ENVI 101 - Test 1

Instrumental Value

Value tied to usefulness to someone

Stewardship

How to care for the environment/land

Environmental Justice

Combining civil rights with environmental protection

Environmental Science

Study of the natural and built world and human interaction

Inherent Value

Value of something because it exists

Preservation

Leaving wilderness untouched and preserved indefinitely

Conservation

Using land wisely and scientifically for human benefit

Ecosystem Services

Positive benefits provided by wildlife or ecosystems

Tragedy of the Commons

Shared limited resource becoming depleted due to self-interest

Property Rights

Combatting tragedy of the commons through ownership

Regulation of Rules

Combatting tragedy of the commons through governance

Sustainable Development

Economic system using natural resources without depletion

Solar and Wind Power

Examples of sustainable development

Recycling

Example of sustainable development

Regenerative Agriculture

Example of sustainable development

Less Consumption, solar and wind power

Example of sustainable development

Science

Systematic examination of the natural world

Question

First step of the scientific method

Research

Second step of the scientific method

Hypothesis

Testable explanation for an observation

Experiment

Fourth step of the scientific method

Data Analysis

Fifth step of the scientific method

Report Findings

Final step of the scientific method

Natural Experiment

Observing phenomena without changing anything

Manipulative Experiment

Changing the environment in a controlled setting

Data

Information or measurements collected

Sample Size

Number of observations

Sum

Total of measurements

Mean

Average of measurements

Standard Deviation

Measure of deviation from the average

Confidence Limits

Likelihood that a sample represents the population

Scientific Theory

Well-tested explanation that unifies observations

Peer Review Process

Sharing and evaluation of scientific studies

Matter

Anything that has mass and takes up space

Element

Substance that cannot be broken down by chemical reactions

Atom

Basic unit of a chemical element

Proton

Positively charged particle found in the nucleus

Neutron

Particle with no charge found in the nucleus

Electron

Negatively charged particle outside the nucleus

Atomic Number

Total number of protons

Mass Number

Total number of protons and neutrons

Isotope

Element with same number of protons but different mass

Molecule

Two or more atoms joined by chemical bonds

Ion

Atom or molecule with electric charge

Organic Molecule

Carbon-based molecule with 2 or more carbons

Carbohydrate

Organic compound providing quick energy

Monosaccharides

Building blocks of carbohydrates

Disaccharides

Two monosaccharides combined together

Polysaccharides

Long chains of monosaccharides

Protein

Provides structure and functions in cells

Amino Acids

Monomers of proteins

Lipids

Fats and oils that store large amounts of energy

Nucleic Acid

Stores information and provides instructions for proteins

Nucleotides

Monomers of nucleic acids

Energy

Ability to do work

Kinetic Energy

Energy of motion

Potential Energy

Stored energy

First Law of Thermodynamics

Energy can be transferred and transformed, but not created or destroyed

Energy Efficiency

Measure of work resulting from energy input

Photosynthesis

Plants using sunlight to produce glucose and oxygen

Cellular Respiration

Process of breaking down glucose to produce energy

Trophic Level

Feeding level based on source of nutrients

Producer

Organism that produces its own food through photosynthesis

Primary Consumer

Herbivore that eats producers

Secondary Consumer

Carnivore or omnivore that eats primary consumers

Tertiary Consumer

Carnivore that eats secondary consumers

Evolution

Genetic change in life forms over time

Natural Selection

Survival and reproduction of individuals with certain genetic traits

Population

Group of individuals of the same species in a specific time and place

Gene Pool

Collection of alleles in a population at one time

Allele

Form of a gene

Gene

Segment of DNA strand

Genotype

Genetic code of traits

Phenotype

Organism's physical appearance or visible traits

Mutation

Change in DNA information

Sexual Reproduction

Source of genetic variation for evolution

Mutations

Source of genetic variation for evolution

Adaptation

Traits determined by natural selection

Ecological Niche

How a species uses its habitat

Generalists

Species flexible with environment and food sources

Specialists

Species adapted to specific environment and food sources

Resource Partitioning

Sharing limited food sources among species

Indicator Species

Species sensitive to environmental conditions

Interspecific Competition

Competition between different species

Intraspecific Competition

Competition between same species

Species Diversity

Number and abundance of different species in an ecosystem

Herbivory

Consumption of plants by animals

Predation

Animals eating other animals

Coevolution

Species evolving in response to each other

Aposematism

Warning coloration of toxic animals

Batesian Mimicry

Non-toxic species mimicking toxic species

Mullerian Mimicry

Two toxic species that look alike

Mutualism

Both parties benefit

Commensalism

One species benefits, the other is unaffected

Epiphytes

Plants that grow on other plants

Parasitism

Parasite benefits, host loses

Keystone Species

Species that influences survival of many others

Ecosystem Engineers

Keystone species that creates or maintains habitat

Prey Defenses

Adaptive responses to predation

Primary Productivity

Rate of biomass production through photosynthesis