ecology flash cards module 1.1

define environment

the biological and physical surrounds which any given organism exists

what is environmental science

a field of research to understand our natural world and our relationship to it

what is an ecocentric world view

values the ecosystem as an intact whole, including the organisms and non-organisms

what is a biocentric worldview

values all life

what is an anthropocentric worldview

a human centered view that assigns inartistic value only to humans

define environmental ethic

the personal philosophy that influences how a person interacts with his or her natural environment and thus affects how one responds to environment problems

what is tragedy of the commons. provide examples

a social trap that often emerges when many people are using a commonly held resource. examples include water and public lands

explain social traps

when a short-term benefit is made by individuals or groups that seem plausible in the moment but hurt society in the long run

list examples of non-renewable resources

fossil fuels: coal, natural gas, and oil

define non-renewable resources

when supplies are finite or is not replenished in a timely fashion

list the four characteristics of a sustainable ecosystem

1. rely on renewable energy

2. recycle matter

3. population control

4. depend on local biodiversity

what does high biodiversity produce in ecosystems

more energy can be captured, more matter can be recycled at a faster pace, and population sizes can be better controlled

sustainable ecosystems depend on….

local biodiversity and renewable energy

what is renewable energy

energy that comes from an infinitely available or easily replenished source

define sustainable

capable being continued indefinitely

what new geological time interval have we entered

Anthropocene (the age of humans)

what were the 5 goals the UN wanted to reach by 2030? what is it called?

1. no poverty

2. zero hunger

3. clean water

4. reduce climate change

5. reduce ocean pollutions

this act is called “sustainable development goals”

what is sustainable development

when people respond to the limitations of their natural environment which allowed them to meet present needs without compromising the ability future generations to do the same

why are wicked problems hard to address

because they have many causes and consequences. there is never a clear winner in these solutions due to stake holders having different solution which leads to trade-offs

what is the triple bottom line

solutions must be good for the environment, good for society, and affordable

what is a trade off

the imperfect and sometimes problematic responses that we must at times choose between when addressing complex problems

why is environmental literacy crucial for us

by helping us becoming better stewards of the earth

the ability to understand environmental problems is referred to as ….

environmental literacy

what is applied science

using it’s findings to inform our actions and bring out positive change

what is empirical science

investigates the natural world through systematic observation and experimentation

environmental science is an example of what type of sciences

empirical and applied

what range of natural science does environmental science use

ecology, geology, chemistry, engineering, along with social sciences and humanities