Meteorology/Agronomy/EnvSci/EnvSt 404/504

Block 3 Exam
28 April 1999

1. Rainforests in both Indonesia and Amazonia have evolved diversity through "island effects". Discuss what is meant by "island effects" and how such effects were both similar and different in these two regions.



2. Discuss demographictransition in terms of total fertility rate and inhibiting factors.



3. Rodents are called gereralists or opportunists. Describe what this means and describe the impact of climate variability on human health through impact on rodents.



4. Sustainable development:
   
   
   • Give the generally accepted definition of sustainable development
   
   
   
   • Explain how this relates to depletion of fossil fuel reserves.
   
   
   
5. Mickey Glantz studied several environmental disasters in the US to extract some general characteristics of how societies deal with impending environmental problems (like global warming). Use Glantz's results on societal behavior to forecast what will happen in China as it faces a variety of environmental problems.

6. Describe the present "social contract for science" and give your opinion on whether the present contract is outdated and should be replaced with the one that Jane Lubchenko espouses.



7. Discuss the following statement: "Global warming will cause deserts to expand and lead to desertification".