Environmental Science Review Flashcards

A collection of flashcards covering core concepts, definitions, and significant terms in Environmental Science.

Environmental Science

An interdisciplinary field that explains the scientific methods and disciplines used to understand and answer environmental challenges.

Ecosystem

The complex of living organisms, their physical environment, and all their interrelationships in a particular unit of space.

Sustainability

Meeting the demands of current generations without jeopardizing the needs of future generations, while maintaining a balance of economic growth, environmental care, and social well-being.

Zero Waste

The conservation of all resources utilizing responsible production, consumption, reuse, and recovery of products without discharges to land, water, or air that threaten the environment.

Environmental Ethics

A branch of applied philosophy studying the conceptual foundations of environmental values and issues surrounding societal attitudes and policies to protect biodiversity.

Environmental Challenges

Existence of a crisis in the environment causing damage to humans or their environment.

Volunteerism

The policy or practice of volunteering one's time or talents to charitable, educational, or other worthwhile activities.

Autotroph

An organism that uses light, water, carbon dioxide, or other substances to make nourishment on its own.

Nutrient Cycling

The transfer and exchange of nutrients within ecosystems, involves intake, breakdown, release, and recycling of nutrients.

Geographical Information System (GIS)

A computer system that stores, creates, manages, and maps all types of spatial data.

The 10% Rule

As you move up the ecological pyramid, available energy, biomass, and population size decrease by about 90% per level.

Biodiversity

A diverse range of life indicating ecological health.

Energy Flow

Energy from the sun transformed and moved through the ecosystem.

Species Interactions

Relationships among species including predation, mutualism, and competition.

Succession

Gradual changes in biodiversity and nutrient availability within an ecosystem over time.

Human Impact

Significant impacts made by humans through construction, agriculture, and pollution.

Biotic Components

Living parts of an ecosystem, includes producers, consumers, and decomposers.

Abiotic Components

Non-living parts of an ecosystem, include climatic and edaphic factors.

Habitat Loss

Destruction or fragmentation of ecosystems, primarily caused by human activities.

Invasive Species

Non-native species that disrupt ecosystems by outcompeting local species.

Overexploitation

Harvesting animals or plants faster than they can reproduce.

Pollution

Addition of harmful substances or energy to the environment causing damage.

Climate Change

Long-term modifications of Earth's climate, often attributed to human activities.

The Three Pillars of Sustainability

Economic, Environmental, and Social; the balance needed for true sustainability.

'One Health' Concept

Human Health, Animal Health, and Environmental Health are interconnected.

John Muir

Known as the Father of National Parks.

Rachel Carson

Author of 'Silent Spring' which raised awareness about the dangers of pesticides.

Green Infrastructure

Ecosystem-based strategies for managing urban environments.

Waste Valorization

Transforming waste into more useful products including materials, chemicals, or energy sources.

Anaerobic Digestion

Biological process that breaks down biodegradable material in the absence of oxygen.