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Overview
of Station Testing
To
prepare teams for the Pennsylvania Envirothon, most
counties model their test stations like/after the state
competition.
Traditional
state testing evaluates team performance in four universal
areas (i.e., soils/land use, aquatic ecology, forestry,
wildlife) and a different current environmental issue
each year. At each station, written tests assess each
team’s knowledge of the specific resource at that
site.
For
example, the forestry station will primarily relate
to forest ecology, forest structure and composition,
regional tree and plant species, and silvicultural and
forestry practices; the aquatic station will primarily
relate to aquatic ecosystems, species diversity, and
aquatic resource management; the soils/land use station
will primarily relate to land formation, use of a soil
survey, and land management practices; and the wildlife
station will primarily relate to wildlife ecology, conservation
and management practices, regional wildlife species,
and issues involving wildlife and society.
Station
testing is designed to provide a challenging, hands-on
opportunity for each team to demonstrate and apply their
knowledge of environmental science and natural resource
management.
As
teams rotate through each of the five testing stations,
they will experience a variety of testing formats. Most
tests will include some type of identification, including
wildlife tracks or mounts, bird calls, skins, fish,
macroinvertebrates, trees, soil textures and soil horizons.
The majority of the other questions will be in the format
of matching and multiple choice, with a few fill-in-the-blank
and short answer questions. At each station, teams receive
a brief introduction to the specific site. The test
is usually administered by a natural resource professional
with expertise in that field. Students spend 25-35 minutes
at each testing station with a five-minute period for questions
and review and a five-minute period for travel between
stations.
Sample
Station Test
The following is the actual test used for the 2006
Current Issue station. This test was based on the
theme “Water Stewardship in a Changing Climate”. This test provides an example of
the types of questions you may or may not
experience at any given Envirothon competition.
2006
Envirothon
Current Issue Test
Water Stewardship in a Changing Climate
| 1.
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Areas of water which are consistently depleted of oxygen can cause significant damage and changes within a body of water. Which of the following is least likely to be the result of persistent dead zones? |
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a.
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Toxic algal blooms |
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b. |
Bad odors |
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c |
A change in the taste of drinking water |
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d. |
Increased pH |
| 2. |
Fish are an example of a species which will respond strongly to a changing climate, actively seeking suitable water temperatures, oxygen and food. If the climate continues to change (water temperatures rise, flow and volume change), how will this climate change affect your coldwater fishing? |
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a. |
Population decrease, fewer fish to catch |
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b. |
Population increase, better chances of catching fish |
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c. |
Distribution change, may have to fish different areas than previously fished |
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d. |
The changes will have little affect on my fishing |
| 3. |
Scientists at the University of Michigan and Ducks Unlimited have estimated that a 2 degree F warming would decrease duck populations by about 25% if rainfall were to remain constant. The decline would be primarily because of the loss of prairie potholes. The scientists conlcuded that precipitation would need to increase ______% to offset the adverse effect of a 2 degree warming. |
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a. |
8 |
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b. |
25 |
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c. |
35 |
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d. |
50 |
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Match the pollutant with its effect: |
| 4. |
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Carbon Dioxide |
| 5. |
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Nitrous Oxide |
| 6. |
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Ozone |
| 7. |
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Sulfur Oxides |
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Fill in the Blank |
| 8. |
The chemical composition of the atmoshpere has been changed dramatically by the buildup of greenhouse gases through the activities of humans. What three primary gases does this refer to? |
| 9. |
During which Revolution did humans begin to alter the climate and environment through changes in agriculture and industrial practices? |
| 10. |
Put in order the following fisheries, from most implications to least implications, how they will be affected by higher water temperatures due to global warming: Coastal fisheries, Inland Fisheries, and Ocean Fisheries. |
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