Studied by 13 people
What is the purpose of the UN Sustainable Development Goals?
To transform our world and bring peace and prosperity to it.
(The 17 goals- No poverty, Zero hunger,Good health and well being,quality education, gender equality,clean water and sanitation,affordable and clean engery,decent work and economic growth, industry, innovation, and infrastructure, Reduced inequalities , Sustainable cities and communities ,Responsible consumption and production , Climate action, Life below water , Life on land , Peace, justice, and strong institutions , and Partnerships for the goals.)
Why is it challenging to make future predictions about the environment?
Because it is difficult to predict what is going to happen in a time that is so far off from the present especially since we can’t predict the human factors that end up influencing our climate
What is expected to happen to global populations over the next 30 years?
The population is expected to reach 8.5-9.7 billion
Why do we refer to changing environments as ‘climate change’ rather than ‘global warming’?
Global warming” refers to the rise in global temperatures due mainly to the increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. “Climate change” refers to the increasing changes in the measures of climate over a long period of time – including precipitation, temperature, and wind patterns.
How does the scientific method work?
The scientific method is the process of objectively establishing facts through testing and experimentation. The basic process involves making an observation, forming a hypothesis, making a prediction, conducting an experiment and finally analyzing the results.
What is the difference between inductive and deductive reasoning?
Inductive reasoning makes a generalization from specific observations and facts, while deductive reasoning uses available information, knowledge, or facts to construe a valid conclusion.
What is a ‘natural experiment’? What would be an example of one?
Natural experiments involve observing naturally occurring events to study their effects. For example, studying the impact of a new policy by comparing regions that implement it with those that do not.
What is a manipulative experiment? What would be an example of one?
A manipulative experiment involves changing one variable to observe its effect on another. Example: Testing plant growth by varying the amount of sunlight received.
What is the difference between a positive and negative feedback loop? Which is more stabilizing?
Positive feedback loops increase changes in a system, destabilizing it. Negative feedback loops counteract changes, promoting stability. Negative feedback loops are more stabilizing.
What is a carrying capacity? Why is there uncertainty about the carrying capacity for humans on earth?
Carrying Capacity: Maximum population size an environment can sustain long-term. Uncertainty arises due to changing factors like technology, resources, and environmental impacts.
What is a sample and how does it relate to a population?
Sample: Subset of a population used to represent the whole. It reflects the characteristics of the larger group.
Ex: surveying a portion of voters to predict election outcomes.
What are four different ways to take a sample? What are the relative strengths of the different approaches?
Sampling methods: 1. Simple random sampling 2. Systematic sampling 3. Stratified sampling 4. Cluster sampling. Strengths vary: simple random is unbiased, systematic is easy, stratified ensures representation, cluster is cost-effective.
What are elements? What are isotopes?
Elements: Substances made of only one type of atom;
Isotopes: Atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons.
What is the difference between oxidation and reduction?
Oxidation involves the loss of electrons, while reduction involves gaining electrons. Oxidation increases the oxidation state, reduction decreases it.
What are covalent bonds? What are ionic bonds? Which are stronger? Why? What is an example of each?
Covalent bonds share electrons, ionic bonds transfer electrons. Covalent bonds are stronger due to shared electrons. Example of covalent: H2O, ionic: NaCl.
What are five major properties of water? Why are they important to life?
Properties of water:
Cohesion
Adhesion
High specific heat
Universal solvent
Less dense as a solid Importance to life: These properties support life by aiding in nutrient transport, temperature regulation, and providing a medium for chemical reactions.
How is genetic information stored in organisms?
DNA
What do enzymes do?
Enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions by lowering activation energy. They remain unchanged after the reaction.
What is photosynthesis? What is respiration? How do the reactants and products of the two processes relate to one another? How do each of the processes play a role in the Carbon cycle?
Photosynthesis is the process where plants use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen.
Respiration is the opposite, where organisms use oxygen to break down glucose into energy, releasing carbon dioxide and water.
These processes are interconnected in the carbon cycle; photosynthesis takes in carbon dioxide, while respiration releases it back, maintaining balance.
What is the nitrogen cycle? What is the phosphorus cycle? Why is it more likely that we will run out of phosphorus for use in agriculture before we ever run out of nitrogen?
Nitrogen cycle: The process by which nitrogen is converted between its various chemical forms in the environment.
Phosphorus cycle: The movement of phosphorus through the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere.
Phosphorus is more likely to run out for agriculture due to limited global phosphorus reserves and the slow natural replenishment rate.
What is the energy pyramid? Why are there fewer predators in a landscape when compared with prey?
Energy pyramid illustrates energy flow in ecosystems. It shows that fewer predators exist due to energy loss at each trophic level, resulting in less available energy for higher-level predators.
What is natural selection?
Definition: Process where organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and reproduce, passing on advantageous traits to offspring.
What is adaptive radiation?
Definition: Evolutionary process where a single ancestral species rapidly diversifies into a multitude of new species to exploit different ecological niches.
What are specialists? What are generalists? What are the advantages of each group? Which group is more likely to go extinct? Why?
Specialists are species with specific habitat or food requirements, while generalists adapt to various conditions. Specialists excel in their niche but are vulnerable to changes, while generalists can thrive in diverse environments but may face competition. Specialists are more likely to go extinct due to their limited adaptability.
What is competitive exclusion?
Competitive exclusion occurs when one species outcompetes another for resources, leading to the elimination of the weaker species from the ecosystem.
What is the difference between Batesian and Mullerian mimicry? Which would be considered parasitic?
Batesian mimicry: harmless species mimics a harmful one.
Mullerian mimicry: harmful species mimic each other.
Batesian mimicry is considered parasitic.
What are different types of symbioses?
Types of Symbioses
Mutualism: Both species benefit (e.g., bees and flowers)
Commensalism: One benefits, the other is unaffected (e.g., barnacles on whales)
Parasitism: One benefits, the other is harmed (e.g., ticks on dogs)
Amensalism: One is harmed, the other is unaffected (e.g., black walnut trees and other plants)
Is evolution an ongoing process? Why or why not?
Is evolution an ongoing process? Yes, evolution is an ongoing process as it involves changes in the genetic makeup of populations over time, driven by factors like natural selection and genetic drift.
What is the difference between artificial selection and natural selection?
Artificial selection is directed by humans, selecting specific traits in organisms.
Natural selection occurs in nature, where survival and reproduction determine trait frequency.
What is convergent evolution? What does it have to do with an ecological niche?
Convergent evolution is when unrelated species evolve similar traits due to similar environmental pressures. It helps species adapt to the same ecological niche.
What are three mechanisms for speciation?
Three mechanisms for speciation are allopatric (geographic isolation), sympatric (within the same area), and parapatric (adjacent habitats).
What is Holling’s adaptive cycle model? What reproductive strategy is favored shortly after a disturbance? Why?
Holling’s adaptive cycle model describes a system's phases of growth, conservation, release, and reorganization. R-strategists are favored post-disturbance due to their high reproductive rate and ability to quickly colonize available resources.
What is a regime shift? What causes regime shifts? What prevents regime shifts? Are regime shifts easily reversible?
Regime Shifts: Sudden, substantial, and persistent changes in ecosystems. Caused by natural disasters, human activities, or climate change. Prevention through sustainable practices. Reversibility depends on the severity of the shift.
What situations would diversity improve ecosystem outcomes after disturbances?
"Diversity can enhance ecosystem recovery post-disturbance by providing varied traits to adapt, ensuring ecosystem stability and resilience."
What is the difference between inter-specific and intra-specific interactions? Which category would predator-prey fall under?
Inter-specific interactions occur between different species, while intra-specific interactions occur within the same species. Predator-prey interactions fall under inter-specific interactions.
What is a metapopulation?
Metapopulation is a group of spatially separated populations of the same species that interact at some level. It allows for recolonization of habitats after local extinctions.
How does island size and distance to mainland affect the number of species on the island?
Island size: Larger islands have more resources and habitats, supporting more species. Distance to mainland: Closer islands receive more colonizers, increasing species diversity.
What is the difference between a bottleneck effect and a founders effect?
Genetic diversity reduced due to disaster. Founders effect: Small group starts new population with limited genetic variation.
What are components of diversity?
Components of diversity include race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, socio-economic status, religion, ability, and cultural background.
What two environmental factors predict most global biomes?
Temperature and precipitation are key factors determining global biomes.
How does altitude impact vegetation?
Altitude affects vegetation by causing changes in temperature, precipitation, and air pressure, leading to shifts in plant communities and biodiversity.
Why is one reason why tropical rainforests have more species diversity?
Tropical rainforests have more species diversity due to their stable climate, abundant resources, and complex ecosystems supporting various niches for diverse species.
Why is unrestricted agriculture a threat to some biomes?
Unrestricted agriculture threatens biomes by causing habitat destruction, soil erosion, water pollution, and loss of biodiversity, impacting ecosystem balance.
What are phytoplankton and why are they important?
Phytoplankton are microscopic algae that perform photosynthesis in aquatic environments. They are crucial for the marine ecosystem as they produce a significant portion of the world's oxygen and form the base of the marine food chain.
How do mangroves help to create barrier islands?
Mangroves help create barrier islands by trapping sediment with their roots, reducing erosion and providing a foundation for the islands to form and grow.
What is health? What is disease?
Health refers to a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being.
Disease is a deviation from this state, characterized by abnormal functioning of the body.
What is the difference between morbidity and mortality?
Morbidity refers to the rate of illness within a population, while mortality refers to the rate of death within a population.
Has childhood mortality increased or decreased over the last century?
Childhood mortality has significantly decreased over the last century due to advancements in healthcare, sanitation, and nutrition.
What are DALYs? How are they calculated? Why do we calculate them?
DALYs (Disability-Adjusted Life Years) measure the burden of disease by combining years of life lost and years lived with disability. Calculated by adding years of life lost due to premature death and years lived with disability adjusted for severity. DALYs help prioritize health interventions based on impact.
What is one example of an environmental disease? Tell me about it.
Environmental disease is a health condition caused by exposure to harmful substances in the environment, such as pollution, pesticides, and radiation.
Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and transmitted through the bite of infected ticks. Symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash called erythema migrans.
How does antibiotic resistance develop in a bacterial population? How does it spread globally?
Antibiotic resistance develops in bacteria through mutations or acquiring resistance genes. It spreads globally through travel, trade, and inadequate antibiotic use.
How do allergens affect humans?
Allergens trigger an immune response in humans, causing symptoms like sneezing, itching, and swelling. Severe reactions can lead to anaphylaxis, a life-threatening condition
What is biomagnification? Why does it impact how much fish we should eat?
Biomagnification is the process where toxins accumulate in organisms as they move up the food chain. It affects fish consumption due to higher toxin levels in larger fish, making them unsafe for frequent consumption.
What is hazard? What is exposure? What is dose? What is risk?
Hazard refers to potential harm. Exposure is contact with a hazard. Dose is the amount of a hazard received. Risk is the probability of harm from exposure.
What is the difference between chronic and acute toxicity?
Chronic toxicity refers to long-term exposure to a substance causing harm, while acute toxicity results from short-term exposure leading to immediate adverse effects.
What is an LD50? Why do we measure it?
LD50 stands for Lethal Dose 50, the dose of a substance that causes death in 50% of the test subjects. It is measured to determine the toxicity of a substance.
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