APES Unit 2 Vocab

lithosphere

the outer layer of earth, the solid part of earth including rock, sediment, and soil

Atmosphere

the layer of gases surrounding the Earth

Hydrosphere

encompasses all water: salt water, fresh water, ice vapor, underground and in the atmosphere

Biosphere

consists of all the planets organisms and the abiotic portions of the enviornment with which they interact

emergent properties

characteristics not evident in the individual components alone

negative feedback loop

a control mechanism that reverses a change, stabilizing a system by returning it to its set point or normal range

dynamic equillibrium

the state reached when processes within a system are moving in opposite directions at equal rates so their effects balance out

Homeostasis

the tendency of a system to maintain constant

positive feedback loop

the inputs and outputs drive the system further towards one extreme or the other

runoff

the water from precipitation that flows into streams, rivers, lakes, ponds, and eventually to the ocean

airshed

the geogrpahic area that produces air pollutants likely to end up in a waterway

eutrophication

the process of nutrient enrichment, increased production of organic matter, and subsequent ecosystem degradation in a water body

Ecosystems

as assemblage of all organisms and non living entities that occur and interact in a particular area at the same time

Estuary

an area where a river flows into the ocean mixing fresh water with salt water

Primary production

the conversion of solar energy to the energy of chemical bonds in sugars during photosynthesis

gross primary production

the total amount of hcemical energy produced by autotrophs

net primary production

the energy that remains after autotrophs have metabolized enough for their own maintenance (used to make leaves, stems, and roots)

secondary production

total biomass that heterotrophs generate by consuming autotrophs

productivity

the rate at which plants convert solar energy to biomass

net primary productivity

the rate at which net primary production is produced (high when plants convert solar energy to biomass rapidly)

macronutrients

elements and compounds required in relatively large amounts by organisms

micronutrients

elements and compounds required in relatively small amounts by organisms

ecotones

a transitional zone where 2 ecosystems meet

metapopulation

a network of subpopulations, most of whose memebers stay within their respective landscape patches, but some of whom who moves among patches or mate with members of different patches

ecological modeling

practice of constructing and testing models that aim to explain and predict how ecological systems function

Biodiversity

the variety of life across all levels of biological organization including diversity in genes, species, communities, etc

species diversity

describes the variety of species in an area

species richness

the number of different species in an area

species evenness

relative abundance of each species

subspecies

populations of a species that occur in different geographic areas (arises due to the same process that drives speciation but results when divergence stops short of forming a different species)

genetic diversity

a measure of differences in DNA composition among individuals within a given species

ecosystem diversity

the number and variety of ecosystems in a particular area

latitude gradient in species richness

species richness generally tens to increase as one approaches the equator

citizen science

the observation, study, and collection of data for scientific purposes by non professional volunteers

bioprospecting

searching for organisms that might provide new drugs, medicines, foods, etc

biophilia

idea that humans being share an instinctive love for nature and feel an emotional bond with other living things

nature deficit disorder

alienation form nature and biodiversity which leads to angst and anxiety

the living plant index

expresses how large the average population size of a species of vertebrae animal is now relative to 1970

Extinction

occurs when the last member of a species die and the entire species ceases to exist

Extirpation

the disappearance of a particular population from a given area, but not the entire species globally

Background extinction rate

the average rate of extinction that occured before the appearance of humans

Mass extinction events

the extinction of a large proportion of the worlds species in a short time period

Red List

an updates list of species facing high risk of extinction

5 primary causes of population extinction

habitat loss, pollution, overharvesting, invasive species, and climate change

Habitat Loss

the destruction of habitat due to habitat fragmentation, destryed, or degraded

Pollution

release of harmful materials into the enviornment such as air, noise, light, and water pollution

Overharvesting

removing species faster than they are able to reproduce

Invasive species

plants and animals that have migrated to places where they are not native and dominate the habitat

climate change

global warming, increases the frequency of ectreme weather events

conservation biology

scientists devoted to understanding the factors, forces, and processes that influence biodiversity

minimum viable population size

the smallest population size a species has a high probablility of surviving at

Endangered species act

forbids the government and citizens from taking actions that would destroy threatened and endangered species or their habitat

the US fish and wildlife service

they conserve, protect, and enhance fish wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the benefit of the American people

habitat conservation plan

gives the owner an incidental take permit to allow the harming of some individuals of the species if the owner improves the habitat for the species

safe harbor agreement

aggreement that government wont mandate different managament requirements if the owener acts to assist a species' recovery

convention on biological diversity

treaty taht aims to conserve biodiversity, use it in a sustainable manner, and ensure fair distribution of its benefits

captive breeding

practice of keeping threatened/endangered species in captivity so their young can be bred in controlled enviornments

flagship species

a charismatic and well known animal that serves as a powerful sumbol for conservation efforts

biodiversity hotspot

an area that supports an especially great diversity of species (usually endemic species who only live in a particular area)

community bases conservation

practice of engaging local people to conserve land and wildlife in their own region

forest types

a category of forest defined by it's predominant tree species

canopy

the upper level of leaves and branches in treetops

subcanopy

the middle portion beneath the tree crowns of the canopy

understory

the shaded lower level of a forest

snags

dead and dying trees

deforestation

the clearing and loss of forests

4 main causes of deforestation

1. farming, ranching, and mining

2. logging and timber managment

3. slash and burn farming

4. wildfire

primary forest

natural forest, uncut by people

second growth trees

trees that sprouted after old growth trees were cut

secondary forest

forests that has growth back after primary forest has been cut

concession

the right to extract a resource

peat swamp forest

type of moist forest that forms deposits of carbon rich peat

conservation concession

a conservation organization purchases the right to prevent resource extraction in an area

debt for nature swap

a conservation organization pays off a portion of a developing nations international debt in exchange for the nations promise to set aside reserves, fund enviornmental education, and better managa protected areas

resource management

the use of strategic decision to find how to extract resources so that resources are used wisely and conserved

maximum sustainable yield

the max harvest of a particular renewable natural resource that can be accomplised while still keeping the resource available for the future

ecosystem based management

attempt to manage the harvesting of resources in a way that minimizes impact on the ecosystem

Adaptive management

the systematic testing of different management appraoches to imporve methods over time

national forests

an area of forested public land managed by the US forest service

even aged vs uneven aged

even aged stands have trees that were all planted at the same time while uneven age stands have trees of all different ages

rotation time

the time before all trees are cut

clear cutting

cutting all the trees in an area for timber

seed tree approach

approach that leaves small numbers of mature and vigourous seed producing trres standing so they can reseed the area

shelterwood appraoch

approach that leaves small numbers of mature trees in place to provide shelter for seedlings as they grow

selection systems

method where single trees (single tree cutting) or groups of trees (group cutting) are sleectively cut while others are left, creates an uneven age stand

multiple use policy

policy that national forests must be managed for recreation, wildlife habitat, mineral extraction, and other uses

national forest management act

mandated that plans for renewable resource management be drawn up for every national forest

new forestry

approaches for harvesting timber that explicitly mimics natural disturbances

wildland urban interface

a region where urban or suburban development meets forested or undeveloped lands

prescribed fire

burning areas of forest under carefully controlled conditions to to improve health of the ecosystem

health forests restorationa act

promotes prescribed fire, and the physcial removal of small trees, underbrush, and dead trees by timber companies

salvage logging

the removal of dead trees following a natural disturbance

sustainable forest ceritfication

a form of eco labeling that identifies timber products using sustainable methods

national parks

scenic area set aside for recreation and enjoyment by the public and managed by the National Park Service

the antiquities act

gave the US president authority to declare selected public lands as national monuments

the natinal wildlife refuge

area of public land set aside to serve as a haven for wildlife

wilderness act

allowed some areas of federal lands to be designated as wilderness areas(protected areas to preserve their wilderness factor for future generations)

land trusts

local/regional non profit organizations that preserves land valued by its members

the nature conservacy

the worlds largest land trust, finds the ecosystems in greatest need of protection

biosphere reserves

land with exceptional biodiversity that couples preservation with sustainable development to benefit locals