AP Environmental Science Flashcards: Pest Control Methods
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 10 cards to help you master important concepts.
An agricultural company promotes a single, highly effective pest-resistant corn variety for nationwide planting. What is the main ecological risk of this strategy?
This strategy risks a significant loss of genetic diversity, making the entire national crop vulnerable to a new pest or disease to which that single variety has no resistance.
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An agricultural company promotes a single, highly effective pest-resistant corn variety for nationwide planting. What is the main ecological risk of this strategy?
This strategy risks a significant loss of genetic diversity, making the entire national crop vulnerable to a new pest or disease to which that single variety has no resistance.
What is a major benefit of using genetically engineered crops for pest management?
A major benefit is their increased resistance to pests and diseases, which can lead to higher crop yields.
List five examples of chemical pest-control agents.
Five examples are pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, rodenticides, and insecticides.
How are genetically engineered crops used as a method of pest control?
Crops can be genetically engineered to have inherent resistance to specific pests and diseases, reducing the need for externally applied chemical controls.
Explain the mechanism by which pests become resistant to chemical controls.
Pests develop resistance through artificial selection; individuals with traits that allow them to survive a chemical application reproduce, passing those resistant traits to their offspring.
Contrast the primary drawback of chemical pesticides with the main drawback of genetically engineered crops.
The primary drawback of chemical pesticides is the development of pest resistance, while the main drawback of genetically engineered crops is the potential for loss of genetic diversity.
What is the primary benefit of using pest control methods on crops?
Pest control decreases crop damage by pests and consequently increases crop yields.
What is a significant drawback of the widespread use of genetically engineered crops?
The extensive planting of a few genetically engineered varieties can lead to a loss of genetic diversity within that crop species.
A farmer applies the same insecticide to their crops each year but notices a steady increase in pest damage. What is the most likely explanation?
The pest population has likely developed resistance to the insecticide through artificial selection, making the chemical less effective over time.
What is pest resistance in the context of chemical pest control?
Pest resistance is a consequence where organisms, through artificial selection, evolve to become tolerant to chemical pest-control methods like pesticides and insecticides.