Untitled Flashcards Set

Anthropocene

A proposed new geological epoch marked by significant human impact on Earth.

Environmental Science

An interdisciplinary field that draws upon natural and social sciences as well as the humanities to understand the natural world and our relationship with it.

Vikings in Greenland

Settlers who disappeared due to unsustainable choices and environmental changes.

Sustainable Development

Development that meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Applied Science

Research whose findings are used to help solve practical problems.

Empirical Science

A scientific approach that investigates the natural world through systematic observation and experimentation.

Stakeholders

The individuals or organizations involved in or affected by an action or policy.

Biodiversity

The variety of species on Earth.

Ecological Footprint

The land area needed to provide resources for and assimilate waste of a person or population.

Biocentric worldview

A life-centered approach that views all life as having intrinsic value.

Ecocentric worldview

A system-centered view that values intact ecosystems, not just individual parts.

Environmental Literacy

A basic understanding of how ecosystems function and the impact of human choices on them.

Tragedy of the Commons

The tendency of individuals to abuse commonly-held resources for personal gain.

Renewable Energy

Energy from sources that are infinitely available or easily replenished.

Nonrenewable Resources

Resources whose supply is finite or depleted faster than they can be replenished.

Biomimicry

Using nature as a model for human design and innovation.

Social Traps

Decisions that appear beneficial in the short-term but have negative long-term consequences.

Critical Thinking

Skills that enable individuals to logically assess information and reach their own conclusions.

Scientific Method

The procedure scientists use to empirically test a hypothesis.

Hypothesis

An inference that proposes a possible explanation for observations based on previous knowledge.

Independent Variable

The variable in an experiment that is manipulated by the researcher.

Dependent Variable

The variable in an experiment that is measured to see if it changes due to experimental conditions.

Experimental Group

The group in an experiment that receives the treatment or intervention.

Control Group

The group in an experiment that does not receive the treatment, used for comparison.

Bycatch

Non-target animals caught during fishing operations.

Coral Reefs

Largest living structures on Earth, critical to ocean biodiversity.

Phytoplankton

Photosynthetic plant plankton producers that support aquatics food chains.

Zooplankton

Non-photosynthetic animal plankton that primarily consume phytoplankton.

Age Structure Diagrams

Illustrations that show the distribution of a population by age and gender.

Demographic Transition

A model that describes expected changes in population growth as economic conditions improve.

Carrying Capacity

The maximum population size an environment can sustainably support.

Zero-population Growth

A situation where birth rates equal death rates, stabilizing population size.

Evidence

Information that supports or counters a hypothesis or theory.

Environmental Ethics

Personal philosophy that influences one's interaction with the natural environment.

Global Population

More than 7.5 billion people inhabit the Earth today.

Influences on Sustainability

Dependence on local biodiversity and energy acquisition in natural ecosystems.

Mud Cores

Sediment samples used to study environmental changes, including soil erosion.

Little Ice Age

A period of significant temperature drops during which Viking society faced challenges.

Trade-offs

The compromises made when addressing complex environmental problems.

Information Literacy

Skills to evaluate the reliability of scientific information.

Primary Source

Original data or firsthand information; e.g., scientific journals.

Secondary Source

Interpretations or analyses of primary sources; e.g., newspapers.

Tertiary Source

Uses information from primary or secondary sources for synthesis and overview.

Logical Fallacies

Errors in reasoning that undermine the logic of an argument.

Ad Hominem

A fallacy that attacks the person making an argument rather than the argument itself.

Slippery Slope Argument

A fallacy suggesting that a minor action will lead to significant and undesirable consequences.

Empirical Observations

Information detected with the senses or through instruments extending those senses.

Correlation

A relationship between two variables where they occur together, but do not imply causation.

Cause-and-Effect Relationship

A direct correlation where one variable influences another.

Precautionary Principle

A strategy for approaching scientific uncertainty by prioritizing safety.

Fungal Disease Hypothesis

Two hypotheses proposed related to the cause of White-Nose Syndrome in bats.

Observational Study

Research that collects data in a natural setting without manipulation.

Experimental Study

Research that involves manipulation within a test group.

Statistics

The mathematical analysis of data to determine significance in observations.

Planetary Boundaries

Limits within which humanity can safely operate without destabilizing the Earth system.

Overfishing

The depletion of fish stocks due to excessive fishing practices.

Ocean Acidification

The reduction of ocean pH due to increased levels of carbon dioxide.

Marine Ecosystems Threats

Overfishing, waste disposal, ocean acidification, and mineral extraction.

Coral Polyps

Tiny marine animals that build coral reefs and live in symbiotic relationships with zooxanthellae.

Food Chain Levels

Producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, and tertiary consumers.

Top Down Control

Regulation of populations based on high-tier consumers or predators.

Bottom Up Control

Population regulation based on availability of primary producers.

Environmental Problems Complexity

Challenges due to multiple causes, stakeholder preferences, and trade-offs.

Living Sustainably

Creating minimal waste, using resources wisely, and ensuring renewal.

Environmental Stewardship

The responsible use and protection of the natural environment through conservation.

Natural Ecosystem Regulation

Natural ecosystems maintain sustainability through energy acquisition, matter use, and population control.

Bats and White-Nose Syndrome

A disease impacting bat populations, leading to dramatic declines.

Mud and Ice Core Evidence

Indicators of historical climate conditions and environmental changes affecting civilizations.

Holocene Epoch

The current geological epoch characterized by human impact.

Agricultural Revolution

Transition from nomadic hunting and gathering to settled farming societies, increasing human populations.