Environmental Science Vocabulary Flashcards

This set of flashcards contains key vocabulary terms and concepts from environmental science, including population ecology, ecosystems, and biodiversity.

Human Population Growth

The increase in the number of individuals in a population, particularly influenced by historical revolutions.

J-shaped curve

A graph that represents populations that grow exponentially without any restrictions.

Emigration

The act of leaving one's resident country with the intent to settle elsewhere.

Immigration

The act of coming to live permanently in a foreign country.

80/20 Rule

A global rule stating that approximately 20% of the population uses 80% of the world's resources.

Resistance Factors

Elements that limit population growth or reduce the size of a population.

Total Fertility Rate

The average number of children born to a woman over her lifetime.

Pronatalist pressures

Social, cultural, or economic factors that encourage larger families.

Age Structure Concern

The distribution of various age groups in a population, especially older age populations.

Education of Girls

Teaching girls to read often leads to decreased population growth.

Carrying Capacity

The maximum population size that an environment can sustain indefinitely.

Ecological Footprint

A measure of how much land and water area a human population requires.

Urban vs Rural Population

More people live in urban areas than in rural areas today.

Carbon Footprint

A measure of the total greenhouse gases produced by human activities.

Urban Heat Island Effect

Urban areas that are significantly warmer than their rural surroundings.

New Urbanism

An urban design movement promoting walkable neighborhoods with a diverse range of housing and jobs.

LEED Certification

A certification for environmentally sustainable building practices.

Artificial Selection

The intentional breeding of plants or animals to select for desired traits.

Genetic Diversity

The total number of genetic characteristics in the genetic makeup of a species.

Allopatric Speciation

The process of speciation that occurs when biological populations become isolated.

Sixth Mass Extinction

The ongoing extinction event caused by human activity leading to loss of biodiversity.

Habitat

The natural environment in which an organism lives.

Niche

The role or function of an organism or species within an ecosystem.

K-selected species

Species that produce few offspring but invest significant parental care.

Feedback Loop

A system where outputs of a process are circled back as inputs.

Keystone Species

A species on which other species in an ecosystem largely depend.

Matter

Substance that has mass and takes up space.

Ice Floating on Water

Caused by the molecular structure of ice being less dense than liquid water.

Organic Chemistry

The branch of chemistry dealing with the structure, properties, and reactions of organic compounds.

Hydrocarbons

Compounds consisting solely of hydrogen and carbon.

Carbohydrates

Organic compounds used by organisms for energy.

Lipids

Fatty acids that play various roles, including energy storage and membrane structure.

Plastics Composition

Mainly made from polymers derived from petrochemicals.

Earth's Layers

The three main layers include the crust, mantle, and core.

Igneous Rock Formation

Forms from the cooling and solidification of molten lava.

Sedimentary Rock Formation

Forms from the accumulation of sediment and organic material over time.

Metamorphic Rock Formation

Forms from the alteration of existing rocks due to heat and pressure.

Pyroclastic Flow

A fast-moving current of hot gas and volcanic matter.

Tsunamis Causes

Caused mainly by seismic activity under the ocean.

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants produce sugar and oxygen using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide.

Negative Feedback

A process that reduces the output or activity of a system.

Positive Feedback

A process that increases output or activity in a system.

Earth's Ecosystem Spheres

The four spheres are the lithosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere.

Ecosystem Services

The benefits that humans derive from ecosystems.

Evapotranspiration

The sum of evaporation and plant transpiration from the Earth's surface.

Nitrogen Fixation

The process of converting nitrogen gas into ammonia, making it available for use by plants.

Legumes in Crop Rotation

Legumes are useful because they restore nitrogen levels in the soil.

Nutrient Pollution

Occurs when excess nitrogen and phosphorus enter water systems.

Aquatic Dead Zones

Areas in water bodies where oxygen levels are too low to support most marine life.

Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone

A region affected by nutrient pollution, leading to low oxygen levels, often regarded as a tragedy of the commons.

Conservation Biology

A field that focuses on the preservation of biodiversity and ecosystems.

Ecotourism

Travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people.

Extinction

The end of an organism or a group of organisms; a species ceasing to exist.

Extirpation

The localized extinction of a species in a specific geographic area.

Endemism

When a species is native to a single geographic location.

Biome Distribution Factors

Climate, soil type, and geographical location largely determine biome distribution.

Specialist Species

Species that have a narrow ecological niche and specialized requirements.

Generalist Species

Species that can thrive in a wide variety of environmental conditions.

Population Density Effects

Higher population density can increase the spread of disease and affect mating patterns.

Natality

The birth rate of a population.

Mortality

The death rate of a population.

Immigration in Ecology

The influx of individuals into a population from other areas.

Emigration in Ecology

The departure of individuals from a population to other areas.

Exponential Population Growth

Population growth that occurs when resources are abundant, leading to a rapid increase.

Limiting Factors

Elements that restrict the size of a population.

Density-Dependent Factors

Factors affecting population growth based on the population density.

Camouflage

A means of concealment that allows an organism to avoid detection.

Warning Coloration

Bright colors that warn predators of toxicity or danger.

Nest Parasitism

When one species lays its eggs in the nest of another species.

Trophic Cascade

An ecological phenomenon triggered by the addition or removal of top predators.

Resource Partitioning

The division of resources among species to reduce competition.

Ecological Succession

The process by which ecosystems change and develop over time.

Pioneer Species

First species to colonize previously disrupted or damaged ecosystems.

Primary Succession

Succession that begins in lifeless areas, such as bare rock.

Secondary Succession

Succession that occurs in areas where a disturbance has destroyed an ecosystem but left the soil intact.

Climax Community

A stable community that no longer goes through major ecological changes.

Threats to Biodiversity

Five major threats include habitat destruction, pollution, climate change, overexploitation, and invasive species.