1) Why is the idea of equilibrium in systems somewhat misleading in regard to environmental questions? Is it ever possible to establish a balance of nature? (125 words)
2) How might you use the principle of uniformitarianism to help evaluate environmental problems? Is it possible to use this principle to help evaluate the potential consequences of too many people on Earth? (125 words)
3) Farming has been described as managing land to keep it in an early stage of succession. What does this mean, and how is it achieved? (125 words)
4) Redwood trees reproduce successfully only after disturbances (including fire and floods), yet individual redwood trees may live more than 1,000 years. Is redwood an early- or late-successional species? (125 words)
5) What is the difference between an ecosystem and an ecological community? (125 words)
6) What is the difference between the way energy puts limits on life and the way phosphorus does so? (125 words)
7) Why is an understanding of biogeochemical cycles important in environmental science? Explain your answer, using two examples (125 words)
8) Contrast the geochemical cycles for phosphorus and nitrogen and explain why the differences are important in environmental science. (125 words)
9) What are the major ways that people have altered biogeochemical cycles? (125 words)
10) Explain Competition and Ecological Niches (125 words)