Population, Pollution, and Climate Change

Flashcards about population dynamics, resource depletion, and climate change.

How do births affect population size?

More births increase population size.

How do deaths affect population size?

More deaths decrease population size.

What is immigration?

Arrival of new individuals from other populations, which increases population size.

What is emigration?

Loss of individuals to other populations, which decreases population size.

What is birth rate?

The number of births for a specific number of individuals in a specific time.

What is death rate?

The number of deaths for a specific number of individuals in a specific time.

What is growth rate?

The difference between birth rates and death rates.

What are the typical age categories used to classify populations?

Pre-reproductive, reproductive, and post-reproductive.

Why are age categories classified this way?

Only individuals in the reproductive group contribute to population growth (births).

What is carrying capacity (K)?

The number of individuals that the environment can support.

What is exponential growth?

Unrestricted growth at a constant rate, requiring adequate resources, resulting in a J-shaped curve.

What is logistic growth?

Growth that slows near the carrying capacity (K), resulting in an S-shaped curve.

What is a density-dependent factor?

Events that affect population growth more intensely as population gets larger.

What is a density-independent factor?

Events that affect population growth and are not related to population size.

What does ecological footprint measure?

The amount of resources (particularly land and water) needed to support a person’s lifestyle.

What human activities contribute to desertification?

Grazing and farming increase soil erosion and transform land into deserts.

What is deforestation?

Trees being removed at a higher rate than they are replaced, particularly in the tropics.

What is overfishing?

Depletes fish populations.

What is the tragedy of the commons?

When resources are shared, they become easy to exploit, leading to overexploitation and depletion for everyone.

What are common pollutants found in surface water?

Heavy metals, fertilizers, oil spills, pesticides, plastic, etc.

How is groundwater typically polluted?

Leaking tanks (septic, fuel, etc), landfill leakage, oil spills, etc.

Why is ozone important in the atmosphere?

Blocks UV radiation from the sun.

What are CFCs?

Chlorofluorocarbons, major culprits of ozone breakdown.

What is climate?

Mean temperature, rain/snowfall, humidity, etc. for a region over a long period.

What is climate change?

Changes in the weather patterns over years and years.

What are greenhouse gases?

Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, causing the “greenhouse effect.”

List examples of greenhouse gases.

Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, CFCs.

What are some effects of global warming?

Melting ice caps à rising sea levels, changing weather patterns, effects on human health.

What are ways to preserve the planet?

Changes in transportation, water use, single-use plastic consumption, shopping local, and more accountability for corporations & governments plus enacting laws & agencies to protect biodiversity.