Environmental Science - Exam One

environment

biological and physical surroundings from which any living organism exists

environmental science

interdisciplinary field of research drawing on the natural and social sciences and the humanities in order to understand the natural world and our relationship to it

empirical science

a scientific approach investigating the natural world through systematic observation and experiementation

applied science

research whose findings help solve practical issues

environmental literacy

a basic understanding of how ecosystems function and of the impact our choices have on the environment

trade-offs

the imperfect and problematic responses that one must at times choose between when addressing complex problems

triple bottom line

combination of the environmental, social, and economic impacts of our choices

sustainable development

development that meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to live

anthropocene

newly proposed geologic epoch that is marked by modern human impact

sustainable

capable of being continued indefinitely

renewable energy

energy that comes from an infinitely available/easily replenished source

biodiversity

the variety of life on earth

nonrenewable source

a resource formed more slowly than it is used/is present in finite supply

social traps

decisions by individuals or groups that seem good at the time and produce short term benefit but that hurt society in the long run

tragedy of the commons

tendency of individuals to abuse common resources to maximize personal interest

environmental ethic

personal philosophy that influences how a person interacts with the natural environment and affects how one responds to environmental problems

anthropocentric worldview

human-centered view (utilitarian) assigning intrinsic value only to humans

biocentric worldview

life-centered approach viewing all life as having intrinsic value, regardless of its usefulness to humans

ecocentric worldview

system-centered view that values intact ecosystems

science

a body of knowledge (facts/explanations) about the natural world and the process used to get that knowledge

empirical observations

information detected with the senses or equipment extending our senses

scientific method

procedure used to empirically test hypotheses

influences

conclusions drawn based on observations

hypothesis

possible explanation for observations that is based on previous knowledge

experimental prediction

statement identifying what is expected to happen if the tested hypothesis is correct

peer review

process where researchers’ work is evaluated by outside experts to determine whether the quality is high enough to publish

theory

a widely accepted explanation that has been extensively tested

observational study

research gathering data in a real-world setting without intentionally manipulating variables

experimental studies

research manipulating a variable in a test group and compares the response to that of a control group not exposed to that variable

correlations

two things occurring together, but not having a cause-and-effect relationship

policy

a formalized plan addressing a desired goal or outcome

precautionary principle

acting in a way that leaves a safety margin when the data are uncertain/severe consequences are possible

information literacy

the ability to find/evaluate the quality of information

tertiary sources

information sources that uses information from at least one secondary source

media literacy

ability to evaluate digital information sources

logical fallacies

arguments attempting to sway the reader without reasonable evidence

critical thinking

skills that enable individuals to logically assess information, reflect on information, and reach my own conclusions

biosphere

where all living things are found (all ecosystems)

biome

one of the many distinctive types of ecosystems determined by climate and identified by predominant vegetation/organisms living there

ecosystem

all organisms in an environment and physical components (wind/rain/light)

biotic

living (organic) components in an ecosystem like plants, animals, and waste

abiotic

nonliving components in an ecosystem like rainfall and soil composition

population

individuals of a species that live together and can interact/interbreed

community

all the populations living together and interacting

matter cycles

biogeochemical cycles that are the movement of life’s essential chemicals/nutrients through an ecosystem

energy flow

one-way passage of energy through an ecosystem (enters as solar radiation and is passed or lost as heat)

sinks

abiotic/biotic components of the environment serving as a storage place for cycling nutrients

range of tolerance

range (with upper and lower limits) of a limiting factor that allows a species to survive and reproduce

limiting factor

resources/conditions that control survival, growth, and reproduction

photosynthesis

the chemical reaction performed by producers using the sun’s energy to convert CO2 and H2O into C6H12O6 and O2

producer

an organism that converts solar energy to chemical energy via photosynthesis

consumer

an organism obtaining energy and nutrients by feeding on another organism

carbon cycle

the movement of carbon through biotic and abiotic parts of an ecosystem via photosynthesis and cellular respiration as well as in and out of other reservoirs (ocean/rock/soil/atmosphere)

nitrogen cycle

a continuous series of natural processes by which nitrogen passes from the air to the soil to organisms, then back to the air or soil

nitrogen fixation

the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into a biologically usable form, carried out by bacteria in soil or by lightning

nitrification

conversion of ammonia (NH3) to nitrate (NO3-)

denitrification

conversion of nitrate (NO3-) to N2

phosphorus cycle

series of natural processes by which the phosphorus moves from rock to soil or water to living organisms and back to the soil

community ecology

the study of all the populations (plants/animals) living and interacting in an area

habitat

the physical environment in which individuals of a particular species can be found

niche

role of a species in the community (how they get energy and nutrients, habitat requirements, and interactions with other species or the environment)

niche specialists

habitat and resources restrict where the organism can live

food chain

linear path starting with a photosynthetic organism (plant) that identifies what each organism in the path eats

food web

linkage of all food chains together to show the connections in a community

indicator species

species vulnerable to ecosystem perturbations, and that, if monitored, can provide an advance warning of an issue

trophic levels

feeding levels in a food chain

detritivores

consumers that eat dead organic material (worms, insects, crabs)

decomposers

organisms (bacteria and fungi) that break down organic matter to atoms/molecules that plants can take up

resilience

the ability of an ecosystem to recover when it is damaged or perturbed

species diversity

variety of species in an area (includes richness and evenness)

species richness

total number of different species in a community

species evenness

relative abundance of each species in a community

ecotones

regions of distinctly different physical areas that serve as boundaries between different communities

edge effects

change in species diversity occurring due to different conditions that attract/repel species at an ecotone

keystone species

species that impacts its community more than its abundance would predict (can alter ecosystems)

predation

species interacting where one individual (predator) feeds on another (prey)

competition

species interaction where individuals are vying for limited resources

resource partioning

use of different parts/aspects of a resource by different species instead of direct competition

symbiosis

close biological and ecological relationships between species

restorative ecology

the science dealing with repairing damaged or disturbed ecosystems

ecological succession

the progressive replacement of plant or animal species in a community over time due to the changing conditions of the plants themselves

primary succession

succession in an area with no prior ecosystem

secondary succession

occurs in a disturbed ecosystem that still has life

population growth rate

change in population size over time that takes into account the number of births and deaths as well as immigration/emigration numbers

zero population growth

absence of population growth; occurs when the birth rate and the death rate are equal

demographic factors

population characteristics like birth rate that influence changes in population size and composition

desired fertility

the ideal number of kids a woman wants to have

total fertility rate

the number of children the average woman has

pronatalist pressures

factors increasing the desire to have kids (cultural/religious/family)

childhood mortality rate

the number of kids under five who die per every 1000 live births in a single year

replacement fertility

the rate at which children must be born to replace the previous generation (2.1 per women to account for deaths and sterile women)

demographic transition

a theoretical model describing the expected drop in once-high population growth rates as ecological conditions improve the quality of life in a population (preindustrial, industrializing, mature industrial, and postindustrial)

carrying capacity

maximum population size the environment can support indefinitely; for humans, depends on resource availability and rate per capita resource use by the population

overpopulation

exceeding the carrying capacity

ecological footprint

land area needed to provide the resources for, and assimilate the waste of, a person or population

urban areas

densely populated regions that include cities and the suburbs surrounding them

urbanization

migration of people to large cities; sometimes defined as the growth of urban areas

carbon footprint

the amount of CO2 (and other greenhouse gases) released to the atmosphere by a person, company, nation, or activity

environmental justice

the concept that access to a clean, healthy environment is a basic human right

urban flight

the process of people leaving an inner city area to live in surrounding areas