Bio ch. 8

What is a biofuel?

A fuel made from materials that come from living things

How does algae relate to biofuel?

Algae is a promising renewable source for eco-friendly biofuel

What is the difference between renewable and non-renewable resources?

Renewable: replenishes naturally (like sunlight, wind)

Non-renewable: used up faster than replenished (like oil, coal)

List one pro and one con of solar power

Pro: Clean and renewable

Con: High upfront cost

Why is biofuel not completely eco-friendly?

It can complete with food crops and is expensive at scale

What is environmental engineering?

Applying science to design systems that solve environmental problems sustainably

Why isn’t theoretical science enough?

Because real-world problems need testing, design, and practical application

What are the steps of the engineering process?

Identify → Research → Define Criteria/Constraits → Brainstorm → Prototype → Test → Improve → Implement

Define criteria, constraints, and trade-offs

Criteria: what the solution should do

Constraints: Limits

Trade-offs: compromises

Whats smog?

Air pollution made of ozone, dust, and small suspended particles

Describe radition, conduction, and convection

Radiation: through space

Conduction: touch/contact

Convection: motion in fluids/gases

What is the albedo effect?

How much sunlight Earth reflects. Less ice = lower albedo = more warming

Ex: Albedo = 300/1000 = 0.3

What is the greenhouse effect?

Heat is trapped in Earth’s atmosphere by gases like CO2 and methane

How do scientists know CO2 levels from 10,000+years ago

Air bubbles trapped in ice cores

What is carrying capacity

The max population a region can support without harming the environment

What happens to carrying capacity of other organisms when humans arrive?

It decreases due to resource use, pollution, and habitat loss

What’s the difference between conservation and preservation?

Conservation: sustainable use

Preservation: no use at all

What is habitat fragmentation?

Breaking up ecosystems into smaller parts, harming wildlife movement and survival

What are wildlife corridors?

Paths that connect separate habitats to allow animals to move safely

What is the difference between introduced and invasive species?

Invasive species cause harm

Introduced species don’t necessarily