AP Environmental Science 4.6: Watersheds

Practice AP Environmental Science questions on watershed boundaries, area, slope, soil, vegetation, land use, hypotheses, and controls.

[Maximum number: 3]

The dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico occurs every summer when winter snow melts and spring rain flows into the Mississippi River. Recent studies have shown that both the total area covered by algae and the depth of the algal mass in the dead zone are increasing.

Figure for Question 4.6 Watersheds question 1 — AP Environmental Science

(a)

Various land use practices can have different effects on the waters that surround a dead zone.

[ 1 ]

(i)

Identify the land use that covers the least amount of area in the Mississippi River watershed, based on the diagram.

[ 1 ]

(b)

Researchers want to examine the effect of riparian vegetation buffers on water quality in streams in agricultural areas. Researchers will measure the water nutrient concentrations over the course of one year. The study sites are located 100 meters downstream from areas either with or without riparian vegetation buffers.

[ 2 ]

(i)

Identify a testable hypothesis for the study.

[ 1 ]

(ii)

Describe a control that the researchers could use in the study.

[ 1 ]

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Covered syllabus points

4.6 Watersheds question 1

Question (a)

Question (i)

Question (b)

Question (i)

Question (ii)