ESS SL ALL

SYSTEM

set of interrelated parts that function as a whole to make a complex whole

open system

A system in which matter and energy can enter from or escape to the surroundings.

closed system

A system in which no matter is allowed to enter or leave but energy can

isolated system

A system that can exchange neither energy nor matter with its surroundings.

transfers

energy or matter change locaton through flow

transformations

energy or matter change location and state through flow

EVS

A worldview that shapes the way an individual perceives and evaluates environmental issues

1st law of thermodynamics

Energy cannot be created or destroyed

2nd law of thermodynamics

Every energy transfer or transformation increases the entropy of the universe.

negative feedback examples

• Regulation of body temp

• succession

• cloud formation

positive feedback examples

• eutrophication

• albedo effect

• climate change

albedo effect

the ability of a surface to reflect away solar radiation

Eutrophication

A process by which nutrients particularly phosphorus and nitrogen, become highly concentrated in a body of water, leading to increased growth of organisms such as algae.

System Resilience

ability of a system to maintain an acceptable level of service during an adverse event -sometimes refers to the ability of a system to return to a previous state after an adverse event

static equilibrium

no positive feedback inputs (eg

tipping point

the point at which a fundamental shift in the behavior of a system occurs

gaia hypothesis

earth is one organism. self regulating. homeostatic

homeostatic

a term for a stable system that isn't changing

species

A group of similar organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring.

population

A group of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the same area

community

All the different populations that live together in an area

ecosystem

A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.

succession

The series of predictable changes that occur in a community over time

Stage 1 of succession

pioneer community: pioneer organisms are adapted to extreme conditions. usually r-selected species start breaking down rock (ex: lichens

Stage 2 of succession

establishment: as soil layer forms & improves, species diversity increases, invertebrates move in and increase organic matter (humus), water retention improves

Stage 3 of succession

competition: larger plants increase, providing shelter and allowing K-selected species to move in, extreme conditions improved. competition for resources result in some early organisms dying out

Stage 4 of succession

stabilization

Final result of succession

Climax community: A stable, mature community that undergoes little or no change in species over time

primary succession

occurs in environment with no previous life. bedrock

secondary succession

occurs in previously inhabited environments

Herbatious Plants

need more soil to grow and can outcompete competition

r-stategists

short lived

k-stategists

long lived

carrying capacity

Largest number of individuals of a population that a environment can support

lag phase

"flat" period of adjustment, enlargement; little growth

exponential growth phase

rapid growth; when the size of a population increases excessively

transitional phase

Phase of population growth where the population continues to grow, but increasingly slowly as competition increases as carrying capacity is being reached

stationary phase

fluctuation on carrying capacity

overshoot

population exceeds carrying capacity

dieback

Sharp reduction in the population of a species past carrying capacity due to the depletion of a limiting factor.

renewed growth

growth starts again once the depleted factor has recovered

Zonation vs. Succession

Zonation refers to changes in community along an environmental gradient due to factors such as changes in altitude, latitude, tidal level or distance from shore (coverage by water).

Succession is the process of change over time in an ecosystem involving pioneer, intermediate and climax communities.

abiotic factors

Abiotic factors are the non-living parts of an organism's habitat.

biotic factors

all the living biological parts and interactions in an ecosystem

Symbiosis

interaction between 2 dissimilar organisms living in same area. (umbrella term for parasitism/mutualism)

fundamental niche

The niche species could potentially occupy.

realised niche

the actual conditions and resources in which a species exists due to biotic interactions.

biomass

measurement of energy in organism. (kcal/m^2/year)

Productivity

the conversion of energy into biomass for a given period of time, measured as productivity

Gross Primary Productivity (GPP)

The total amount of solar energy that producers in an ecosystem capture via photosynthesis over a given amount of time.

Net Primary Productivity (NPP)

The energy captured by producers in an ecosystem minus the energy producers respire.

Gross Secondary Productivity (GSP)

The total gain by consumers in energy or biomass per unit area per unit time through absorption.

Net Secondary Productivity (NSP)

The gain by consumers in energy or biomass per unit area per unit time remaining after allowing for respiratory losses (R).

Bioaccumulation

An increased concentration of a chemical within an organism over time

Biomagnification

increase in concentration of toxins passed up in trophic levels

biome factors

insulation, precipiration, temperature, sunlight, altitude and climate

DDT

an insecticide that is also toxic to animals and humans

carbon cycle

main storages: air, animals, plants, fossil fuels, ocean

processes: photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, combustion, carbon fixation

carbon fixation

The initial incorporation of carbon into organic compounds.

Nitrogen cycle

main storages: air, plants, animals, soil

transfers: absorption, consumption, decomposition

transformations: nitrogen fixation, denitrification, ammonification, nitrification, assimilation

Nitrogen fixing

ammonia (NH3) --> ammonium (NH4+)

because atmospheric nitrogen cannot be used directly by plants it must first be converted into ammonia (NH3) by bacteria (rhizobium)

Denitrification

Conversion of nitrates (created by ammonium) into nitrogen gas

ammonium (NH4+) --> nitrate (NO2) --> nitrate (NO3) --> ammonia (NH3)

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s)

Organic compounds that exist as gases in the atmosphere and act as pollutants, some of which are hazardous.

Photochemical smog

An atmospheric condition formed through a combination of weather conditions and pollution, especially from motor vehicle emissions/voc's

Continuous sampling

Everything is measured along a line transect

Interrupted transect sampling

Points at regular intervals are measured

Random sampling

Points are determined randomly (eg. dice)

Stratified random sampling

For a place with 2 or more distinct sampling areas, each area sampled using random method.

Systematic sampling

First sample point chosen randomly then the following points done with a set interval/distance

Species abundance

The number of organisms in a population relative to its environment

Lincoln index —> (n1xn2)/nm

Species abundance

n1= n caught in first sample

n2= n caught in second sample

n3= n marked in second sample

Species diversity

Compares relative abundance of a species in a community

Simpsons diversity index —> D= (N(N-1))/SUMn(n-1)

Species diversity

N= total n of organisms of all species found

n= number of individuals of a particular species

Ecological pyramids

= pyramid of numbers

= pyramid of biomass

= pyramid of productivity

Atmospheric movement

= Polar cell : Ferrel cell : Hadley cell | mirror

Abiotic factors of atmospheric movement

• precipitation

• Temperature

• Insulation

All lead to a move in biomes

Crude birth rate

Number of births per 1000 people, per year

=births/populationx1000

Total fertility rate (TFR)

Average number of births per 1000 women of childbearing age

TFR =(number of births from women aged x to y / midyear population of women aged x to y) x 1000

Crude death rate

Number of deaths per 1000 people per year

CDR = deaths/ population x 1000

Natural increase

Crude birth rate - crude death rate

Doubling time

Number of years for a population to double. Assuming natural increase remains constant throughout the years

= 70/NIR (%)

Demographic transition model

High birth rate factors

parents want children for:

• labour

• To care for them at old age

• Continue family line

• Replace dead children

Low birth rate

Decline because:

• costly kids

• Government pensions

• Women’s careers

• Family planning more widespread

• Less need for kid replacement

High death rate

People die from:

• lack of clean water

• Lack of food

• Poor hygiene

• Disease

• Overcrowding

• Poverty

Low death rate

Decline because:

• Access to clean water

• Reliable food

• Good hygiene

• Less crowded/dense

• Raised living standard (GDP)

Stage 1 of Demographic transition

= high and variable

• birth and death rate high

• Population growth fluctuates

Stage 2 of Demographic transition

Early and expanding

• birth high death low

• Rapid population growth

Stage 3 of Demographic transition

Late expanding

• birth rate drops and death rate stays low

• Population growth continues but slower

Stage 4 of Demographic transition

Low and variable

• birth and death rates low and variable

• Population growth fluctuates

Stage 5 of Demographic transition

Slow declining

• birth rate lower than death

• Population decline

Factors that effect fertility

• status of women

• Education level

• Wealth

• Urban vs rural

• Religion

• Health

“One child policy” ==>

Factors that effect mortality

• age structure

• Social class

• Disease and war

Natural capital

Natural resources that produce a sustainable income of good or services

Eg = tree, coal, oil, photosynthesis, animals and their services

Natural income

Yield obtained from natural resources (benefit)

Renewable natural capital

• marketable natural resource that can produce a sustainable natural income of good or services

• Replenishes itself over timescale of use (natural capital does not run out due to consumerism)

Non-renewable natural capital

• irreplaceable or only replaceable over geologic timescales

Sustainability

The use and management of resources that allows full natural replacement and full recovery of ecosystems affected

Sustainable development

Meets the needs of the present without comprising the ability for future generations to meet their own needs

Pollution

• Addition of a substance/agent to an environment by human activity

• too much to be rendered harmless by the environment

• Affects the organisms in the environment