AICE Environmental Management: Review Session Flashcards

Flashcards covering the key vocabulary terms and concepts from AICE Environmental Management lecture notes.

Environmental Management

The management of human interactions with the environment to achieve sustainable outcomes.

Sustainability

The ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising future generations' ability to meet their own needs.

Ecosystem

A community of living organisms interacting with their non-living environment.

Biodiversity

The variety of life in the world, including the diversity of species, genes, and ecosystems.

Invasive Species

Non-native species that disrupt local ecosystems and can outcompete native species.

Limiting Factor

A condition that restricts the growth, abundance, or distribution of an organism or population.

Water Cycle

The continuous cycle of water movement through evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff.

Carbon Cycle

The series of processes by which carbon compounds are interconverted in the environment.

Photosynthesis

The process by which green plants use sunlight to synthesize foods from carbon dioxide and water.

Respiration

The metabolic process in which cells convert sugars into energy, releasing carbon dioxide and water.

Producers

Organisms that produce their own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis.

Consumers

Organisms that obtain energy by consuming other organisms.

Decomposers

Organisms that break down dead or decaying organisms, returning nutrients to the ecosystem.

Abiotic Factors

Non-living chemical and physical parts of the environment that affect living organisms.

Biotic Factors

Living components of an ecosystem that affect other organisms.

Food Chain

A linear sequence of organisms through which nutrients and energy pass as one organism eats another.

Trophic Levels

The hierarchical levels in an ecosystem, consisting of producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, etc.

Aerobic Respiration

The process by which cells use oxygen to convert glucose into energy.

Acid Deposition

The deposition of acidic substances from the atmosphere, including acid rain.

Greenhouse Effect

The process by which certain gases trap heat in the atmosphere, warming the Earth.

Ozone Layer

A region of Earth's stratosphere that contains a high concentration of ozone and protects living organisms from ultraviolet radiation.

Global Warming

The observed increase in Earth's average surface temperature due to rising levels of greenhouse gases.

Climate Change

Significant change in global temperatures and weather patterns over time.

Tropical Rainforest

A dense, warm, and wet forest found near the equator with high biodiversity.

Desert

A barren area of land with very little precipitation and extreme temperatures.

Grassland

A region where vegetation is dominated by grasses and has few trees.

Tundra

A cold, treeless area characterized by permafrost and low-growing vegetation.

Primary Succession

The gradual process of ecosystem development that occurs in lifeless areas.

Secondary Succession

The recovery of an ecosystem after disturbance that leaves the soil intact.

Biodiversity Loss

The decline in the variety of life and ecosystems, often due to human activities.

Ecosystem Services

The benefits that humans receive from ecosystems, including provisioning, regulating, and cultural services.

Food Security

The state of having reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food.

Energy Security

The uninterrupted availability of energy sources at an affordable price.

Water Security

The capacity of a population to safeguard sustainable access to fresh water.

Chemical Weathering

The breakdown of rocks and minerals by chemical reactions.

Biomagnification

The increasing concentration of toxins, such as pesticides, as they move up food chains.

Photosynthetic Pigments

Molecules in plants, such as chlorophyll, that absorb light energy for photosynthesis.

Trophic Cascade

An ecological phenomenon triggered by the addition or removal of top predators.

Environmental Impact Assessment

A process to evaluate the likely environmental impacts of a proposed project.

Water Pollution

The contamination of water bodies with harmful substances.

Sustainable Agriculture

Farming that meets current food needs without compromising future generations' ability to produce food.

Ecological Footprint

A measure of human demand on Earth's ecosystems and the capacity of the planet to regenerate.

Marine Conservation

The protection and preservation of ecosystems in oceans and seas.

Renewable Resources

Natural resources that can be replenished in a short period of time.

Non-Renewable Resources

Resources that do not renew quickly enough to keep up with consumption.

Conservation Methods

Strategies used to protect and preserve biodiversity.

Ecotourism

Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people.

Climate Refugees

People who have been forced to leave their home due to climate change effects.

Urbanization

The increasing number of people that live in urban areas.

Mitigation Strategies

Actions to reduce the severity and impact of climate change.

Transition Towns

Communities preparing for peak oil and climate change by building resilience.

Aquaculture

The farming of aquatic organisms, including fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and aquatic plants.

Hydroponics

The method of growing plants in a water-based, nutrient-rich solution.

Waste Management

The activities and actions required to manage waste from its inception to its final disposal.

Carbon Footprint

The total amount of greenhouse gases produced by human activities, measured in units of carbon dioxide equivalent.

Rewilding

Restoration of ecosystems by reintroducing species and allowing natural processes to take place.

Ecosystem Restoration

The process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded.

Pollution Control

Efforts to reduce or eliminate the release of pollutants into the environment.

Grassroots Conservation

Local community-led initiatives aimed at conserving local natural resources.

Community Engagement

The process by which community members influence and take ownership of the decisions that affect their lives.

Natural Capital

The world's stocks of natural assets which include geology, soil, air, water, and all living things.

Environmental Justice

The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people in environmental laws and policies.

Polluter Pays Principle

The principle that the costs of pollution should be borne by the party responsible for causing it.