Environmental Science Big Ideas Chapter 1-4
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175 Terms
Sustainability
The ability to meet current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs
Biomimicry
Learning from and imitating nature’s designs and processes to solve human problems
Environmental Science
The study of how humans interact with the environment and natural systems
Ecology
The study of relationships between organisms and their environment
Environmentalism
A social movement focused on protecting the earth’s life-support systems
Ecosystem
A community of organisms interacting with each other and their physical environment
Solar Energy
Energy from the sun that powers climate
Biodiversity
The variety of life on Earth
Chemical/Nutrient Cycling
The continuous recycling of nutrients needed to sustain life
Natural Capital
The world’s natural resources and ecosystem services that support life
Natural Resources
Materials and energy from nature that are useful to humans
Nonrenewable Resources
Resources that exist in fixed amounts or take millions of years to form
Sustainable Yield
The highest rate at which a renewable resource can be used without depleting it
Ecosystem Services
Benefits provided by ecosystems
Principles of Sustainability
Natural laws that support life such as reliance on solar energy
Full-Cost Pricing
Including environmental and health costs in the market prices of goods and services
Environmental Degradation
The depletion or destruction of earth’s natural capital
Ecological Footprint (Per Capita)
The average amount of land and resources each person uses in a given area
Ecological Footprint
The total amount of land and resources used by a population
Poverty
A condition in which people lack enough resources to meet basic needs for food
Environmental Worldview
A person’s set of beliefs about how humans should interact with the environment
Environmental Ethics
Principles and values guiding human behavior toward the environment
Earth-Centered Environmental Worldview
A perspective that values nature for its own sake and sees humans as part of the earth
Scientific Theory
A well-tested explanation of natural phenomena supported by evidence
Peer Review
The evaluation of scientific work by other experts in the field
Scientific Law
A statement describing a pattern in nature that always holds true
Reliable Science
Research based on data
Unreliable Science
Claims lacking proper evidence
Tentative Science
Preliminary results not yet widely tested or accepted
Matter
Anything that has mass and takes up space
Element
A substance made of only one type of atom
Compounds
Substances formed when two or more elements are chemically bonded
Atom
The smallest unit of matter that retains the properties of an element
Electromagnetic Radiation
Energy that travels as waves
Energy Quality
A measure of how useful energy is for work
High-Quality Energy
Concentrated energy that does useful work such as electricity or gasoline
Low-Quality Energy
Dispersed energy with little ability to do work such as heat in the ocean
First Law of Thermodynamics
Energy cannot be created or destroyed only transformed
Second Law of Thermodynamics
Energy changes cause loss of useful energy as heat
System
A set of components that interact and function together
Inputs
Resources or energy that enter a system
Flows/Throughputs
Movement of energy and matter within a system
Outputs
Products
Positive Feedback Loop
Change that reinforces or amplifies further change
Ecological Tipping Point
The point at which an ecosystem suffers irreversible damage
Negative Feedback Loop
Change that reduces or counteracts further change
Atomic Theory
The idea that all matter is made of atoms
Neutron
A neutral particle in the atom’s nucleus
Proton
A positively charged particle in the nucleus
Electron
A negatively charged particle orbiting the nucleus
Nucleus
The center of an atom containing protons and neutrons
Atomic Number
The number of protons in an atom
Mass Number
The total number of protons and neutrons in an atom
Isotopes
Atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons
Acidity
The concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution
pH
A measure of acidity on a scale from 0–14
Chemical Formula
Symbols showing the elements and their ratios in a compound
Cells
The basic units of life
Cell Theory
The idea that all living things are made of cells which are the basic units of life
Genes
Segments of DNA that code for traits
Trait
A characteristic determined by genes
Chromosome
A DNA molecule containing many genes
Physical Change
A change in form but not in chemical composition
Chemical Change/Reaction
A process that forms new substances
Law of Conservation of Matter
Matter cannot be created or destroyed in physical or chemical changes
Energy
The ability to do work or cause change
Kinetic Energy
Energy of motion
Potential Energy
Stored energy with the potential to do work
Heat/Thermal Energy
Energy from the motion of particles in matter
Temperature
A measure of the average kinetic energy of particles
Niche
The role a species plays in its ecosystem including how it gets food and interacts
Ecological Role
A species’ function or “job” in an ecosystem
Adaptation
A genetic trait that improves survival and reproduction in changing conditions
Mutation
A random change in DNA that can create new traits
Natural Selection
The process where individuals with beneficial traits survive and reproduce more successfully
Speciation
The formation of new species over time due to evolution
Extinction
The complete disappearance of a species
Biodiversity
The variety of life on Earth including species
Evolution
The process of populations changing over generations through genetic variation
Environmental Change
Shifts in climate or ecosystems that influence which species survive
Balance of Nature
The dynamic equilibrium between speciation and extinction
Importance of Biodiversity
Biodiversity sustains life systems and supports human economies
Biosphere
The part of Earth where life exists
Flow of Energy
Energy moves from the sun through producers
Nutrient Cycling
The continuous recycling of chemicals needed for life
Gravity
The force that keeps the atmosphere and enables movement of chemicals and water
Producers (Autotrophs)
Organisms such as plants that make their own food through photosynthesis
Consumers (Heterotrophs)
Organisms that obtain energy by eating other organisms
Decomposers
Organisms such as fungi and bacteria that break down wastes and dead matter recycling nutrients
Food Chain
A sequence of organisms each feeding on the next
Food Web
A network of interconnected food chains in an ecosystem
Chemical Cycling Disruption
Human activities that alter nutrient cycles such as pollution or fertilizer use
Energy Flow Disruption
Human actions that change how energy moves through ecosystems such as deforestation or overfishing