Final unit 1

The Greenland viking collapse

Causes include natural climate change, failure to adjust, environmental damage, hostile neighbors, and loss of friendly neighbors.

Sustainable development

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

Environmental literacy

Basic understanding of ecosystem function and the impact of choices on the environment.

Wicked problems

Challenges that are difficult to solve due to many causes and consequences.

Environment

All physical, chemical, and biological processes and factors determining the growth and survival of organisms.

Ecology

Focuses on the abundance and distribution of organisms in relation to their environment.

Evolution

A unifying concept in biology based on inherited changes in a population over time.

Ecosystems

All organisms and their physical and chemical environments (biotic and abiotic) in an integrated system.

Environmental Biology

Interdisciplinary field studying natural sciences and humanities to understand our relationship with the natural world.

Tragedy of the Commons

Tendency of individuals to abuse a public resource to maximize personal interest.

The Triple Bottom Line

Planet, People, Profit - the three pillars of sustainability (environmental, social, economic).

Population

The number of organisms of the same species living in a particular area at the same time, able to interbreed.

Community

A group of populations of different species occupying the same geographical area at a particular time.

Ecosystem Services

Benefits that humans derive from healthy ecosystems.

Provisioning services

Resources provided by ecosystems such as food, water, fiber, and air.

Regulating services

Control of important conditions/services such as climate, water flow, and pollution absorption.

Cultural services

Spiritual and recreational benefits provided by ecosystems.

Supporting services

Basic ecosystem processes such as nutrient cycles, soil formation, and pollination.

Energy

The ability to do work.

Matter

A substance that has mass and volume, which cycles in ecosystems.

Closed ecosystem

Theoretical man-made system that exchanges energy but not matter.

Open ecosystems

Natural systems where matter can enter and leave, and energy is exchanged.

Law of Thermodynamics/principles

Matter and energy are neither created nor destroyed, only transformed.

Law of Energy and Mass Conservation

Principle that everything goes somewhere, including pollution.

Ecosystem Stability

Regulated by biotic and abiotic factors.

Dynamic homeostasis

Systems adjust to reduce change back to normal.

Negative feedback

System that reverses a directional change.

Positive feedback

System that reinforces change.

4 fundamental principles of acting sustainably

1) Managing resources 2) Understanding boundaries 3) Maintaining balance and integration 4) Embracing change.

Environmental Economics

Study of the cost-effective allocation, use, and protection of the world’s natural resources.

Supply and Demand

Price and production set through interactions between buyers and sellers.

Positive externalities

Benefits received by third parties.

Negative externalities

Harms suffered by third parties.

Economic valuation

The price tag for nature that people are willing to pay.

Marginal value

Willingness to pay compared to alternatives.

Travel cost valuation

Amount people will pay to visit an ecosystem.

Hedonic valuation

Real estate price differences affected by environmental qualities.

Contingent valuation

Value based on what people will pay for conservation efforts.

Ecological Valuation

Ecosystem value measured by the cost of potential loss.

Natural Capital

All earth's resources necessary for producing ecosystem services.