APES Unit 5 Vocab

bycatch

refers to unintentionally caught animals (sometimes juvenile fish) caught during fishing

these animals often suffer injuries and/or die

concentrated animal feedlot operation (CAFO)

high-density structures designed for maximum output in animal farming

economic benefits: minimizes land costs, maximizes profits

drawbacks: antibiotic resistance, waste disposal, impacted by density-dependent factors, & ethical concerns

crop rotation

type of sustainable agr. practice

involves alternating crops after a certain amount of time

each crop adds nutrients back to the soil that were depleted by the previous crop (promotes synergy)

drip irrigation

involves a slowly dripping water source (e.g. hose), buried or on top

most efficient type of irrigation; limits weed growth since it keeps the soil surface dry, but it is expensive

environmental impact statement (EIS)

government document that outlines the impact of a proposed project on its surrounding environment

also documents the scope and purpose of a project

required by NEPA

furrow irrigation

involves building trenches and filling them with water

pros: cheap, low effort, captures/reuses runoff

cons: waterlogging & salinization

green revolution

the shift to new agricultural strategies and practices in order to increase food production

includes: mechanization, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), fertilization, irrigation, and the use of pesticides

impervious surfaces

artificial surfaces that allow little or no water infiltration into the ground (e.g. roads, sidewalks, etc.)

intercropping

involves growing more than one crop in the same field, especially in alternating rows or columns

integrated pest management (IPM)

combination of methods used to effectively control pest species, while minimizing the disruption to the environment

limestone

made from ground limestone rock, which naturally contains calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate

added to soil to increase soil alkalinity, which increases soil fertility

monocropping

involves producing/growing the same crop/plant/livestock year after year in a single field

maximum sustainable yield (MSY)

the maximum amount of a resource that can be harvested without compromising the future availability of that resource

guiding principle of fishery management

national environmental policy act (NEPA)

U.S. environmental law that promotes the enhancement of the environment and established the President's Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ)

also requires that agencies prepare a "detailed statement" of the environmental impacts of any "major federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment" (EIS)

the law was enacted on January 1, 1970.

no-till agriculture

type of sustainable agr. practice

occurs when farmers do not till their fields before planting, minimizing soil disturbance & erosion

pesticide

substance/mixture of substances (natural or synthetic) intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any pest

prescribed burn

controlled fires intentionally set to reduce the buildup of flammable vegetation, promote ecosystem health, & prevent larger uncontrolled wildfires

mimics natural fire cycles and helps maintain healthy ecosystems

rotation grazing

type of sustainable agr. practice

when only one portion of the pasture is grazed at a time while the remainder of the pasture "rests"

improves soil, plant, and animal health

shifting agriculture

involves planting an area for a few years until the land is depleted of nutrients and then moving to another area and repeating the process

strip mining

type of surface mining that involves stripping away layers of soil, natural vegetation, and rocks in order to access the ores underneath

removes vegetation from an area, making the area more susceptible to erosion

tailings

materials that are left over after minerals have been extracted from the ore

urban sprawl

the expansion of urban areas into rural areas

waterlogging

occurs when too much water is left in soil

inhibits plants' ability to absorb oxygen through their roots

windbreaks

type of sustainable agr. practice

rows of trees/shrubs planted to reduce the impacts of wind in an area, acting as a barrier

can protect crops, buildings, & soil from erosion