Studied by 9 people
Technology
The application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes.
Example: Computer, phone, sunglasses, etc.
Benefits
Favorable effects of the solution.
Cost and Risk
The Unfavorable effects of the solution.
Engineering Design Process
A method used to develop or improve technology. The process is iterative.
Iterative
Using repeating steps.
Criteria (singular criterion)
Sets a standard on which a solution can be based on.
Constraints
The limitations that a design or solution must stay within.
Tradeoff
An exchange for one thing in return for another.
Brainstorming
Creating idea for a solution by using a decision matrix or Pugh Chart.
Decision Matrix
Each criterion is given a number, weight, based on how important it is.
Prototype
The first build of a design and may not be built to scale or with the final materials.
Testing
It allows engineers to get feedback on the design.
Life cycle analyses
It’s an attempt to evaluate the real cost of a new technology or design. It also considers the environmental impact of materials and wastes from producing the design.
Environmental engineering
The focus on the relationship between humans and the environment in order to develop solutions to the problems.
System
A set of interacting components considered to be a distinct entity for the purpose of studying or understanding.
Boundaries
The space of the system, to separate that system from the rest of the universe.
Components
All parts of the system that interact to help the system carry out specific functions.
Feedback
Information from one step of a cycle that acts to change the behavior of previous of a cycle.
Feedback loop
It’s when an output returns to become an input in the same system that generated the output.
Inputs
What goes into a system
Outputs
What goes out of a system
Opened System
Both inputs and outputs flow in and out freely (both energy and matter).
Closed System
The flow of inputs and outputs are limited. (Only energy is exchanged).
Isolated System
The inputs and outputs are contained.
Inputs and Outputs
Refer to energy matter and information.
5 interconnected spheres
Geosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, atmosphere (not oxygen), anthrosphere (man made stuff).
Biosphere
It'‘s made of ecosystem
Biotic Factor
Living or once living components
Abiotic Factor
Non-Living components like energy and matter.
Levels in Ecosystem (small to big)
Organism, population, communitym ecosystem, biome, biosphere
Terrestrial
Land based Ecosystem (~29%)
Aquatic
Water based ecosystem (~71%)
Characteristics of Living things
made of one or more cells
grow
reproduce
evolve
respond to environmental changes
maintain homeostasis (stable internal conditions)
Habitat
Includes both biotic and abiotic factors (where the organism lives)
Ecological Niche
An environment which includes everything that the organism needs to survive and reproduce. (how the organism lives within the habitat)
Food Sources
Types of food (how species compete for food and where the food is found in the food web)
Abiotic Conditions
The range of air, temperature, and the amount of water the species can tolerate.
Behavior
The time of day species is active (when and where it feeds and reproduces)
Ecosystem
Collection of habitats. A Complex relationship between organsims and their environment.
Predation
When one organism captures and eats another organism. It allows the transfer of energy up the food-web/food-chain
Competition
When organisms compete for limited resources such as food shelter, water, space, and etc.
Symbiosis
relationship between 2 different organisms
Mutualism
both species benefit
commensalism
One benefits the other is neither harmed or benefitted.
Parasitism
One is benefitted the other is harmed
Biodiversity
The measure of the number of different species found in one area.
Biodiversity Hotspot
An area with high levels of biodiversity.
Keystone Species
A single species of individuals that has a strong affect on an ecosystem.
Density
How much matter in a given space.
Population Density
(Equation)
How many individuals living in a given space.
[# of individuals/area(units²)]
Population dispersion
How organisms separate themselves within a population
Clumped
Resources are spread unevenly. Benefits: protection from predators and helps find mate.
Uniformed
When Individual compete. There are limited resources/territory.
Random
Least common pattern, individuals are spread randomly. For example: plants, wind, water, animals.
8 types of sampling
random
stratified
systematic
mark-recapture (tap & release method)
voluntary
evidence
purposive
quadrat (uses grids of known size)
4 things to be known to track population size
immigration
emigration
birth rate
death rate
2 things which population growth depends on
environmental changes
available resources: food, living spaces, H2O, O2
2 patterns of population growth
exponential
logistical
Exponential Growth
The population size will increase drastically over a short amount of time
Logistical growth
The growth of a population levels off to the size that the environment can support.
Carrying Capacity
The maximum number of individual that the environment can sustain and support.
Density-Dependent Limiting Factors
Competition, predation, and parasitism & disease.
Density-Independent Limiting Factors
Weather, Natural disaster, human activity.
Ecology
A measure of the disturbance & abundance of an organism.
Survey
Sample of a larger population.
Disturbance
Something that causes change to an environment.
Natural disturbances
Human caused disturbances
Physical agent
Chemical agent
Biological agent
What can disturbances do?
destroy habitats
wipeout populations of organisms
contribute to tons of biodiversity
cause fragmentation of ecosystem
alter relationship among organisms
alter the cycling of abiotic factors
Resilience
The ability of an ecosystem to bounce back after a disturbance.
Genetic Diversity
How much variation in DNA is among a group of species.
Resistance
The ability of an ecosystem to resist change caused by disturbances.
Ecological Succesion
A series of biotic changes that occurs on bare land to create a community.
Primary Succession
When an ecosystem is created from bare rock.
Secondary Succesion
When an ecosystem is developed on bare soil.
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