Environmental Science- Chapter 1-3

This section is chapters 1-3

environmental science

The Study of humans interacting with living things (biotic) and non-living (abiotic)

Interdisciplinary

Cross Multi factors

full cost pricing

good services for consumption

biotic

• made out of cells

  • example; plants, humans, animals, bacteria.

abiotic

• Not made out of cells (not living) but can help improve the environment.

ecology

The study of living things and how they interact with their environment

organisms

living cells/things

species

A groups of organisms with unique traits that distinguishes them from other organisms

population

a group of individuals of he same species living and interacting in a specific geographic area.

community

where different species interact and living in a specific area/habitat.

ecosystem

A specific area, organism in that area, interact between each other and in their abiotic environment

environmentalism

Social movement towards protecting earth's life support for all living things.

natural capital

• things in the world that mean a lot to us

  • Natural Capital = Natural Resources + Ecosystem services

isotope

Atoms with the same number of protons and electrons but different numbers of Neutrons.

autotroph

Use energy/sunlight that make food/energy. self feeding

heterotroph

gets energy from chemical bonds of food molecules from their surroundings. Other feedings.

producer

Produce their own food by using energy form the sun.

consumer

Dependent on producers.

decomposer

breaks down and recycles organic material

Niche

Everything that interacts/effects a species survival, habitat, role, ecological relationship abiotic and biotic factors.

Habitat

The place/type of ecosystem in which the species lives

gross primary productivity

• rate that an ecosystem’s producers convert energy into biomass

• GPP

net primary productivity

• rate that producers use photosynthesis to produce and store chemical energy - the rate at which aerobic respiration uses energy

• NPP

• rate o photosynthesis - rate of respiration.

macroevolution

When so much genetic change has occurred over a long period of time that reproductive isolation has occurred and occurred new species are the results.

microevolution

A small change of genetic change that has a occurred in a short period of time in a population.

speciation

the process of generating new species.

Goals of environmental science

• learn how life on earth survives and thrives

• Understand how humans interact with the environment

• find solutions to deal with environment problems

Sustainability

The needs of the present without compromising the future generation needs.

3 Scientific principles of sustainability

1. Solar Energy

2. Biodiversity

3. Chemical Cycling

3 Social principles of sustainability

1. Economics → full cost pricing

2. Economy → Politics

3. Equity → Responsibility to future generations

Biodiversity

• Functional diversity

  • the energy flow between biological and chemical flow recycled in ecosystems.

• ecological diversity

  • terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems

• Genetic diversity

  • genetic material within in species or population

• species diversity

  • number and abundance of species in different communities.

Ecosystem services

A interdirect or directed benefits that human receive from health natural ecosystems.

Energy resources

• Inexhaustible (solar, wind, Geothermal)

• renewable (tress, topsoil, freshwater)

• nonrenewable (fossil fuels, Fe, Cu)

Ecological Footprint

the amount of land required to meet the needs for an individual/country

• example; electricity, food, transportation

Carbon Footprint

The amount of carbon is used for human activity by consuming, or doing activities.

IPAT environmental impact model

Impact = population x Affluence x technology

Positive vs negative Feedback loops

• Positive feedback

  • causes a system to change further in the same direction

• Negative feedback

  • causes a systems to change in the opposite direction from which it is moving.

3 Factors that sustain life:

• solar energy

• cycling of nutrients

• gravity

Photosynthesis and Aerobic Respiration

Carbon Cycle

Nutrient cycles: water, nitrogen, phosphorous, carbon cycles and major human impacts

4 Types of biodiversity

• Functional Diversity

• Genetic Diversity

• Ecological Diversity

• Species Diversiity

Evolution (theory, evidence, myths)

A change of the frequency of genetically determined characteristics within a population over time.

Natural selection

Individual whose traits are more favorable in their surroundings