ENVI 101

Environmental Science

Study of the natural and built world and human interactions with the environment

Ecosystem Services

Benefits provided by ecosystems, such as resource provision and biodiversity increase

Inherent Value

Value in something because it exists

Instrumental Value

Value because it is useful to someone

Stewardship

Caring for the environment and how it should be managed

Environmental Justice

Civil rights combined with environmental protection for a healthy environment for everyone

Preservationists

Believe land should be left untouched regardless of usefulness to humans

Conservationists

Believe land should be used wisely and scientifically for the benefit of humans

Sustainable Development

Meeting present needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet their own needs

Tragedy of the Commons

Overuse of resources due to people's selfishness and lack of consideration for others

Property Rights

Establishing ownership to combat the tragedy of the commons

Regulation

Imposing rules and restrictions to combat the tragedy of the commons

Natural Experiment

Observing phenomena in its natural state

Manipulative Experiment

Changing variables as a researcher to observe the effects

Data

Information or measurements collected

Sample Size

Number of observations in a study

Sum

Total of measurements

Mean

Average of measurements

Standard Deviation

Measure of how much measurements deviate from the average

Scatterplot

Graph showing relationships between factors

Line Graph

Graph showing trends over time

Scientific Theory

Well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world

Reliable Science

Science that is trustworthy and based on rigorous research

Peer Review

Process where experts evaluate the quality and validity of scientific research

Matter

Anything that has mass and takes up space

Element

Substance that cannot be broken down into other substances by chemical reactions

Atom

Smallest unit of an element

Atomic Number

Total number of protons in an atom

Mass Number

Total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus

Isotopes

Forms of an element with different numbers of neutrons

Molecules

Two or more atoms joined by chemical bonds

Organic Molecules

Carbon-based molecules

Ions

Atoms or molecules that are electrically charged

Carbohydrates

Sugars that provide energy and serve as building blocks

Proteins

Molecules that provide structure and perform functions in cells

Lipids

Fats that are hydrophobic and serve various functions

Nucleic Acids

Molecules that store information and provide instructions for building proteins

Energy

The ability to do work

Kinetic Energy

Energy in motion

Potential Energy

Stored energy

First Law of Thermodynamics

Energy is conserved, it cannot be created or destroyed

Energy Efficiency

Measure of how much useful work is obtained from each unit of energy input

Trophic Levels

Positions in a food chain or web

Primary Consumers

Herbivores that eat plants

Secondary Consumers

Carnivores that eat herbivores

Tertiary Consumers

Carnivores that eat other carnivores

Primary Producers

Autotrophs that convert sunlight into energy

Scavengers

Animals that feed on dead organisms

Detritivores

Organisms that feed on decomposing organic matter

Decomposers

Organisms that break down dead organic matter

Evolution

Process of genetic change in populations over time

Natural Selection

Process where individuals with favorable traits are more likely to survive and reproduce

Charles Darwin

Scientist who proposed the theory of evolution through natural selection

Population

Group of individuals of the same species in a specific time and place

Genetic Diversity

Variety of genes within a population or species

Coevolution

Simultaneous evolution of two or more species

Predator Defenses

Adaptations that help prey avoid being eaten

Keystone Species

Species with a large impact on the ecosystem

Ecosystem Engineers

Species that change physical habitats and create new habitats for other species

Species Diversity

Variety of species in an ecosystem

Primary Productivity

Rate of biomass production through photosynthesis

Grasses

Plants with photosynthetic tissue and minimal energy requirements for support

Shrubs

Plants with multiple woody stems and a height under 4m

Trees

Plants that invest more resources in stems and supporting structures, taller and access more light

Biomes

Large-scale ecosystems characterized by distinct climate and vegetation

Tropical Rainforest

High rainfall and temperatures, diverse plant and animal life

Tropical Seasonal Forests

Rainy and dry seasons, trees lose leaves during drought

Tropical Savannas and Grasslands

Minimal rainfall, grasses and some trees and shrubs, adapted to drought

Deserts

Rare precipitation, extreme heat and cold, plants and animals adapted to arid conditions

Temperate Grasslands

Grass-dominated areas with no extreme conditions

Temperate Shrublands

Shrubs adapted to hot/dry summers and cooler/wetter winters

Temperate Forests

Deciduous or coniferous forests with moderate rainfall

Boreal Forests

Conifer-dominated forests in colder regions

Arctic Tundra

Cold and dry, high latitudes

Alpine Tundra

Cold and dry, high mountains

Ecological Succession

Gradual change in species composition over time

Primary Succession

Succession in an area with no previous biotic community

Secondary Succession

Succession in an area that previously had life

Density Dependent Factors

Factors that affect population size based on density, such as competition and predation

Density Independent Factors

Factors that affect population size regardless of density, such as temperature and habitat destruction

R-strategists

Species that produce many offspring with few resources invested in each

K-strategists

Species that produce few offspring with significant resources invested in each

Risk

Possibility of suffering harm or loss

Risk Assessment

Process of estimating the threat that hazards pose to human health

Precautionary Principle

Policy approach that emphasizes caution in the face of uncertainty and potential harm

Population Change

Difference between birth rate and death rate, plus or minus net migration

Fertility

Average number of children born to women of childbearing age

Demographic Transition

Hypothesis that societies transition from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates as they industrialize

Life Expectancy

Average number of years a person can be expected to live

Age Structure Diagram

Graph showing the distribution of age groups in a population

Infant Mortality Rate

Number of infant deaths per 1,000 live births

Environmental Health

External factors that cause disease and impact human health

Zoonotic Diseases

Diseases that jump from animals to humans

Antibiotic Resistance

Ability of bacteria to resist the effects of antibiotics

Environmental Toxicology

Study of toxic substances and their effects on living organisms and ecosystems

Exposure

Contact with a toxic substance

Response

Symptoms or effects resulting from exposure to a toxic substance

Bioaccumulation

Increase in the concentration of contaminants in the tissues of organisms

Biomagnification

Increase in the concentration of contaminants at higher trophic levels

Toxicity

Degree to which a substance can harm living organisms