BIO 2852

Ecology and Environment

20/04/2021; 13:30 (21/04/2021; 13:30)
Midterm Take-home Exam

Name : ALİ ARAT

ID # : 170701048

INSTRUCTIONS OF MIDTERM TAKE-HOME EXAM (100 points):

Purpose: This Take-Home Test is designed to allow you to apply course information,
including major concepts, principles, theories and research related to Ecology and
Environmental Science.
Instructions:
Step 1: Answer the questions on the next page. You have 10 questions (10 points each).
Answer all of them (on PC with MSword).
You can use the 6 power point files that you received during our classes and other
supportive resources (like internet) to answer the questions.
Answer to each question should be a paragraph of at least five sentences. Do not copy paste
the answers from the internet use your own words and rewrite. You should conclude with a
sentence or two expressing your own thoughts for the answers.
Step 2: When you complete your take-home test, please upload your word document with
your answers and submit on https://dys.mu.edu.tr.
If you experience any difficulties uploading word document try to upload it as a pdf file !!!
Grading Criteria:
Criteria Points
Student answers the questions correctly and completely. The student may look 7- 10
for an answer outside the notes provided in the class (web etc.). Demonstrates a
high level of understanding of concepts.
Student shows some prior knowledge and may use terminology to answer the 5 - 6
question. The student does not use appropriate information to answer the
questions (Maybe partially correct but still incomplete).
Student tries to answer the question but does not show evidence of any previous 3 - 4
knowledge to assist in answering. The student may reveal misconceptions about
concepts (Incorrect Answer).
Student tries to answer the question but does not relate to the concept. 1 - 2
Numerous errors, hard to read. Provides too little evidence of learning. (No
Answer)
 BIO 2852
Ecology and Environment
20/04/2021; 13:30 (21/04/2021; 13:30)
Midterm Take-home Exam

Name :ALİ ARAT

ID # :170701048

1) What is environment? Discuss the scope of environment. (10 Points)

Environment means anything that surround us. It can be living or non-living

things. It includes physical, chemical and other natural forces. Living things live in
their environment. They constantly interact with it and adapt themselves to
conditions in their environment. In the environment there are different interactions
between animals, plants, soil, water, and other living and non-living things. I think ,
environment is the area that covers us in order to sustain our lives.

Since everything is part of the environment of something else, the word

environment is used to talk about many things. People in different fields of
knowledge use the word environment differently. Electromagnetic environment is
radio waves and other electromagnetic radiation and magnetic fields. The
environment of galaxy refers to conditions of interstellar medium.

The relationship between humanity and the environment is a delicate balance.

Since the industrial revolution, the world's population has increased exponentially,
and with the population growth, the environment has been profoundly affected.
Deforestation, pollution and global climate changes are amongst the adverse
effects the population and technological expansion has introduced. Included in
this category are both subjects dealing with attempts to reduce the negative
impact on the environment, and subjects which aim to gain a greater
understanding of the environment itself.

2) Define Ecology? (10 Points)

Ecology is the study of the distribution and abundance of organisms, the

interaction between organisms, the interaction between organisms and their
environment, and structure and function of ecosystems.
Thus, ecology deals with the organism and its environment. The concept of
environment includes both other organisms and physical surroundings. It involves
relationships between individuals within a population and between individuals of
different populations. These interactions between individuals, between
populations, and between organisms and their environment form ecological
 systems, or ecosystems. I think, ecology is a term that examines all living things,
the relationships between living things and the environment.
3) Describe the importance of environmental studies. (10 Points)

Environment studies is all about learning the way we should live and how we can
develop sustainable strategies to protect the environment. It helps individuals to
develop an understanding of living and physical environment and how to resolve
challenging environmental issues affecting nature. In addition to studying the
physical aspects of the environment, it also emphasizes the need to conserve
biodiversity and adopt a more sustainable lifestyle and utilize resources in a
responsible way.
Environmental studies are the scientific study of the environmental system and
the status of its inherent or induced changes on organisms. I think ,environmental
studies are very important for the future of our generation. If these studies were
not done, our future and the planet we are on would be endangered.

4) Discuss various types of environment. (10 Points)

1-NATURAL ENVİRONMENT

Natural environment the non-human-made surroundings and conditions in which all

living and non-living things exist on Earth. The common concept of the natural
environment encompasses two different components:

Ecological units that operate as natural systems (such as soil, vegetation and so on).

Universal natural resources (such as air and water).

2- Physical Environment

The physical environment is where individuals live, learn, work, and play. People
interact with their physical environment through the air they breathe, water they drink,
houses they live in, and the transportation they access to travel to work and school.
Poor physical environment can affect our ability and that of our families and
neighbors to live long and healthy lives.

3- Social Environment

The social environment refers to the immediate physical and social setting in which
people live or in which something happens or develops. It includes the culture that
the individual was educated or lives in.

4- Cultural Environment

Cultural environment is a set of beliefs, practices, customs and behaviors that are
found to be common to everyone that is living within a certain population. Cultural
environments shape the way that every person develops, influencing ideologies and
personalities. Cultural environments are determined by the culmination of many
different aspects of culture that influence personal choices and behaviors.

5- Biological environment

The biological environment includes all living things,such as plants and animals.Man
is the most important component of the biological environment.This provide a variety
of useful products.Most of them have the capacity to reprocedure and regenerate.

6- Psychological Environment

Psychological Environment is the study of transactions between individuals and their

physical settings . In these transactions, individuals change their environments, and
their behavior and experiences are changed by their environments. It includes theory,
research, and practice aimed at making the built environment more humane and
improving human relations with the natural environment. Considering the enormous
investment society makes in the physical environment (including buildings, parks,
streets, the atmosphere, and water) and the huge cost of misusing nature and natural
resources, psychological Environment is a key component of both human and
environmental welfare.

5) What are the main challenges that put pressure on the environment? (10 Points)

1- Population growth

Population growth is the increase in the number of people living in a particular area.
Since populations can grow exponentially, resource depletion can occur rapidly,
leading to specific environmental concerns such as global warming, deforestation
and decreasing biodiversity. Populations in developed countries trend toward using
substantially more resources, while populations in developing countries feel the
impacts of environmental problems more quickly.l think, Because the population
growth will affect our environment too much, the environment we are in may be
destroyed, and I think because of this worldwide increase in population, people will
start to move to other planets in the future.

2-CLIMATE CHANGE

While 97 percent of climate scientists agree that climate change is occurring and
greenhouse gas emissions are the main cause, political will has not been strong
enough so far to initiate a massive policy shift away from fossil fuels and toward
sustainable forms of energy. Perhaps more extreme weather events such as
droughts, wildfires, heat waves and flooding will convince the public to put more
pressure on policymakers to act urgently to curb carbon emissions and address this
issue before it’s too late. I think the existence of climate change in our world will
condemn living species to destruction.
3-POLLUTİON

Pollution is defined as direct or indirect adverse impacts of contaminants on the

marine environment, such as harm to living resources and marine ecosystems,
including loss of biodiversity, hazards to human health, the hindering of marine
activities, including fishing, tourism.

4- DEFORESTATION

Forests are important to mitigating climate change because they serve as “carbon
sinks,” meaning that they absorb CO2 that would otherwise escape into the
atmosphere and worsen global warming. It is estimated that 15 percent of total
greenhouse gas emissions come from deforestation. Cutting down trees also
threatens animals and humans who rely on healthy forests to sustain themselves,
and the loss of tropical rainforests is particularly concerning because around 80
percent of the world’s species reside in these areas.

5- WATER SCARCITY

As the population increases and climate change causes more droughts, water
scarcity is becoming more of an issue. Only three percent of the world’s water is
fresh water and 1.1 billion people lack access to clean, safe drinking water. In fact, by
the middle of this century will be at higher risk of water shortages facing an
extremely high risk.

6- LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY

Increasing human encroachment on wildlife habitats is causing a rapid loss of

biodiversity that threatens food security, population health and world stability. Climate
change is also a major contributor to biodiversity loss, as some species aren’t able to
adapt to changing temperatures.

7- SOIL EROSION AND DEGRADATION

Unsustainable industrial agriculture practices have resulted in soil erosion and

degradation that leads to less arable land, clogged and polluted waterways,
increased flooding and desertification.

6) What is meant by Natural Resources? Explain Renewable and Non-renewable Natural

resources. (10 Points)

Natural resources are materials from the Earth that are used to support life and meet
people's needs. Any natural substance that humans use can be considered a natural
resource. Oil, coal, natural gas, metals, stone and sand are natural resources. Other
natural resources are air, sunlight, soil and water.
Renewable resources
A) Renewable resources
Renewable resources can be replenished by natural processes as quickly as humans
use them. Examples include sunlight and wind. They are not destroyed when they
are used and can be recycled.
1- Wind energy
The main source of wind energy is actually the sun. Since lands and seas have
different heat trapping capacities, the sun's rays do not warm the lands and seas to
the same degree. The pressure difference that occurs due to the temperature
difference between the lands and seas also creates the winds. With wind turbines
installed in places with intense wind, the kinetic energy of the wind is transformed
into electrical energy.
2- Solar energy
The sun's own energy arises from the fusion that occurs in its core. Some of this
energy reaches the earth as sun rays. Solar panels collect the sun's rays and convert
them into heat and electrical energy.

3- Geothermal energy
Geothermal energy includes using these geothermal resources and the energy they
generate directly or indirectly.
4- hydroelectric energy
The power of running water is used for hydroelectric power generation. The flow
strength of water determines the amount of energy that can be obtained from a
stream. The kinetic energy created by the flow of water is transformed into electrical
energy by transmitting the water to the turbines through water channels and rotating
the blades of the turbines. Especially in places where the altitude is high, the flow
rate of the water will be high, so these places are ideal for hydroelectric energy
production.
5- Biomass energy
Biomass energy can be obtained from all kinds of organic waste, plants, herbs, algae
and algae. Burning plants or using animal waste for energy production are the most
traditional forms of biomass energy.
B)
Non-renewable energy sources
It is a discontinuous type of energy that cannot be replaced after the non-renewable
energy is used. Most non-renewable energy sources are fossil fuels such as coal,
gas and oil. These substances were formed as a result of fossil reserves
accumulated over millions of years.
1- Coal
Thermal power plants are used to generate electricity from coal. Coal has a huge
share among the energy resources in our country in terms of usage density.
2- Petroleum
Petroleum is a very important source of energy. Electricity is produced both by
burning oil. Petroleum is used in almost all areas you can think of, especially vehicles
such as generators and cars.
3- Natural gas
The source of natural gas is obtained from living remains that disappeared many
years ago. However, since its formation has taken centuries, it is very unlikely to
renew itself as it is used.
4- Nuclear Energy
Fission is the phenomenon of breaking down heavy radioactive materials into smaller
atoms by bombarding neutrons from the outside, and nuclear reactions where light
radioactive atoms combine to form heavier atoms are called fusion reactions. More
energy is obtained from fusion reactions from fission reactions.

7) Discuss the use and importance of Forest Resources. (10 Points)

-We depend on forests for our survival, from the air we breathe to the wood we use.
Besides providing habitats for animals and livelihoods for humans, forests also offer
watershed protection, prevent soil erosion and mitigate climate change.

-Forests play a major role in our life. Early humans gathered food and were
dependent on forests for all their basic needs such as food, clothing, and shelter.We
depend on forests for several or various other things directly or indirectly.

- Forests prevent soil erosion and floods. Roots of trees bind the soil particles
together and prevent the soil from being washed or blown away.

- Trees help to regulate the climate of a place. They absorb water from the ground
through their roots, and then release some of it as water vapour. In this way, they
manage to keep the surrounding air cool. By raising the water vapour content of the
atmosphere, trees are responsible for bringing the rains, too. Trees also help in
keeping a check on global warming by using carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse
gas for photosynthesis.

- Some trees, such as coconuts and palms, help to break strong winds in coastal
areas. They act as shields or windbreakers against incoming storms or strong tidal
waves.

- We get timber from more than a thousand species of trees such as sal, mahogany,
teak, and rosewood. Several timber- based industries such as those of plywood,
sawmills, paper and pulp, and cardboards are all dependent on these trees. We get
firewood from trees.

- Forests help to balance the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
 8) Define deforestation. What are the chief effects of deforestation? (10 Points)

Deforestation refers to the decrease in forest areas across the world that are lost for
other uses such as agricultural croplands, urbanization, or mining activities.

Deforestation occurs in different ways; such as forest fires, shearing cuts for
agriculture, farming and development, logging for timber production and climate
change related degradation. This situation affects people's livelihoods and threatens
many animals and species.

1-Loss of Habitat

One of the most dangerous and unsettling effects of deforestation is the loss of
animal and plant species due to their loss of habitat.

The trees of the rainforest that provide shelter for some species also provide the
canopy that regulates the temperature. Deforestation results in a more drastic
temperature variation from day to night, much like a desert, which could prove fatal
for many inhabitants.

2-Increased Greenhouse Gases

ln addition to the loss of habitat, the lack of trees also allows a greater amount of
greenhouse gases to be released into the atmosphere. Healthy forests absorb
carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, acting as valuable carbon sinks. Deforested
areas lose that ability and release more carbon.

3-Water in the Atmosphere

The trees also help control the level of water in the atmosphere by helping to regulate
the water cycle. In deforested areas, there is less water in the air to be returned to
the soil. This then causes dryer soil and the inability to grow crops.

4-Soil Erosion and Flooding

Further effects of deforestation include soil erosion and coastal flooding. Trees help
the land to retain water and topsoil, which provides the rich nutrients to sustain
additional forest life.

Without forests, the soil erodes and washes away, causing farmers to move on and
perpetuate the cycle. The barren land which is left behind in the wake of these
unsustainable agricultural practices is then more susceptible to flooding, specifically
in coastal regions.

5-Effects of Deforestation on Indigenous People

As large amounts of forests are cleared away, allowing exposed earth to whither and
die and the habitats of innumerable species to be destroyed, the indigenous
communities who live there and depend on the forest to sustain their way of life are
also under threat.

The loss of forests has an immediate and direct effect on their lifestyle that we in the
highly industrialized parts of the world, despite our own dependency on what the
rainforest provides, will never know. The level of immediacy is exponentially greater
for indigenous peoples.

9) What are the adverse effects of fertilizers on pollution? (10 Points)

1-Waterway Pollution
The use of chemical fertilizers on crops can have adverse effects on waterways
caused by chemical run off of the excess fertilizer. The over-abundance of
nutrients in the water reduces the amount of oxygen. The existing organisms
living in the water use up the oxygen that is left. The result is oxygen depletion
causing the fish to die.
2- Chemical Burn
Chemical fertilizers are high in nutrient content such as nitrogen. Over-application
of chemical fertilizer to plants may cause the leaves to turn yellow or brown,
damaging the plant and reducing crop yield. This condition is known as chemical
leaf scorch. Leaf scorch can cause the leaves of the plant to wither and may
cause the plant to die.
3- Increased Air Pollution
Excess nitrogen used in crop fertilization can contribute to the release of
greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide into the atmosphere.
This effect is caused by using a greater amount of chemical fertilizer than the
plants can readily absorb.
4- Soil Acidification
The over-use of chemical fertilizers can lead to soil acidification because of a
decrease in organic matter in the soil. Nitrogen applied to fields in large amounts
over time damages topsoil, resulting in reduced crop yields. Sandy soils are much
more prone to soil acidification than are clay soils. Clay soils have an ability to
buffer the effects of excess chemical fertilization.
5- Mineral Depletion
There is an increasing concern that continuous use of chemical fertilizers on soil
depletes the soil of essential nutrients. As a result, the food produced in these
soils have less vitamin and mineral content.

10) Discuss the use and over-utilization of surface and ground water. (10 Points)

Use of Ground water

Groundwater; Since it can be put into operation in a short time, it is a resource
that has been used for a long time to meet the demand for drinking-use,
agricultural irrigation and industrial water since it generally does not require
treatment.
Use of surface water
Alongside being used for drinking water, surface water is also used for irrigation,
wastewater treatment, livestock, industrial uses, hydropower, and recreation.

Over-utilization of surface and ground water.

Lowering of the Water Table
Excessive pumping can lower the groundwater table, and cause wells to no
longer be able to reach groundwater.

Increased Costs
As the water table lowers, the water must be pumped farther to reach the surface,
using more energy. In extreme cases, using such a well can be cost prohibitive.

Reduced Surface Water Supplies

Groundwater and surface water are connected. When groundwater is overused,
the lakes, streams, and rivers connected to groundwater can also have their
supply diminished.

Land Subsidence
Land subsidence occurs when there is a loss of support below ground. This is
most often caused by human activities, mainly from the overuse of groundwater,
when the soil collapses, compacts, and drops.

Water Quality Concerns

Excessive pumping in coastal areas can cause saltwater to move inland and
upward, resulting in saltwater contamination of the water supply.

GOOD LUCK
Köksal KÜÇÜKAKYÜZ