Enviro Term 1

study guide

What is environmentalism

a movement dedicated to protecting the environment from negative human impacts

How is environmentalism different from environmental science?

it uses the data from environemental science to push for action and policy change

What are the 4 spheres and how do they interact?

geosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere

interact through processes like the water cycle, nutrient cycling, and energy flow

What are natural resources?

materials provided by nature that humans use and need

What is the difference between renewable and nonrenewable resources?

renewable resources is a natural resource that replenishes at a similar rate to its use

nonrenewable resources is a natural resource that replenishes very slowly or does not replenish at all

What is sustainability?

using Earths resources and services in a way that can continue at the same rate in the future

What is an ecological footprint?

a measure of the impact of an individual, group, or activity on the environment

Anthropocenterism (Anthrocentric)

humans and their well-being have the highest value

Biocentrism (Biocentric)

all living things have value

Ecocentrism (Ecocentric)

an entire ecosystem, including lviign and non-living things, has value

*Name and describe an environmental policy or act

Kyoto Protocol

international treaty that set binding greenhouse gas emission reduction targets for industrialized countries to combat climate change

AKA: required a reduction in greenhouse gas emission to combat climate change and global warming

Biotic vs abiotic?

biotic is living

abiotic is nonliving

Population Density

the number of individuals of a species living per unit in an area

low population density - with larger predators, more space and resources but harder to find mates and groups

high population density - with smaller organisms, easier to find mates, more vulnerable to predators, competitions, and disease

Population distribution

distribution is how many individuals in a population are spaced out across their habitat

uniform - evenly spaced individuals, due to territories or competition

random - no clear pattern or spacing, common when resources are abundant or spread out

clumped - individuals group around resources, most common

Age structure diagrams

visual repersentation of the age structure of a population

stable - about the same all the way

declining - more at the top

growing - less at the top

Types of survivorship curves

type I - high survival in early/midlife; increased mortality in old age ex. humans

type II - equal chances of dying at all ages ex. birds

type III - high mortality in early ages ex. insects

Immigration vs Emigration

immigration - individuals enter from another area, increases population size

emmigration - individuals leave an area, decreases population size

What is a limiting factor

environmental factors that limit population growth

density-dependent factors - influence is affected by population size ex. food availability, water supply, disease

density-independent factors - influence is NOT affected by population size ex. forest fire, drought, deforestion

What is a niche

the specific role an organism plays in its community

What is tolerance

ability to survice and reproduce under changing conditions

generalists vs specialists, give an example of an animal of each.

generalists have a wide tolerance or niche, they can adjust to changing habitats better ex. humans

specialists have a narrow tolerance or niche, very goof at their specific niche, do best in habitats that remain constant ex. koala

3 types of symbiotic relationships

mutualism - both species benefit

commensalism - one species benefits, one is unaffected

parasitism - one species benefits (parasite), one is harmed (host)

Producer vs consumer

producers (or autotrophs) capture energy from sunlight or chemicals to make their own food (sugars)

consumers (or heterotrophs) obtain energy by eating other plants and animals

three levels are, primary (herbivores), secondary (eat primary, can be omnivores or carnivores), and tertiary (eat secondary, can be carnivores or omnivores)

Decomposer vs Detrivore

decomposers break down dead organisms

detrivores eat nonliving, decaying organic matter

Trophic Levels and 2nd Law of Thermodynamics

trophic levels are an organisms position in the food chain or food web of its community

2nd Law of Thermodynamics (or the10% rule) where each level only passes 10% of its total energy to the next level

Keystone Species

a species that has a large impact on the entire ecosystem (holds it together)

Primary vs Secondary Succession

primary succesion occurs after a severe disturbances where no vegetation or soil remains, must have pioneer species come in first

secondary succession occurs after a disturbance, but soil is still present, occurs much faster than PS

Pioneer Species

first species to colonize an area after a major disturbance

What is a biome

a large area characterized by distinct conditions

Salinity

how much dissolved salt is in the water

Photic

uppermost layer; sunlight is present, photosynthesis can occur here

Aphotic

below the photic; no sunlight present, photosynthesis cannot occur here

Benthic Zones

floor of the body of water

Label a river

source: begging; usually in the mountains

tributary: smaller river that flows into a larger one

watershed:land area drained by a river and tributaries

meander: curve in a rivers path

floodplain: area of land near a river that can flood

mouth: where a river enters a larger body of water

Importance of wetlands

*water filtration

*biodiversity hot-spot

flood control

groundwater recharge

What is an estuary?

body of water where a river meets the ocean

*Be able to describe one terrestrial biome.

tundra

long, freezing winters, short, cool summers

ground has permafrost therefore trees cannot grow, lichen, mosses, and small shrubs grow

animals are musk oxen, polar bears, caribou