Intro to ecology

environment

all living things and nonliving things with which organisms interact.

ecological footprint

the effects of an individual or population in terms of land and water required for everything they need or use

natural resource

materials and energy sources found in nature

nonrenewable resource

resources that are naturally formed but at a much slower rate than they are used

fossil fuel

a nonrenewable resource, specifically coal, oil, or natural gas.

environmental science

study of how the natural world works

hypothesis

a tentative explanation for an observation that can be tested

independent variable

the variable the scientist manipulates

data

information collected that is used for studying or analyzing

theory

a statement that describes a scientific concept that is supported by repeated testing and lots of data

sustainable

a resource that can continue to be used at the same rate into the foreseeable future.

renewable resource

resources that are naturally replenished over short periods of time

exponential population growth

population continues rapid growth without limiting factors

environmentalism

social movement dedicated to protecting the natural world

prediction

specific statements about what we expect to observe

dependent variable

the variable that is measured in the study

controlled study

study where all variables are controlled except one.

peer review

formal way for researcher to get comments and criticisms from science community

ethics

branch of philosophy that involves the study of behavior, both good and bad

environmental ethics

application of ethical standards to relationships between humans and the environment

bias

introducing opinion, interpretation, or expectations to scientific ideas

tragedy of the commons

situation where resources that are available to everyone are used unsustainably and eventually become depleted

economics

the study of how resources are used and distributed

environmental policy

a set of general plans and principles for interactions between humans and the environment

National Environmental Policy Act

requires the evaluation of environmental impact of a project before work begins

Environmental Protection Agency

monitors and researches environmental quality and enforces environmental laws

Clean Water Act

set enforceable water quality standards, established systems to control water pollution, and provided assistance to establish wastewater treatment plans

National Park Service Act

preserves the natural beauty and historical significance of protected areas by restoring ecosystems, conserving wildlife, and educating visitors about these areas

CERCLA

the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act – established a fund to address hazardous waste sites in the United States, established rules for identifying responsible parties, and holding them accountable for cleanup

Endangered Species Act

protects species at risk of extinction and their habitats, provides guidelines for identifying endangered and threatened species, and develops solutions for recovering species

Clean Air Act

sets standards for harmful air pollutants and requires reduced emissions to improve air quality

biological hazards

viruses, bacteria, and other organisms that cause disease

social hazards

lifestyle choices that endanger health

chemical hazards

harmful artificial and natural chemicals in the environment

physical hazards

natural disasters and natural phenomena that can cause health problems

epidemiology

the study of disease in human populations

toxicology

the study of how poisonous substances affect an organism’s health

toxicity

a measure of how toxic a substance is

risk assessment

measures the probability of harm from a risk

pathogens

biological agents that cause disease

emerging disease

appearing for the first time or suddenly spreading rapidly in human populations

pollutant

something that is released into the environment that has some harmful impact on organisms

carcinogen

cancer-causing agent

mutagen

agent that can cause genetic mutations

teratogen

agent that causes harms to embryos and fetuses

neurotoxin

affects the nervous system of an organism

endocrine disruptor

interferes with an organism’s endocrine system

allergen

agent that activates the immune system

runoff

water that runs across the land before entering a stream or soaking into the ground

bioaccumulation

the buildup of toxic substances in the body of an organism

biomagnification

the increased concentration of toxic substances in organisms at higher levels on the food chain