Environment & Sustainability - Flashcards (Lecture Notes)

Question-and-answer flashcards covering key concepts from the notes, including definitions, models, processes, case studies (Lake Washington, Chesapeake Bay), policies, and sustainability.

What is the environment in ecological terms?

The environment is everything that surrounds a living organism.

What are the abiotic components of the environment? Provide examples.

Abiotic components are non-living elements such as air, water, soil, and rock.

What are the biotic components of the environment? Provide examples.

Biotic components are living organisms.

Differentiate between natural and built/artificial environments.

The environment often distinguishes between natural settings and those created or modified by humans (built/artificial).

Define ecology.

The study of how living things interact with their environment and with each other.

Name the three main categories of ecological services.

1) Supporting services, 2) Regulating services, and 3) Cultural services.

What are supporting ecological services? Provide examples.

Supporting services are necessary for the production of all other ecosystem services, e.g., primary production, soil formation, nutrient cycling.

What are regulating ecological services? Provide examples.

Regulating services are the benefits obtained from the regulation of ecosystem processes, e.g., climate regulation, pollination, flood control, water purification, oxygen production.

What are cultural ecological services? Provide examples.

Cultural services are the non-material benefits people obtain from ecosystems, e.g., aesthetics, education, recreation, spiritual value.

Define nonrenewable resources and provide examples.

Nonrenewable resources are finite resources that are depleted by use and cannot be replenished on human timescales, e.g., fossil fuels, minerals.

Define renewable resources and provide examples.

Renewable resources are resources that are replenished on short to medium timescales if not overexploited, e.g., solar energy, wind, forests, freshwater, soil.

Is a forest a renewable or nonrenewable resource, assuming it is sustainably managed?

Forests are renewable resources if not overexploited.

What is an ecological footprint?

The per-person demand on productive land and water to supply resources and absorb wastes.

How is an ecological footprint measured?

It is measured in hectares per person.

What is biocapacity?

The capacity of ecosystems to regenerate resources and absorb wastes.

What is considered a sustainable per-person share of biocapacity?

A sustainable per-person share is roughly 1.5 hectares.

What does 'overshoot' mean in global sustainability?

Overshoot occurs when humanity’s ecological footprint exceeds Earth’s biocapacity, meaning we are consuming resources faster than they can be renewed.

State the IPAT equation.

I = P \times A \times T

In the IPAT equation, what does 'I' represent?

'I' represents environmental impact.

In the IPAT equation, what does 'P' represent?

'P' represents population.

In the IPAT equation, what does 'A' represent?

'A' represents affluence or consumption per person.

In the IPAT equation, what does 'T' represent?

'T' represents technology.

What are the limitations of the IPAT equation?

It is a heuristic with limitations, not a precise predictor, and is sensitive to distribution and other factors.

What was the primary pollutant in the Lake Washington nutrient pollution case?

Phosphorus from sewage.

What ecological phenomenon did the phosphorus fuel in Lake Washington?

Cyanobacterial blooms.

When was phosphorus identified as the limiting nutrient in Lake Washington?

1955.

What organization was formed in 1958 to address the Lake Washington pollution?

Metro.

When were all effluent diverted from Lake Washington?

1968.

When did cyanobacteria decline in Lake Washington, and when was ecological health recovered?

Cyanobacteria declined in 1970, and ecological health recovered in 1975.

What later gains helped prevent pollution in Lake Washington after its recovery?

Later gains included phosphorus bans and pollution prevention measures.

What does NEPA stand for and what is its main purpose?

NEPA stands for the National Environmental Policy Act and it requires federal agencies to assess environmental impacts and involve the public.

What is an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)?

An EIS is a document that federal agencies must prepare for major actions significantly affecting the quality of the human environment.