Environmental science

Earth Science

Specific subject, focuses on the four earth systems: Hydrosphere, Geosphere, Atmosphere, Biota

Environmental Science

Broad subject, focuses on the biosphere, a combination of those systems

Ecosystem

A community of organisms interacting with their non-living environment

Ecology

The study of relationships between living organisms

Sustainability 

meeting present needs without harming the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

scientific theory

a well-tested scientific statement that is widely accepted and supported by research is called a

lower quality energy 

Whenever energy is converted from one form to another in a physical or chemical change, we end up with

autotroph

An organism that uses inorganic substances for food

elements 

substances that have one type of atom are called

unequally

in a polar bond, two atoms form a molecule that shares electrons

autotroph

When a plant traps light energy in order to synthesize carbohydrates, it is demonstrating that it is a

Hydrosphere

the sum total of all the water on Earth, in all its states—liquid, solid, and vapor—including oceans, rivers, lakes, groundwater, glaciers, and atmospheric moisture

Hydrologic cycle

A generalized model that describes the movement of water between the hydrosphere, lithosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere 

storm runoff

A rapid and intense form of runoff generated from precipitation associated with a thunderstorm, mid-latitude cyclone, or hurricane.

Ocean Acidification

Recent trend of decreasing seawater pH levels in the Earth's oceans caused by absorption of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. Chemically this carbon dioxide reacts with seawater to become carbonic acid.

Geosphere

the solid, mineral, rock, and soil component of Earth, extending from the surface through the interior to the inner core

Lithosphere

specific layer within the geosphere, comprising the brittle outermost shell of the Earth

Fossil Fuel

Carbon-based remains of organic matter that has been geologically transformed into coal, oil, and natural gas.

Natural gas

A hydrocarbon derived gas, mainly composed of methane, commonly found in the pores of sedimentary rocks of marine origin.

Methane

very strong greenhouse gas found in our planet's atmosphere.

Hydrofracturing

process where water under pressure enters naturally occurring small cracks in rocks, causing subsequent rock fracturing.

Nuclear energy

Energy released when the nucleus of an atom experiences a nuclear reaction like the spontaneous emission of radioactivity, nuclear fission, or nuclear fusion.

Deforestation

The removal of many trees from a habitat dominated by forest.

Atmosphere

the protective layer of gases surrounding the Earth, composed mainly of nitrogen and oxygen, that is essential for life

Greenhouse effect

causes the atmosphere to trap more heat energy at the Earth's surface and within the atmosphere by absorbing and reemitting longwave radiation

Ozone

Triatomic oxygen that exists in the Earth's atmosphere as a gas

Biosphere

the entire portion of the Earth that supports life, including all living organisms and their environments in the atmosphere, hydrosphere (water), and lithosphere (land).

Habitat fragmentation

A process that causes the breakup of natural habitat into smaller pieces that are then interspersed by fragments of developed land used for human purposes, like forestry, agriculture, grazing, or settlement.

competition

most common interaction between species is

interspecific competition

Competition between different species to use the same limited resources 

Resource partitioning 

Occurs when different species evolve specialized traits that allow them to share the same resources 

predator

Any animal that consumes a part of another organism is a… 

population sizes

predator and prey dynamics have a strong effect on

Camouflage, Chemical warfare, warning coloration, mimicry, behavioral strategies

How have prey evolved to avoid predators?

Parasitism

One species benefits and the other is harmed

Mutualism

Both species benefit from the relationship

Commensalism

One species benefits, the other is unaffected

Carrying capacity

Maximum population of a given species that a particular habitat can sustain

oxygen, cellular reproduction

Consumers use ______ during _______ ___________

Biological Agents 

pathogenic (disease causing) organisms such as bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and internal parasites

biological agents

For most of human history, _______ ______ were the most significant factors in health 

chemical agents

Toxic heavy metals, dioxins, pesticides, and endocrine disrupters

chemical, biological

heavy metals and pesticides are ________ agents, bacteria and viruses are ________ agents

Traditional Hazards 

these hazards are caused by poverty and the lack of development and mostly affect developing countries and poor people

Modern Hazards 

these hazards are caused by technological development, prevail in industrialized countries where exposure to traditional hazards is low

double burden 

Poor people increasingly experience a _______ ______ of both traditional and modern hazards 

Antibiotic resistance

occurs when bacteria change in a way that reduces the effectiveness of drugs, chemicals, or other agents designed to cure or prevent infections.

Environmental toxicology 

the scientific study of the health effects associated with exposure to toxic chemicals

contaminant

hazardous substances, pollutants, pollution, and chemicals that can contaminate an area

acute effect  

one that occurs rapidly after exposure to a large amount of that substance

chronic effect

Long-term exposure to cigarette smoking, low level radiation exposure, and moderate alcohol use

radon

radioactive gas that is naturally-occurring, colorless, and odorless.

bioremediation

a waste management technique that involves the use of organisms such as plants, bacteria, and fungi to remove or neutralize pollutants from a contaminated site

taxonomy 

Biologists name, group, and classify organisms based on similarities in genetics and morphology.

Domain Bacteria 

includes prokaryotic, unicellular organisms. They are incredibly abundant and found in nearly every imaginable type of habitat, including your body.

Metabolism 

a general term describing the complex biochemistry that occurs inside of cells.

heterotroph

species of bacteria that they need to acquire their food by eating other organisms.

extremophiles 

Organisms that can tolerate and even thrive in such conditions are known as

ecosystem diversity 

the number of different ecosystems on Earth or in a geographical area.

endemic species

species that are found in only one location.

bush meat 

the generic term used for wild animals killed for food

exotic species 

species that have been intentionally or unintentionally introduced by humans into an ecosystem in which they did not evolve.

mass extinction 

more than half of all species disappearing from the fossil record.

biodiversity hotspot

geographical areas that contain high numbers of endemic species

keystone species 

a species that is instrumental in maintaining diversity within an ecosystem.

quadrat 

a square structure that is randomly located on the ground and used to count the number of individuals that lie within its boundaries.

survivorship curve 

a graph of the number of individuals surviving at each age interval versus time.

species richness

the number of species living in a habitat or other unit

foundation species

considered the “base” or “bedrock” of a community, having the greatest influence on its overall structure.

community dynamics 

the changes in community structure and composition over time, often following environmental disturbances such as volcanoes, earthquakes, storms, fires, and climate change.

succession

the sequential appearance and disappearance of species in a community over time after a severe disturbance.

secondary succession

a part of an ecosystem is disturbed and remnants of the previous community remain

primary succession 

occurs when new land is formed, or when the soil and all life is removed from pre-existing land.