Studied by 28 people
Environmental degradation
When renewable resources are used past their replacement rate the available supply begins to shrink.
Cleanups
________ often result in removal of pollutants in one environment and an increase in another.
Sustainable yield
The highest rate at which a renewable resource can be used indefinitely without reducing its availability.
Nutrient cycling
A significant function in nature that involves the recycling of chemicals from the environment- most notably from soil and water- through organisms and back into the environment.
Natural Resources
These are materials and energy in nature that are essential or useful to humans.
Biodiversity
The variety of different organisms, the genes they contain, the ecosystems in which they exist, and the natural services they provide allow us to adapt to the environment when it changes.
Species
A group of organisms with distinctive traits and, for sexually reproducing organisms, can mate and produce fertile offspring.
Nondegradable pollutants
Materials that natural processes can not break down.
Culture
The whole of a society’s knowledge, beliefs, technology, and practices, and changes in this can greatly effect the earth.
Garrett Hardin
Biologist that called degradation the tragedy of the commons.
Ecology
Study of how organisms interact with one another and with their nonliving environment.
Humanities
Study of the aspects of the human condition not covered by the physical and social sciences (history, ethics, and philosophy)
Natural Services
Functions of nature, such as purification of air and water.
Conservation
The control of natural resources so as to prevent resource waste and maintain supply for both present and future generations.
Social capital
Involves getting people with different views and values to talk and listen to one another and to work together to help solve environmental problems.
Chemistry
Study of chemicals and their interactions (biochemistry)
Ecosystem
Set of organisms interacting with one another and with their environment of nonliving matter and energy within a defined area or volume.
Biological capacity
The ability of an ecosystem to get rid of human waste and replenish renewable resources.
Environmentalism
Social movement dedicated to protecting the earths life support systems for us and all other forms of life.
Population Control
competition for limited resources among different species places a limit on how much their population can grow.
wildlife
They can destroy ________, human health, and property.
Agricultural revolution
Started 10, 000- 12, 000 years ago and this was when humans started growing their own food and eating animals for food, clothing, etc.
Sustainability
The ability of the earth to survive and adapt to changing environmental conditions indefinitely.
Planetart management worldview
Nature exists primarily to satisfy human needs and growing wants, we are separate from nature, and we can govern the earth's life- support systems indefinitely.
Reliance on Solar Energy
The sun warms the planet and support photosynthesis used by plants to provide food for themselves and for us and most other animals.
Biodegradable pollutants
Materials that can be broken down by natural processes.
Environmental scientists
________ say that in order to bring a new environment, revolution, or sustainability we need to decrease our ecological footprint.
Renewable
Air, water, soil, plants, and water.
Non renewable
Copper, oil, coal, etc.
Industrial medical revolution
It started about 275 years ago and it was when we started inventing machines for goods and we learned how to receive energy from fossil fuels.
Stewardship worldview
Although we may and should manage the earth for our own advantage, we also have a moral obligation to treat it with care and responsibility.
Natural income
Renewable resources such as plants, animals, and soil that are provided by natural capital.
Economic Development
The goal of using economic growth to improve living standards.
Environmental ethics
Our belief about how the environment is to be treated and if what we are currently doing is right or wrong.
Environmental wisdom worldview
Believes that nature exists for all species, not just for us, and that we are completely dependent on it.
Earth Science
Study of the planets as a whole and their nonliving things (climatology, geology, hydrology, and paleontology)
Species
A group of organisms with distinctive traits and, for sexually reproducing organisms, can mate and produce fertile offspring
Ecosystem
Set of organisms interacting with one another and with their environment of nonliving matter and energy within a defined area or volume
Social Sciences
Studies of human society (anthropology, demography, geography, economics, and political science,)
Natural Capital
The natural resources and natural services that keep us and other forms of life alive and support our economics
Natural Resources
These are materials and energy in nature that are essential or useful to humans
Renewable
Air, water, soil, plants, and water
Non-renewable
Copper, oil, coal, etc
Natural Services
Functions of nature, such as purification of air and water
Nutrient cycling (cycle)
A significant function in nature that involves the recycling of chemicals from the environment-most notably from soil and water-through organisms and back into the environment
Ex
Scientific remedies may include stopping the logging of mature, ecologically varied forests and harvesting fish at a rate that does not exceed how quickly they can reproduce
Trade-offs or compromises
Although people can find scientific solutions for problems there is a legal aspect that needs to consider
Environmentally sustainable society
A society that meets the current and future basic resource needs of people while making sure they do not prevent other generations from meeting their needs
Natural income
Renewable resources such as plants, animals, and soil that are provided by natural capital
Economic Development
The goal of using economic growth to improve living standards
Developed countries
United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and most countries of Europe
Environmentally sustainable economic development
Involves using political and economic systems to discourage environmentally harmful and unsustainable forms of economic growth that degrade natural capital
Conservation
The control of natural resources so as to prevent resource waste and maintain supply for both present and future generations
Perpetual resource
This is also known as solar energy because it is renewed continuously and is expected to last for about 6 billion years
Renewable resource
These can be replenished fairly quickly through natural process as long as it is not used up faster than it is renewed
Sustainable yield
The highest rate at which a renewable resource can be used indefinitely without reducing its availability
Environmental degradation
When renewable resources are used past their replacement rate the available supply begins to shrink
We Can Overexploit Commonly Shared Renewable Resources
The Tragedy of the Commons
Private property
An individuals right to land, minerals, or other resources
Common property
When big groups of people own the rights to certain resources
Garrett Hardin (1915-2003)
Biologist that called degradation the tragedy of the commons
Nonrenewable resource
Exist in a fixed quantity, or stock, in the earths crust
Ecological footprint
The amount of biologically productive land and water needed to supply the people in a particular country or area with resources and to absorb and recycle the waste and pollution produced by such resource use
Biological capacity
The ability of an ecosystem to get rid of human waste and replenish renewable resources
Ecological deficit
When the ecological footprint is greater than the biological capacity
Culture
The whole of a societys knowledge, beliefs, technology, and practices, and changes in this can greatly effect the earth
Agricultural revolution
Started 10,000-12,000 years ago and this was when humans started growing their own food and eating animals for food, clothing, etc
Pollution
Anything in the environment that can be harmful to the health or survival of organisms
Point Sources
Single identifiable sources
Nonpoint Sources
Dispersed and often difficult to identify
Biodegradable pollutants
Materials that can be broken down by natural processes
Examples
Human sewage or newspapers
Nondegradable pollutants
Materials that natural processes cannot break down
Examples
Lead, mercury, and arsenic
Environmental worldview
Set of assumptions or values reflecting how you think the world works and what you think your role in the world is
Environmental ethics
Our belief about how the environment is to be treated and if what we are currently doing is right or wrong
Ethical question example
Why should we care about the environment
Planetart management worldview
Nature exists primarily to satisfy human needs and growing wants, we are separate from nature, and we can govern the earth's life-support systems indefinitely
Stewardship worldview
Although we may and should manage the earth for our own advantage, we also have a moral obligation to treat it with care and responsibility
Environmental wisdom worldview
Believes that nature exists for all species, not just for us, and that we are completely dependent on it
Social capital
Involves getting people with different views and values to talk and listen to one another and to work together to help solve environmental problems
Reliance on Solar Energy
The sun warms the planet and support photosynthesis used by plants to provide food for themselves and for us and most other animals
Biodiversity (biological diversity)
The variety of different organisms, the genes they contain, the ecosystems in which they exist, and the natural services they provide allow us to adapt to the environment when it changes
Population Control
competition for limited resources among different species places a limit on how much their population can grow
Nutrient Cycling
Natural process recycle chemicals that plants and animals need to stay alive and reproduce
Note 
Flashcard (100)