Finals

What is environmental science?

Study of environment/ecosystems

Define ecology

Study of interactions between organisms and environment

Define ecosystem

Community of living and non-living things in an area

What is the formula to evaluate human impact on the environment?

I \= P x A x T

What does each letter in the formula I \= P x A x T stand for?

Impact, Population, Affluence, Technology

What is reliable science?

Science based on evidence and peer review

What is the peer review process?

Evaluation of scientific work by experts in the same field

Define atomic number

Number of protons in an atom's nucleus

Define mass number

Total number of protons and neutrons in an atom's nucleus

Define molecules

Two or more atoms chemically bonded together

Define organic molecules

Molecules containing carbon and hydrogen

Define trophic level

Position of an organism in a food chain

What are the different levels of the trophic level?

Producer, primary consumer, secondary consumer, tertiary consumer

What is NPP?

Net Primary Productivity - amount of energy available to primary consumers

Why do we see different levels of NPP across different ecosystems?

Different amounts of sunlight and water availability

What is geology?

Study of the earth's physical structure and substance

What are the three different zones of earth?

Core, mantle, crust

Why is the Great Salt Lake drying up?

Water diversion and climate change

What can be done to deal with water shortages in the Great Salt Lake area?

Water conservation and management

How do solar radiation, the tilt of the earth's axis and rotation of the earth on its axis influence regional climate and seasonal change?

By affecting the amount and angle of sunlight received by different regions

How do Hadley cells and air circulation impact climate across the globe?

By redistributing heat and moisture from the equator to the poles

What are the major processes for each of the three nutrient cycles we went over in lecture?

Water cycle, carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle

How do human actions impact nutrient cycles?

By altering the balance of nutrients in ecosystems

Define evolution

Change in the genetic makeup of a population over time

Define mutation

Change in the DNA sequence of a gene

Define natural selection

Process by which organisms with advantageous traits survive and reproduce more successfully

Define adaptive trait

Trait that increases an organism's chances of survival and reproduction

Define heritable trait

Trait that is passed down from parent to offspring

What is ecological succession?

Process by which an ecosystem changes over time

What are the two different types of ecological succession?

Primary and secondary succession

What is the Amazon rainforest's tipping point?

Point at which deforestation and climate change cause the rainforest to become a savanna

What are the major life zones?

Tundra, taiga, temperate deciduous forest, grassland, desert, tropical rainforest

What are the four zones specifically in open sea?

Intertidal, neritic, open ocean, benthic

What are some ecosystem services wetlands provide?

Flood control, water filtration, habitat for wildlife

What is a delta?

Landform at the mouth of a river where sediment is deposited

Why are our deltas sinking?

Human activities such as damming and levee construction

What are the different types of species interactions?

Competition, predation, mutualism, commensalism

What is the difference between surface fires and crown fires?

Surface fires burn ground vegetation, crown fires burn tree tops

How does nuclear power work?

Nuclear fission generates heat to produce steam to turn turbines

What is solar grazing?

Using livestock to maintain vegetation under solar panels

What does it mean to get energy from biomass?

Using organic matter to produce energy

What are CAFOs?

Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations

What is integrated pest management?

Using multiple methods to control pests

What is permaculture?

Sustainable agriculture design system

What are hydroponics systems?

Growing plants in nutrient-rich water

What are aquaponics systems?

Combining hydroponics and aquaculture

What is cultural carrying capacity?

Maximum number of people a culture can sustainably support

What are different factors that affect birth and fertility rates?

Access to healthcare, education, and contraception, religious beliefs, urbanization

What are the general trends and timescale with climate change?

Increasing temperatures over decades

What are different types of greenhouse gases and what do they do?

CO2, methane, nitrous oxide, water vapor trap heat in the atmosphere

What is the observed relationship between temperature and CO2 levels?

As CO2 levels increase, temperature increases

What are some of the big/broad statements that climate scientists are saying about climate change?

Human activity is causing rapid and dangerous climate change. mainly caused by burning of fossil fuel and deforestation.

What are some of the methods in which we can assess climate change?

ice cores, annual tree rings, real time CO2 measurement, pollen grains

What is some evidence of climate change?

Rising temperatures, melting ice, sea level rise.

How do scientists identify factors responsible for climate change?

By analyzing data and ruling out natural causes.

What is carbon footprint and its general categories?

Measure of carbon emissions from human activities; direct, indirect, and lifestyle.

What are international policy developments around climate change?

Paris Agreement, Kyoto Protocol, UNFCCC.

What are potential solutions to climate change?

clean energy tax credits, carbon tax, auto industry regulation, geoengineering

What are major threats to honeybees?

Pesticides, habitat loss, disease.

What is biological extinction and background extinction rate?

Extinction caused by human activity; 1,000 times higher than natural rate.

What are biodiversity hotspots and where are they found?

Regions with high biodiversity and threatened by human activity; tropical rainforest, coral reefs, wetlands.

What are definitions of endangered and threatened/vulnerable species?

endangered - few species that are close to extinction. eg kamer butterfly. threatened - has enough to survive in short term. eg

What is the Red List and who oversees it?

List of threatened species; International Union for Conservation of Nature.

What are common characteristics for endangered/extinct species?

Low reproductive rate, specialized niche, large body size, fixed migratory pattern

Why should we try to sustain wild species?

Ecological, economic, and ethical reasons.

What is De-extinction and Stewart Brand's argument?

Reviving extinct species; to restore ecosystems and right past wrongs.

How does habitat fragmentation impact extinction?

Reduces habitat size and connectivity, isolating populations.

How do invasive species impact extinction?

Outcompete native species, alter ecosystems; examples include zebra mussels and kudzu.

How is poaching related to extinction?

Illegal hunting of endangered species; example: rhino horn trade.

What are ways to delay/prevent extinction?

Habitat restoration, captive breeding, reducing human impact.

What is the difference between policies and politics?

Policies are rules, politics is the process of making them.

What is the policy lifecycle?

Agenda setting, policy formulation, adoption, implementation, evaluation.

What is environmental justice?

Fair treatment of all people regarding environmental issues.

What are examples of environmental justice issues?

Toxic waste sites, air pollution, access to clean water.

What is the precautionary principle in policy?

Acting to prevent harm even when scientific evidence is uncertain.

How are policies made?

Through a complex process involving multiple actors and institutions.

What are the three branches of government?

Executive, legislative, judicial.

What is NEPA?

National Environmental Policy Act

What is the general process of NEPA?

Environmental impact assessment

What are examples of some other environmental laws referring to the timeline given?

Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act

When was the first Earth Day?

April 22, 1970

What are some opponents and their reasoning for opposition to environmental laws?

Industry groups, cost concerns, job loss

What are examples we went over in class of some environmental NGOs and the work that they do?

Greenpeace, Sierra Club, World Wildlife Fund

What is the definition of economics - how are economic decisions determined?

Study of how people allocate resources

What are different types of capital we went over?

Natural, human, social, manufactured

What's the difference between neoclassical economics and ecological economics?

Market vs. sustainability focus

What are different ways to value natural resources, including nonuse values?

Market, replacement, travel cost, contingent valuation

Why turn natural capital into monetary values?

To incorporate into economic decision-making

What is the difference between market pricing and full pricing?

Market pricing doesn't account for externalities

What are other economic tools that can be used to address environmental issues? Be able to explain and give examples for each one.

Taxes, subsidies, cap and trade, green bonds

What did Dr. Gupta discuss related to Tragedy of the Commons?

Overuse of shared resources.

What research does Dr. Gupta do?

Environmental policy and governance.

What is the European Green New Deal?

A plan to make Europe carbon neutral.

How does Dr. Gupta discuss the U.S. and European Union in terms of climate leadership?

EU is leading, US is lagging.

What are environmental ethics and environmental worldviews?

Beliefs about how humans should interact with nature.

What are the different types of worldviews?

Anthropocentric, biocentric, ecocentric.

What are some critiques for these different types of worldviews?

Anthropocentric ignores non-human life, biocentric ignores human needs, ecocentric is too broad.

What are the different ways public lands are managed in the U.S.? How is this related to different worldviews?

Multiple use, preservation, conservation. Reflects different values and priorities.

What happened with Biosphere 2?

Failed experiment in creating a self-sustaining ecosystem.

What has been found in terms of the impact of being in nature on overall human well-being and our understanding/care for the environment?

Positive effects on mental and physical health, increased environmental awareness.