Science Olympiad Green Generation

Salinity

Salinity

Having to do with salt

Biological oxygen demand or biochemical oxygen demand

Minimal amount of oxygen needed for organisms to exist.

Turbid

Not transparent because of stirred up sediment (thin dirt). The sediment is suspended (floating) in the water.

Nitrogen Fixation

Reduction from a volatile (not stable.) or fluid to a solid form. For example the nitrogen in the atmosphere is converted in a form usable for plants. Necessary nutrient for plants.

Carbon cycle

All parts (reservoirs) and fluxes of carbon. The cycle is usually thought of as four main reservoirs of carbon interconnected by pathways of exchange. The reservoirs are the atmosphere, terrestrial biosphere (usually includes freshwater systems), oceans, and sediments (includes fossil fuels). The annual movements of carbon, the carbon exchanges between reservoirs, occur because of various chemical, physical, geological, and biological processes. The ocean contains the largest pool of carbon near the surface of the Earth, but most of that pool is not involved with rapid exchange with the atmosphere.

Nitrogen cycle

The circulation of nitrogen; nitrates from the soil are absorbed by plants, which are eaten by animals that die and decay returning the nitrogen back to the soil.

Lichen

a fungus with an alga that grows on rocks and trees. A symbiotic relationship of alga and fungus living together.

Alkalinity or basicity

pH values above 7

Boreal

Toward or located in the north

Temperate

(Of weather or climate) free of extremes; mild

Thermal

Relating to or associated with heat

Mutualism

The relation between two different species of organisms that are interdependent; each gains something from the other.

Commensalism

The relationship between two organisms when one receives benefits from the other without damaging it

Parasitism

The relation between two organisms where one benefits from the other by causing damage to it (usually not fatal damage)

Competition

When two animals same or different species 'fight' over something unimportant.

Foundation species

In ecology, the term is used to refer to a species that has a strong role instructing a community.

Founder species

A few individuals have a large amount of offspring therefore passing on their genes to many people that represent a lot of the population.

Trophic pyramid

A picture showing the feeding relationship and different energies of organisms in an ecosystem.

Producers or Autotrophs

Any organism that absorbs the sun's energy and converts it into food. (They are normally green plants such as grass that use the sun's energy for the photosynthesis process to produce their own food.)

Primary consumers

(In the food chain) an animal that feeds on plants; a herbivore

Secondary consumers

(In the food chain) a carnivore that feeds only upon herbivores

Detritivores

An organism that uses organic waste as a food source and they decompose living organisms/waste, like certain insects do.

Greenhouse gas

A gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect by absorbing infrared radiation. Add up being an insulating layer over the earth, trapping heat near the Earth's service

Methane

Colorless odorless gas used as a fuel. A simple chemical compound that is made up of carbon and hydrogen atoms. It's chemical formula is CH4 - one atom of carbon along with four atoms hydrogen. This gas is highly flammable. Is natural gas.

Nitrous oxide

Laughing gas

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

Different chemicals used to make things colder, to insulate, clean, or spray until it was discovered it was forming a hole in our ozone.

Desertification

The change from normal (habitable) land to desert; is usually caused by climate change or destructive use of the land

Radiation pollution

When radioactive materials are going out into the atmosphere.

Chernobyl

A city in north Ukraine (80 mi. NW of Kiev) that had a nuclear plant accident 1986. Russians hid it for a week while radiation leaked into the atmosphere.

Fukushima daiichi

A disabled nuclear power plant located on a 3.5 km² site. First commissioned in 1971.

Goiania

Has a radio active accident in sept. 13 1987. A city in and the capital of Goiás, in central Brazil, SW of Brasília.

Hypoxia

Hypo=low. Oxygen deficiency causing a very strong drive to correct the deficiency.

Ions

Particle that is electrically charged (positively or negatively); because the Atom or molecule or group has lost or gained one or more electrons

Iron fertilization

the addition of iron to the upper ocean to make a growth of phytoplankton bloom (needs sunlight nutrients and takes in CO2) trying to remove CO2 (a green house gas) from the atmosphere.

Riparian buffer

Vegetation such as algae and lichen that soak up bad chemicals, fertilizers pesticide etc, and protects the water.

Geothermal

Of or relating to the heat of the interior of the earth

Natural gas

A "by-product" of maturation (see Petroleum Formation) and propane which is a mixture of natural gas and oil.

Bioremediation

The act of using microorganisms (bacteria) to clean the undesirable substances out of the waste or pollutants. (The use of biological organisms to clean up an environment. Generally the term refers to the use of microbes to decontaminate a polluted area, but the term can apply to plants and fungi as well.)

Green roof

A roof covered with vegetation, designed for its beauty value and to improve energy conservation

pH

(the measure of the acidity [sourness] or basicity (alkaline) [slipperiness and bitterness] of an aqueous solution. Means potential hydrogen.

Greenhouse effect

An atmospheric heating phenomenon, (basically making the air warmer)

Tertiary consumers

Top consumers above the secondary consumers.

Leachate

the water that has percolated through a solid and leached out some constitutes.

Dissolved oxygen or oxygen saturation

The oxygen dissolved in the water for fish to breath. The second part is when there is as much oxygen as possible.

Acid rain

Low Ph making it acid. Caused by pollution.

Biological agents/ biodegradation

Something living. Break something down.

Erosion

[Weathering is the break down of rocks into sediments (pieces).] Then the rocks is transported by wind, water, etc.

Mechanical containment

Physically try to stop pollution from spreading.

GWP

Global-warming potential a relative of how much heat a greenhouse traps in the atmosphere. 3 factors: the absorption of infrared radiation by a given species, the spectral location of its absorbing wavelengths, the atmospheric lifetime of the species.

Vermicomposting; vermicast

The use of earthworms to convert organic waste into fertilizer the second part is what comes out and is very fertile.

Ex-situ

Literally means off-site conservation....protecting species outside of their natural habitat

Polyethylene

The most common plastic. annual global production is approximately 80 million tons. Its primary use is in packaging. Many kinds of it are known, with most having the chemical formula NH2. It makes most plastic bags.

Emissions

The production and discharge of something, esp. gas or radiation. Anything that's emitted. Usually referring to car and factories (where they build things).

Electromagnetic radiation

Energy given off by all stars including the sun.

Ammonia NH3

A compound of nitrogen and hydrogen comes before most nitrogen compounds.

Nitrogen is...........

Important for all plants to grow and is used in fertilizer.

Pathogens

A bacterium, virus or other micro-organisms that can cause disease.

Windrows

A long line of materials heaped up by the wind or a machine

Pollution

The introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause harmful change. It can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light.

Amalgam

A mix of mercury with another metal or metals.

Runoff

The movement of landwater to the oceans, chiefly in the form of rivers, lakes, and streams.

Algae Bloom

A rapid growth of algae in a lake or pond. due to over abundance of food that is used quickly. When the food is gone, the algae die and the dead algae are decomposed by bacteria that uses up the oxygen in the water. This causes oxygen deprivation of aquatic life and slow suffocation. (A result of excess nutrients from fertilizer, wastewater and stormwater runoff, coinciding with lots of sunlight, warm temperatures and shallow, slow-flowing water.)

Sustainability

Being able to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Strategies include: -minimize energy consumption & using alternate energy -minimize water consumption -minimize water consumption -develop eco-friendly products and processes

Renewable Energy Sources

Energy from water, wind, the sun, hydropower, geothermal sources, and biomass (plants or plant based materials) sources such as energy crops. (used to generate electricity, power vehicles, and provide heating, cooling, and light.)

Non-Renewable Energy Sources

Fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas as well as nuclear fuels (used to generate electricity, power vehicles, and provide heating, cooling, and light). Limited supply of these sources will run out and they have negative environmental impacts.

Fossil fuels

They are NON-RENEWABLE resources. Three major ones are coal, oil, and natural gas. Carbon is the basic element in many.

Food Web

Depicts feeding connections in an ecological community and hence is also referred to as a consumer-resource system

Anoxia

The state of almost no dissolved oxygen.

Food Energy

The energy that animals (including humans) derive from their food

Ecology

How organisms interact with one another and with their environment. (The branch of biology that deals with the relationship of organisms to one another and their environment.)

Population

Group of individuals of the same species occupying a common geographical area.

Community

Two or more populations of different species occupying the same geographical are.

Ecosystem

A community plus it's abiotic (physical factors) e.g. Soil, rain, temperatures etc.

Nutrient cycling

the movement and exchange of organic and inorganic matter back into the production of living matter.

Species diversity

The effective number of different species that are represented in a collection of individuals.

Net reproduction (rate)

The average number of daughters that would be born to a female (or a group of females) if she passed through her lifetime conforming to the age-specific fertility and mortality (the state of being subject to death) rates of a given year.

Biotic

Describes a living or once living component of a community; for example organisms, such as plants and animals.

logistic growth

Population growth that is controlled by limited resources

Density Dependence

Occurs when population growth rates are regulated by the density of a population

Photoautotroph

An organism, typically a plant, obtaining energy from sunlight as its source of energy to convert inorganic materials into organic materials for use in cellular functions such as biosynthesis and respiration.

Heterotrophs

Cannot produce own food (like plants do) so are consumers.

Solar radiation

The radiant energy emitted by the sun, particularly electromagnetic energy.

Thermal pollution

Large inputs of heated water from a single plant or a number of plants using the same lake or slow-moving stream can have harmful effects on aquatic life.

Population ecology

The study how populations interact with their environment.

Population size

Number of individuals making up its gene pool.

Population density

Number of individuals per unit of area or volume, E.G. persons/square-mile

Population distribution

General pattern in which the population members are dispersed through its habitat, may be: Clumped (most common), uniformly dispersed (rare), or randomly dispersed.

Zero population growth

Designates a near balance of birth and death.

Exponential growth

If birth and death rates remain constant they can be combined into one variable r = net reproduction per individual per unit time (rate of increase)

Limiting factor

Any resource that is in short supply.

Conservation

Management or regulation of a resource so that its use does not exceed the capacity of the resource to regenerate itself

Ecosystem Capital

Putting an economic value on a resource

Prevention

Raw materials, water, energy and other resources are utilized more efficiently, less harmful substances are substituted for hazardous ones, and toxic substances are eliminated from the production process

Cleanup

Environmental remediation to remove present pollutants from the environment. Strategies and techniques include: -site assessment and mapping -excavation and dredging -pump (water) and treat -solidification and stabilization -oxidation (of water and soil) -bioremediation - using microbes to remove pollutants

Keystone Species

Species whose role in an ecosystem are more important than others (sea otters, sea stars, grizzly bears, prairie dogs)

Endangered Species

A group of organisms in danger of becoming extinct if the situation is not improved; population numbers have dropped below the critical number of organisms.

Invasive/Alien/Exotic Species

Non-native species to an area; often thrive and disrupt the ecosystem balance.

Pesticides Pros

Saves lives from insect-transmitted disease, increases food supply, increases profits for farmers

Convection

Transfer of heat by movement of heated matter

Conduction

Transfer of energy through matter from one particle to another