APES Unit 1-2 key terms

ecology

the study of interactions among organisms and their environment.

organism

any living thing, including animals, plants, fungi, and microorganisms, that interacts with its environment.

species

a group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring.

ecosystem

a community of living organisms and their physical environment interacting as a system.

sustainability scientific principles

1. Solar energy

2. Biodiversity

3. Chemical Cycling

Natural Capital

the world's stocks of natural assets including geology, soil, air, water, and all living things.

natural resources

the resources that exist in the environment and are utilized by humans to meet their needs, including renewable and nonrenewable resources.

inexhaustible resources

resources that are virtually unlimited and cannot be depleted, such as solar energy and wind.

renewable resources

resources that can be replenished naturally over time, such as forests, fish, and clean water.

nonrenewable resources

resources that are finite and cannot be replaced once they are consumed, such as fossil fuels and minerals.

ecosystem services

benefits provided by ecosystems to humans, including clean air, water purification, and pollination.

full-cost pricing

include environmental and health costs in market prices

win-win solutions

use cooperation and compromise to help people and the environment

responsibility to future generations

The principle that current actions should not compromise the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, emphasizing sustainability and ethical considerations in resource use.

natural capital

the world s stocks of natural assets including geology, soil, air, water, and all living things.

more-developed countries

industrialized, high average income, about 17% of the world’s population in the book’s data, generally uses more resources per person

less-developed countries

about 83% of the global population, includes moderately developed and least-developed countries, generally uses lower resource per person, but their populations grow faster. These countries often face challenges such as poverty and limited access to education and healthcare, impacting their sustainable development.

environmental degradation

the deterioration of the environment through depletion of resources, destruction of ecosystems, and loss of biodiversity.

pollution

the introduction of harmful substances or products into the environment, leading to adverse effects on ecosystems and human health. Through chemicals, noise, heat, or other agents at levels harmful to organisms or their activities.

pollution-point source

pollution that originates from a single identifiable source, such as a factory or sewage treatment plant, making it easier to regulate and manage.

pollution--nonpoint source

pollution that comes from multiple, diffuse sources, making it more challenging to control and manage. Examples include agricultural runoff and urban stormwater.

pollution cleanup / output control

the processes and measures taken to remove or reduce pollutants from the environment after their production, aimed at restoring ecosystems and minimizing health risks. (cleaning an oil spill, installing smokestack filters)

pollution prevention / input control

Prevents pollution from being created. (replacing a toxic chemical/ improving energy efficiency/ redesigning manufacturing)

What is better: prevention or cleanup?

Prevention is better because cleanup is temporary and costs more, and may also transfer pollution elsewhere. Moreover, cleanup only happens when environmental damage has already been made, whereas prevention makes sure it is not made. Prevention reduces the need for cleanup and protects ecosystems before harm occurs.

open-access resources

Natural resources that are not owned by anyone and can be accessed by all individuals without restriction, leading to potential overuse and depletion. (atmosphere, open ocean, migratory fish, shared groundwater)

Tragedy of the commons

A phenomenon where individual users, acting independently according to their self-interest, deplete shared resources, leading to long-term environmental degradation and scarcity.

Possible solutions to tragedy of the commons

Government regulation, agreements to limit use, user fees or taxes, private ownership in suitable cases.

Ecological footprints

Amount of biologically productive land and water needed to supply a person or population with resources and absorb waste.

per capita ecological footprint

average amount of waste each person in a population makes

biocapacity / biological capacity

ecosystem ability to regenerate resources and absorb wastes

ecological deficit

when the ecological footprint made by humans is great than the biological capacity for the earth to regenerate resources and absorb waste.

ecological credit or reserve

when the biological capacity of the earth regenerating resources and absorbing waste is greater than the waste footprint generated by humans.

Affluence

wealth or resource consumption per person, leading to more usage of energy and materials, more waste production, larger capita footprints. Affluence also can create better education, conservation funding, cleaner technologies, and stronger controls in pollution.

IPAT model