Pest Control Methods (College Board AP® Environmental Science): Flashcards
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Define pest control.
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Cards in this collection (19)
Define pest control.
Pest control refers to the methods used to manage or eliminate organisms that harm crops, livestock, or human health.
What are the benefits of chemical pest control?
Chemical pest control reduces crop damage, increases agricultural productivity, and protects food supplies by preventing the spread of pest-borne diseases.
Chemicals that target weeds are called .
Chemicals that target weeds are called herbicides.
Define pesticide resistance.
Pesticide resistance is when pest populations evolve to withstand the chemicals used to control them.
How does artificial selection lead to pesticide resistance?
Repeated pesticide exposure selects for resistant individuals, which survive, reproduce, and pass on resistance genes until most of the population is resistant.
True or False?
Pesticides cause the genetic mutations that make pests resistant.
False.
Some pests already have genetic mutations that make them resistant; the pesticide kills non-resistant pests, so the resistant survivors reproduce.
Define genetically engineered (GE) crops.
Genetically engineered (GE) crops are plants whose DNA has been modified using biotechnology to introduce desirable traits.
Why does pesticide resistance increase pesticide use?
Farmers apply stronger or more frequent treatments, increasing costs and environmental harm.
How does pesticide overuse harm non-target organisms?
Pesticide overuse can kill beneficial insects, such as pollinators like bees.
How does Bt corn reduce crop losses?
Bt corn carries a gene for the Bt toxin from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis, so it produces its own insecticide.
Which group faces the highest exposure to pesticides?
Farm workers face the highest exposure, particularly during mixing, spraying, and re-entry into treated fields.
Golden Rice is a GE crop fortified with to combat malnutrition.
Golden Rice is a GE crop fortified with vitamin A to combat malnutrition.
What are the long-term health risks of pesticide exposure?
Long-term exposure is linked to respiratory problems, neurological effects, and an increased risk of certain cancers.
True or False?
Herbicide-tolerant GE crops always reduce the amount of herbicide used.
False.
Some herbicide-tolerant crops encourage higher herbicide use, leading to resistant weeds called superweeds.
How do pest-resistant GE crops reduce environmental contamination?
Pest-resistant crops require fewer chemical applications, lowering production costs and environmental contamination.
How can GE crops help farmers in arid regions?
Some GE crops, such as drought-resistant maize, are modified to tolerate drought, helping farmers maintain productivity.
Why does large-scale planting of GE crops increase the risk of crop failure?
Large-scale planting reduces genetic variation, making crops more vulnerable to new pests and diseases.
How can GE crops threaten native species?
GE crops can crossbreed with wild plants, introducing GE traits into natural ecosystems.
Why can patented GE seeds disadvantage farmers?
Patented seeds owned by large corporations limit farmers' rights to save and replant seeds, and their high cost excludes small-scale farmers.
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