Creation, Ecology, and Environmental Stewardship Flashcards

Flashcards related to Creation, Ecology, and Environmental Stewardship, covering topics from the creation narrative to biodiversity conservation and human impact on the environment.

Everything is connected to everything else

The first law of ecology stating that everything is connected to everything else.

Atmosphere

Spherical mass of air surrounding the earth's surface, held by gravity.

Good Ozone (Stratospheric)

Shields us from UV rays.

Bad Ozone

Harmful air pollutant at ground level and a key ingredient in smog.

Primary Air Pollutants

Pollutants formed and emitted directly from particular sources.

Secondary Air Pollutants

Pollutants that are formed in the atmosphere by chemical reactions.

Hydrosphere

Contains all of the water on or near the earth’s surface.

Cryosphere

The frozen part of the hydrosphere, crucial for moving moisture across the globe.

Geosphere

Contains the earth’s rocks, minerals, and soil.

Biosphere

Consists of the parts of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere where life is found

Energy Flow

The continuous flow of energy from the sun through the biosphere.

Nutrient Cycling

The recycling of essential elements within the biosphere.

Ecology

Science that focuses on how organisms interact with each other and their environment.

Soil

A complex mixture of rock pieces, mineral nutrients, organic matter, water, air, and living organisms that supports plant and animal life.

Food Chain

A sequence of organisms where each serves as a nutrient source for the next.

Food Web

Consumers feed on multiple organisms, and organisms are eaten by multiple consumers.

Net Primary Productivity (NPP)

The rate at which producers use photosynthesis to produce and store chemical energy.

Biogeochemical Cycle (Nutrient Cycle)

A natural cycle that moves essential elements through biotic and abiotic factors.

Ecology

Science-based study of the interactions between organisms and their environment.

Environmental Ecology

Study of the interactions among organisms and their environment, including physical, biological, and cultural components.

Natural Environment

The natural environment without human interference.

Man-Made Environment

The environment that is modified and created through human activity.

Economic Ecology

A transdisciplinary effort to link natural and social sciences, especially ecology and economics.

Environmental Challenges

Deforestation, overfishing, pollution, and climate change driven by economic decisions.

Ecological Economics

Recognizes environmental limits on a local to global scale.

Social Ecology

The study of the relation between the developing human being and their environment.

Key principle of Social Ecology

Ecological problems arise from deep-seated social problems.

Organismal Ecology

Focuses on the morphological, physiological, and behavioral adaptations of an organism.

Population Ecology

It studies the number of individuals in an area, as well as how and why their population size changes over time

Species Ecology

It is a population of different species, interacting and living in the same geographic area at a given time

Ecosystem Ecology

It is the place or habitat where the community of organisms lives while interacting with their environment

Landscape Ecology

The study of the relationship between spatial patterns and ecological processes

Global Ecology

It is the science of the Earth ecosystem

Theology

The study of the nature of God and religious belief.

Integral Ecology Paradigm

A holistic perspective that seeks to promote human and natural world flourishing

Integral Ecology

Connection between humans and our environment and an approach to global problems.

Ecosystem services

Support energy flow, reduce erosion, purify water, store carbons, provide habitats.

Old Growth Forest (Primary Forest)

Consists of native species that developed naturally with little to no human activities.

Second Growth Forest

Forests that recovered from human disturbances and can regenerate naturally.

Tree Plantation (Tree Farm/Commercial Forest)

Area intentionally planted with trees for high-volume wood production.

Surface Fire

Burn only the undergrowth and leaf litter on the forest floor.

Crown Fire

An extremely hot fire that leaps from treetop to treetop, burning whole trees.

Deforestation

The temporary or permanent removal of large expanses of forest.

Restoration

Returning a degraded habitat to its original condition.

Rehabilitation

Turning a degraded ecosystem into a functional one without restoring it to its original condition.

Replacement

Replacing degraded ecosystems with another type of ecosystem.