) Soil pollution