Environmental Science

Theory

A collection of observations that fit together into a broader picture.

Biotic

Microorganisms, plants, fungi, algae, and animals.

Abiotic

Temperature, rainfall, air, water, rocks, soil, and human-built elements.

Environmental Science

The study of the relationship between humans and the rest of the natural world.

Science

What exists in the natural world

Technology

What can be changed in the natural world

Biodiversity

The number and relative abundance of a species in a given area.

Ecosystem

The living and nonliving components that interact in a given area.

Provisioning services

Providing food, fiber, fuels, fresh water, and medicines

Regulating services

Climate regulation, water purification, and pollination

Cultural services

Being of religious or spiritual value and aesthetic value and having recreational or educational use

Supporting services

Nutrient cycling, soil formation, and production of energy from sunlight

Sustainability

A movement with the goal of establishing interactions with the environment that can continue indefinitely.

Anthropocentrism

To be concerned with actions to improve the state of the environment for the well-being of humans

Biocentrism

To be concerned with actions to improve the state of the environment for the well-being of all living things

Ecocentrism

To be concerned with actions to improve the state of the environment for the environment itself, which includes humans

Ecology

The study of the distribution and abundance of organisms and their interactions with the living and nonliving parts of the environment.

Ecological Footprint

The amount of natural resources required to sustain an individual or a population.

Subsistence crops

Food products needed for human survival (rice, corn).

Cash crops

Nonfood products or crops that are not meant to meet our primary nutritional needs.

Arable Land

Land that can be used for growing crops.

Monoculture

Production of a single crop.

Agroecosystem

Land transformed for agricultural use.

Aquifer

Underground source of water.