Global envirnmnt and society exam 1

The global environment is…

A system that can be analyzed through 3 key system traits (openness, integration, and complexity)

In terms of _______, the Earth is a(n) _______ system.

Energy, Open

In terms of _______, the Earth is a(n) _______ system.

Matter, Closed

Identify the four spheres of the global environment?

lithosphere, Hydrosphere, Atmosphere, and Biosphere

What is the lithosphere?

comprises the solid Earth; includes both the Earth’s surface and the layers of the Earth's interior.

what is an example of interaction in the lithosphere?

Gases in the atmosphere react with water to produce weak acids that aid in the breakdown of rock.

What is the hydrosphere?

includes all water on Earth (including surface water and groundwater; solid and liquid)

example of an interaction with the hydrosphere?

Atmospheric gases are readily absorbed by bodies of

water (e.g., oceans, lakes, streams, etc.) and are exchanged with

gases dissolved in water.

What is the atmosphere?

gaseous envelope that surrounds Earth and constitutes the transition between the planet and the vacuum of space

example of an interaction with the atmosphere?

Life processes involve many chemical reactions that either extract or emit gases to and from the atmosphere (e.g. photosynthesis consumes carbon dioxide and releases oxygen; respiration does the opposite)

What is the biosphere?

The biosphere is the “life zone” of the Earth, and includes all living

organisms (including humans), and all organic matter that has not yet

decomposed.

Example of an interaction with the biosphere?

The atmosphere supplies oxygen and carbon dioxide that form the basis of life processes (photosynthesis and respiration)

At what stage did humans have their earliest impact on the environment?

Stage 1, gathering and hunting

What event in the mid-1700s to 1800s significantly changed human population growth?

Bubonic plague

Cornucopians

individuals who assert that Earth’s resources are essentially unlimited and the environmental problems are not real

Cassandra

individuals who assert that continued population growth and resulting environmental stresses will cause irreversible damage to the environmental systems that support life

Select the correct sequence for the passage of materials and energy through the
environment.

TBD

Which of the following are key traits of the environmental system?

Biogeochemical cycles and/or (openness, integration, and complexity)

What are the two main forces that accelerate resource depletion and pollution, i.e., increase impact?

population growth, consumption

Human carrying capacity is:

debated

what is “cultural carrying capacity”?

the maximum number of people who can live in reasonable comfort indefinitely without decreasing the ability of the earth to sustain future generations

The earth’s human carrying capacity:

Will follow the demographic transition model

The cultural carrying capacity is lower than the ecological carrying capacity because:

There are limited resources available in order to support a high cultural carrying capacity

The human carrying capacity will be reached more quickly if:

resources continue to be depleted, environmental damage

If all humans ate only fruits, vegetables, and grains it would __________ the planet’s carrying capacity.

increase → this diet requires less land usage (no livestock) and we consume more energy since we’re eating directly at the producer level, instead of losing energy when you go up on the trophic level

Rapid population growth and overpopulation have led to…

increased unemployment, increased urbanization, spreading poverty, and food insecurity

Which combination of factors will produce the highest rate of population growth?

uneducated women, lack of birth control, no healthcare, and developing countries

At what stage are humans currently in with respect to their relationship to the environment?

TBD

What is the name of the predicted fifth stage of environmental impact by humans?

Post industrial stage

Which stage of the human population is associated with the fastest population growth, increasing throughput, and rapid increases in pollution leading to social movements?

industrial

Which of the following is an example of Positive Feedback in nature?

melting ice caps

Which of the following is an example of Negative Feedback in nature?

Body temperature

What percentage of the food produced globally each year is lost or wasted?

Around 40%

Why have populations in most developed countries stopped growing?

Increased access to healthcare, education for women, decreased child deat rates, birth control, etc.

During a society's postindustrial state, the population will exhibit…

declining birthrate

What three plant species supply most of the world’s food?

Maize, rice, and wheat

Species are disappearing at about __________ faster than what would be expected naturally

1,000 or 10,000 times

What has been the overall trend for species diversity throughout the ages of Earth’s history?

The diversity fluctuates, generally increases

Evolution is the consequence of the interactions of what four factors?

Genetic variability, overproduction, limited resources, and natural selection

To preserve the biosphere for future generations, humans must ________.

understand how living things interact with the environment

Genetic variability

The genetic variability of offspring from mutation and gene recombination.

Overproduction

Producing more offspring than will survive to maturity

Limited resources

A limited supply of the resources required for life; leads to competition.

Natural Selection

Survival and increased reproduction of those individuals best adapted to a particular environment; factors in environment determine which traits are best (Darwin’s Scientific Theory)