Unit 2 Environmental Test

climate

long-term average temperature and precipitation in a region

weather

short-term fluctuations in temperature and precipitation

biome

major ecosystem classified by vegetation and organism adaptations

temperature and latitude

temperature decreases as latitude increases

driest latitude

30° North and South

regional climate factors

latitude, sunlight incidence, air circulation, precipitation patterns, topography

tropics

region between Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn

temperate deciduous forest

trees lose leaves in fall, moderate temp, moist, 4 seasons, stable precipitation

temperate grassland

grasses, moderate temp, 4 seasons, sparse but stable precipitation

temperate rainforest

evergreen trees, cooler but very rainy and humid

tropical rainforest

broadleaf evergreens, warm and wet year-round, high biodiversity, poor soil

tropical dry forest

trees lose leaves in dry season, distinct wet/dry seasons, little temp change

savanna

grassland with scattered trees, warm year-round, distinct wet/dry seasons

desert

drought-tolerant plants like cacti, dry, temperature varies widely day/night, around 30°

boreal forest

coniferous evergreens, cold climate, long winters, short wet summers

tundra

mosses, lichens, dwarf shrubs, very cold and dry, low biodiversity

chaparral

fire-adapted shrubs, dry summers, mild wet winters, frequent fires

land use change

human alteration of natural landscapes for other uses

main cause of extinction

habitat loss

largest threat to Amazon

cattle ranching

top cause of tropical deforestation

palm oil

most common land development

agriculture

biomes with most land change

tropical rainforests

Brazil land use

cattle ranching

Borneo land use

palm oil plantations

Midwest USA land use

corn, soybeans, hay, grazing land

South American savannas

soy plantations

corn use

mostly for livestock feed (more than ethanol)

soybeans use

livestock feed (protein source)

rich soil

high in organic matter (black in color)

acidic soil

low nutrient soil with pH < 7, common in rainforests

liming

adding base to acidic soil to neutralize pH and restore nutrients

public policy

government action to promote societal welfare

environmental policy

laws/regulations about human interaction with the environment

manifest destiny

belief that Americans were divinely destined to expand and use land

focus of 1st wave

settlement and resource extraction 1780-1860

key acts in 1st wave

Homestead Act, Mining Act, Timber Culture Act

focus of 2nd wave

conservation and wise use of land (1870-1950)

Gifford Pinchot

advocated for regulated, sustainable resource use, head of US Forest Service

John Muir

advocated for preserving nature in pristine state, founder of Sierra Club

first national park

Yellowstone (1872)

national forest

allows regulated use with permits

Fish and Wildlife & BLM

manage public lands and issue permits for grazing

focus of 3rd wave

fighting pollution and protecting health (1960s-to present)

Rachel Carson

author of Silent Spring, warned about DDT's environmental effects

EPA

Environmental Protection Agency formed in 1970 to regulate pollution and protect health

tort law

allows lawsuits for harm even without environmental laws in place

how a law is made

bill passed by both houses of Congress, signed by president or veto override

cap and trade

pollution cap system with tradable credits

subsidy

government payment to keep commodity prices low

green/carbon tax

tax on pollution to encourage cleaner behavior

command-and-control policy

law limiting certain activities with enforcement

pros of regulation

prevents resource loss, promotes innovation, protects health, lowers future costs

cons of regulation

expensive, inconvenient, slows some industries, global competition disadvantage

tragedy of the commons

individuals overusing shared resources for personal gain, harming all

lobbying

trying to influence politicians, with or without financial incentive

earmarks

specific funding additions to legislation for certain projects/places

Democrats' stance

support environmental regulation and public land management

Republicans' stance

support deregulation and privatizing public land

supreme court lean

currently majority republican

toxicology

study of harmful effects of chemicals on organisms

environmental toxicology

study of toxins from or entering the environment

toxin

substance that causes injury or death, natural or man-made

direct exposure

contact via breathing, eating, or touching

bioaccumulation

toxins build up in an organism over time

indirect exposure

contact through food or water

biomagnification

toxin concentration increases up the food chain

acute exposure

intense short-term exposure

chronic exposure

long-term, repeated exposure

broad spectrum toxins

affect all organisms, not just targets

most sensitive organ to air pollution

lungs

mutagens

cause DNA mutations that can lead to cancer or birth defects

carcinogens

substances that cause cancer

teratogens

cause birth defects

neurotoxins

affect the nervous system

endocrine disruptors

mimic or interfere with hormone function

herbicide

pesticide that kills plants

insecticide

pesticide that kills insects

pros of pesticides

increase crop yield

cons of pesticides

harm non-target species, health risks, resistance develops

round-up ready crops

genetically engineered to survive herbicide glyphosate

pesticide resistance

pests evolve to survive chemical treatments

GMO crop use in USA

mostly for pesticide tolerance

USDA organic

no GMOs, no synthetic pesticides/fertilizers, 3 years of clean soil required