Studied by 21 people
Technology
Application of scienfitif knowledge for practical purposes.
Benefits
Favorable effects of the solution
Costs/Risks
unfavorable effects of the solution
Research and Development
Scientists ask questions to learn about a phenomenon, and engineers design solutions to problems related to that phenomenon.
Engineering design process
An iterative method used to develop or improve technology.
Iterative
Repeating steps that are not always in a fixed order.
Criteria
A standard on which a solution can be based. (Wants)
Constraints
Limitations that a design or solution must stay within.
Tradeoff
Exchange for one thing in return for another.
Decision Matrix
A table that lists each criterion, their weight (importance), and how well a design idea meets that criteria.
Prototype
The first build of a design and may not built to scale or with the final materials.
Life cycle analysis
Attempts to evaluate the real cost of a new technology or design. Also considers environmental impact
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Method of identifying the strengths and weakness of a design.
Disturbance
Refers to anything that cause change to the environment. (Physical, chemical, biological agents)
Natural Disturbance
Disturbances caused by nature (fires, natural disasters).
Human-Caused disturbance
disturbances caused by humans (pollution, clearing forests, capturing wildlife.)
Flux
fluctuation; changes up and down.
Viability
Livability or survivability in an ecosystem
Resilience
The ability of an ecosystem to bounce back after a disturbance
Genetic Diversity
how much variation in DNA is among a group of species.
Resistance
The ability of an ecosystem to resit change caused by disturbances.
Ecological succession
A series of biotic changes that occurs on bare land to create a community.
Primary succession
When an ecosystem is created from bare rock.
Secondary Succession
When a ecosystem is developed on bare soil.
Population Density
How many individuals living in a given space.
Density
How much matter in a given space
Population Density formula
# of individuals/area of land (unit²)
Population Dispersion
how organisms separate themselves
Clumped Dispersion
A pattern of population dispersion that occurs where resources are spread unevenly (protection from predators+helps find mate)
Uniform Dispersion
A pattern of population dispersion that occurs when individuals compete for limited resources/territory
Random Dispersion
A pattern of population dispersion that is least common where individuals are spread randomly (plant seeds scattered by wind, water, animals)
Mark and Recapture
A method of measuring population size where you tag animals in an ecosystem and recapture them later to gather data
Quadrat Sampling
Uses grids to measure the population size in a given quadrant of land to serve as a sample which we can base off our calculation of the total population size
Exponential Growth
Rapid growth that increases between each interval (when ecosystem has plenty of resources)
Logistic growth
A period of rapid growth but eventually levels off. (when populations are running low on resources.)
Carrying Capacity
Maximum number of individuals that the environment can sustain and support.
Limiting Factors
Factors that can affect the carrying capacity.
Density-Dependent limiting factors
factors related to the population that effect carrying capacity (competition, predation, parasitism and disease).
Density-Independent limiting factors
Limiting factors outside of the population that effect carrying capacity (weather, natural disasters, human activities).
Systems
A set of interacting components or parts
Inputs
What goes into a system (energy, matter, information)
Outputs
What goes out of a system (energy, matter, information)
Opened system
Both inputs and outputs flow in and out freely (energy, matter, information)
Closed system
The flow of input and output is limited (only energy and information)
Isolated system
Inputs and outputs are contained
Feedback
A response from controls of a system to trigger the cycling of inputs and outputs.
Feedback Loop
Feedback becomes an input, which results in an output, and becomes a new input, and the cycle repeats.
Emergent Property
A property that a system has but that its component pasts do not have (big picture)
Geosphere
Part of the Earth that is ground/rock
Hydrosphere
Part of the Earth that is water
Biosphere
Part of the Earth that is living
Atmosphere
Part of the Earth that is air
Anthrosphere
Part of the Earth that is human-made
Levels of Ecosystems (small to big)
organism, population, community, ecosystem, biome, biosphere.
Terrestrial
Land based ecosystem
Aquatic
Water Based ecosystem (marine and freshwater)
Characteristics of living things
made of one or more cells
grow
reproduce
evolve
respond to environmental changes
maintain homeostasis
Homeostasis
Stable internal conditions
Habitat
Where the organism lives
Ecological Niche
How the organism lives in the environment (Food sources, Abiotic Factors, Behaviors)
Ecosystem
Collection of habitats
Predation
When one organism captures and eats another oganism
Competition
When organism compete for limited resources (food shelter, water)
Symbiosis
Relationships between different organisms
Mutualism (Symbiosis)
Both species benefit
Commensalism
One benefit and the other is neither harmed nor benefited
Parasitism
One benefits and the other is harmed
Biodiversity
The measure of the number of different species found in an area.
Biodiversity Hotspot
An area with high levels of biodiversity
Key Stone species
A single species of individuals that has a strong effect on an entire ecosystem.
Human activities that Affect Biodiversity
Clearing land
Growing food
building roads
pesticides
Introduction of new plants and animals
Note 
Flashcard (46)