AICE Environmental Management Study Guide

Flashcards covering key terms and definitions related to environmental management topics.

Continents

The Earth's seven major landmasses: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, and Oceania.

Oceans

The five major bodies of water on Earth: Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, Arctic Ocean, and Southern Ocean.

Mariana Trench

The deepest part of the ocean, located in the Pacific Ocean, at a depth of 11,034 meters.

Low-income countries (LICs)

Countries with a GNI per capita of $1,086 or less.

Middle-income countries (MICs)

Countries with a GNI per capita between $1,086 and $13,205.

High-income countries (HICs)

Countries with a GNI per capita of more than $13,205.

Sustainability

The ability to meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Hydrological cycle

The continuous cycle of water movement on Earth, including processes such as evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.

Infiltration

The process of water moving from the surface into the soil.

Groundwater

Water stored in the pore spaces of permeable rock and sediment below the Earth's surface.

Abiotic factors

Non-living components of an ecosystem, such as water, soil, and sunlight.

Biotic factors

Living components of an ecosystem, including plants, animals, and microorganisms.

Producers

Organisms that produce energy through photosynthesis, e.g., plants.

Primary consumers

Organisms that eat producers; typically herbivores.

Secondary consumers

Organisms that eat primary consumers; typically carnivores.

Trophic levels

The hierarchical levels in an ecosystem, defined by the organization of energy transfer from producers to apex predators.

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy, producing glucose and oxygen.

Cellular respiration

The process by which organisms break down glucose to release energy, producing carbon dioxide and water.

Competition

An interaction where multiple organisms seek the same limited resource.

Predation

An interaction where one organism hunts, kills, and consumes another organism.

Parasitism

A relationship where one organism benefits at the expense of another, the host.

Mutation

A change in the DNA sequence of an organism that can lead to variation in traits.

Ecosystem productivity

The rate of production of biomass in an ecosystem, often measured in terms of energy.

Gross Primary Production (GPP)

The total energy produced by photosynthesis in an ecosystem.

Net Primary Production (NPP)

The energy remaining after subtracting the energy used by producers for respiration from GPP.

Biodiversity

The variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

Invasive species

Non-native species introduced to an ecosystem that outcompete native species.

Ecosystem services

The benefits provided by ecosystems to humans, including clean air and water, pollination, and nutrient cycling.

Climate proxies

Natural recorders of climate variability such as tree rings, ice cores, and sediment layers.

Carbon footprint

The total greenhouse gas emissions caused by an individual, event, or organization, typically expressed in equivalent tons of CO2.

Acid deposition

Precipitation that carries acidic components, such as sulfuric or nitric acid, resulting from air pollutants.

Ozone depletion

The thinning of the ozone layer caused by chemicals such as CFCs that break down ozone molecules.

Greenhouse effect

The warming effect on Earth's atmosphere due to the accumulation of greenhouse gases that trap heat.