SL1 ESS Midterm Flashcards
UNIT 1 - Foundations
Topic 1.1 - Perspectives
Perspectives
Perspectives are people’s views, shaped by beliefs, values, and assumptions
Environmental Value Systems (EVS): A person or group’s views on environmental issues
– Three ways we can examine EVS’s:
Ecocentric
Anthropocentric
Technocentric
Ecocentric: Prioritizes the environment and natural solutions
–Ex: Plant trees to reduce CO2
Anthropocentric: Prioritizes people and solutions that benefit humans
–Ex: Building more houses
Technocentric: Focuses on technology, inventing solutions to solve problems
–Ex: Robots to clean up pollution
Values
–Two ways people can value things
Intrinsic Value
Monetary Value
Intrinsic Value - Valued because we like it
Believing animals, plants, etc. should be protected because we like them
Think about why people come to Cape Cod for the summer
Monetary Value - Values for its price
People buying houses, stocks, etc. just to sell at a higher price later, even if they don't use them.
Environmental Movement
Environmental Movement - A political/cultural movement to focus on environmental issues, and how they connect to everything
Not one group, but many different groups with common goals
These groups, and people within the groups, don’t always agree
Topic 1.2: Systems
Models
A simplified representation of reality; it can be used to understand how a system works and to predict how it will respond to chance. Simplification of a model involves approximation and, therefore, a loss in accuracy
Models make predictions based on assumptions
Systems Approach
A system is any set of interacting or interdependent components (parts), organized to create a functional whole.
Systems:
Have parts- Storages
Have connections between those parts -Flows
Have a function or purpose and exhibit emergent properties
Birds keep a specific distance between each other when they fly. In a large system of many birds the emergent property is a Murmuration
Open systems - Energy and matter in and out
Closed systems - no matter in or out.
System Components
Flows - Flows are depicted as arrows with each arrow indicating the direction of the flow of energy or matter between storages.
Types of Flows
Transfers - change in location of energy or matter.
Think flowing water or wind blowing
Transformations - change in the chemical nature, state, or energy.
Think water freezing, solar energy into glucose via photosynthesis
Storages - Storages in a system diagram signify where energy or matter is held within the system, such as a lake for water, a forest for carbon, or a city for population
Matter and Energy
Matter
Solid, Liquid, Gas, Plasma
Energy
Heat, Kinetic, Electrical, Chemical, Light, Nuclear
Laws of thermodynamics apply to the physics of energy and matter
Thermo = Heat
Dynamis = Energy
1st Law: Energy and matter can’t be created or destroyed, only change forms
2nd law: in every transformation, some energy will always change into heat
(The 2nd law also explains that heat flows from warmer areas to colder areas)
Equilibrium in an ecosystem is a state of relative balance between organisms and their needs
In systems, it is an overall balance between inputs and outputs, maintaining a balance in storages too.
Non-Equilibrium - The quantity of things in a storage or system changes over time
The reservoir or system is considered ‘unstable’ or ‘unbalanced’ over time
How are complex ecosystems able to maintain equilibrium over time?
Through Feedback!!
Ecosystems exist in a stable equilibrium through stabilizing negative feedback loops
Ecosystems enter non-equilibrium through positive feedback loops that amplify disturbance
If they have too severe a disturbance they can hit a tipping point, where they transition to a new equilibrium state.
Negative feedback loops - occur when the output of a process inhibits or reverses the same process in such a way as to reduce change. They are stabilizing.
Atmospheric Heat: An increase in atmospheric head can increase in cloud cover, thus limiting solar absorption and reducing localized temperatures
Homeostasis: Body temperature increases, as the body starts sweating, heat is released through evaporation and the body temperature goes down again.
Predator Prey: As rabbit population increases it creates more food for foxes. Fox population increases, eats more rabbits Rabbit population declines, foxes don't have enough food, population decreases, Rabbits return. In other words a cycle of prey, populating in order for predators to feed, and as prey decreases, predators decrease, and prey increases, then predators increase, creating a cycle.
Positive Feedback Loops - occur when a disturbance leads to an amplification of that disturbance, destabilizing the system and driving it away from its equilibrium.
Permafrost: increased atmospheric warming causes the permafrost to thaw, releasing methane gas, a potent greenhouse gas this traps more what and causes greater warming
Atmospheric heat: atmospheric warming increases water vapor in the atmosphere, which contributes to the greenhouse effect and traps more heat in return.
Fruit ripening: Ethylene is produced by a ripening fruit, signaling other fruit to ripen, who also produce more ethylene, and signal more neighboring fruit to ripen.
Tipping Points:
Positive Feedback loops will tend to drive the system towards a tipping point
IPCC defines tipping points as “critical thresholds in a system that, when exceeded can lead to a significant change in the state of the system, often with an understanding that the change is irreversible”
Topic 1.3: Sustainability
Sustainability -The ability to continue an activity at a certain level or rate
IB Definition- Sustainability is a measure of the extent to which practices allow for the long term viability of the system
The responsible maintenance of socio-ecological systems such that conditions and resources are not diminished for future generations
Three Categories of Sustainability
Environmental
Social
Economic
Measuring Sustainability
Sustainability is based around factors like biodiversity, pollution, human population, climate change, and ecological footprints.
Ecological Footprint The amount of natural resources a person, group, or activity uses
Environmental Sustainability
The use and management of natural resources that allows replacement of resources, and recovery and regeneration of ecosystems.
4 Key Components
Conserving biodiversity
Pollution Control
Resource Management
Active Ecosystem Regeneration
Social Sustainability
Focuses on creating the structures and systems that support human well-being, such as health, education, equity and community.
5 Key Components
Healthcare Access \
Education Equity \
Equity and Inclusion – Support that creates happy people
Community Well-being /
Cultural Preservation /
Economic Sustainability
Focuses on creating the economic systems that enable the production and consumption of goods and services that support human needs into the future
4 Key Components
Resource Management
Equitable Development
Innovation and technology
Circular Economy
Tragedy of the Commons
Shared unregulated resources are often depleted due to individuals acting in their own self-interest, leading to a collective loss for everyone
Economic Sustainability Key Terms
Natural Resources
Sustainable Development
Ecosystem Services
Natural Capital
Commodity
Intrinsic Value
Natural Resources: Matter, energy or organism found in nature that has value to humans
Land: Soil, Rocks
Water: Fresh, Salt
Air: Wind
Sunlight
Plants and Animals
Sustainable Development Meets the needs of the present without compromising future generations
Ecosystem Services Free Benefits humans enjoy from a healthy ecosystem
Water filtration
Storm protection
Temperature moderation
Food
Pollination
Natural Capital: the world’s stock of nature assets: geology, soil, air, water, and all living things
Commodity A raw material that can be bought and sold
Intrinsic Value: The idea that something can have value on its own regardless of human usefulness.
Biodiversity: The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem
Without biodiversity natural resources are at risk. Natural resources are the foundations of an economic system
Sustainable Economies
Circular Economy: economic system that promotes sustainability
Planetary Boundaries and Donut Model: Economic models that identify and quantify key factors that affect our planet and society
Planetary Boundaries Model (PBM)
The Social Foundation
The inner boundary of the doughnut,
Shortfall in meeting humanity’s basic needs such as health, education, and access to clean water
The Ecological Ceiling
The outer boundary of the doughnut
Planetary boundaries or tipping points
Crossing the boundary leads to ecological overshoot risking severe environmental degradation
Linear Economy: A take-make-waste economic model that contributes to unsustainable resource extraction, environmental impact from pollution and greenhouse gas emissions and contributes to economic waste.
Capitalism - Economic system that expects and pursues infinite growth in a finite system (our planet). Positive feedback loop.
Regenerative economy- Resources are reused recycled, and restored
Keys
Work within the limits of the natural world
Advocate for a more circular economy
Distributive economy- Shared Economic prosperity among all members of society
Keys
Redistribute wealth and resources
Reduce excess consumption
Fair labor practices and equitable distribution of profits
Circular economy
3 Principles
Eliminate waste and pollution
Circulate products and materials
Regenerate nature
UNIT 2 - Ecology
Topic 2.1 Ecosystems
Ecosystems
What is an ecosystem?
Limiting factors
Habitats and Niches
Carrying capacity
Symbiosis
Species
Species: a group of organisms with common traits, and can breed to produce fertile offspring
Species names are latinized, and include genus
Two organisms can only produce fertile offspring when they are the same species
Fertile offspring – the kids can eventually have kids
Population: A group of the same species living in an area
Community: All populations of interacting species in an area
Ecosystem: A community of interacting species, plus the physical environment
Endemic Species: Native to one location
Keystone Species: Major influence over their environment
Flagship Species: Mascot for a cause
Hybrid Species: Mix of two closely-related species; cannot reproduce
Limiting Factors
Limiting Factors: Anything that limits a population‘s size or growth
2 Key factors of an environment-
Biotic Factor - Living
Predators
Food
Competition
Diseases
Abiotic Factor - Non-living
Temperature
Precipitation
Wind
Heat
Air Pressure
Habitats and Niches
Habitat: The area where a species lives
Niche: How a species lives, its role in relation to the ecosystem
Fundamental Niche: Potential niche with no threats or competition
Realized Niche: Actual Niche due to competition and threats
Habitats include shelters, nests, and food/water sources
Losing a species can disturb the ecosystem’s balance
Carrying Capacity Number of a species the ecosystem can support
Based on limiting factors, especially food and threats
Carry capacity changes when limiting factors change
If a population passes the carrying capacity, some of them will
Die from starvation predators, or a lack of habitats
Leave the ecosystem to find one that can support them
Population increases due to
Births
Immigration (moving in)
Population decreases due to
Deaths
Emigration (moving away)
Population change formula
–Birth - Death + Immigrate - Emigration
–B - D + I - E
Symbiosis
Symbiosis: Interaction between two living species
Mutualism: Both species Benefit
Commensalism: One species benefits, other is unaffected
Parasitism: One species benefits, other is hurt
Predator and prey are not parasitic because prey always die
Symbiosis is one part of a species’ niche
Losing one species may cause the other to struggle or die
Competition is not symbiosis, as both suffer
Topic 2.2 - Energy in Ecosystems
Energy In Ecosystems
Ecosystems are linked together by flows
Flow: One way movement in energy
-Our energy cant return to its source the sun
Key Energy Flows
Energy flows from the sun, drives all other flows on Earth
Humans are impacting energy flows both locally and globally
Insolation: The amount of energy from sunlight reaching the planet
Absorption: Surfaces absorbing heat from sunlight
Conduction: Absorbed heat radiating heat off of surfaces
Wind: Movement of air from areas of high pressure to low pressure
Photosynthesis: Plant converting energy from sunlight into glucose (sugar)
Consumption: Animals eating other organisms for energy
Respiration: Using oxygen to convert food into energy in cells
Isolation
Direct sunlight focuses more energy into a location, creating more heat
This makes it hotter during summer and at the equator
Earth heating unevenly creates wind as air pressure tires to balance out
Trophic Levels
Steps of a food chain in an ecosystem
Food Chain: A specific order of consumers eating food
Plants are at the bottom of all Food chain webs
Producer or Autotroph: Creates their own food
–Includes plants performing photosynthesis
Consumer or Heterotroph: Eats other life for food
–Includes animals eating plants or other animals
Decomposer or Detritivore: Eats and breaks down dead things and wastes
–Includes fungi, bacteria, some animals
Top of the food Chain: Apex Predator
Decomposers eat dead things from any levels
This helps recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem
10% Rule: About 10% of energy goes back into the ecosystem
The other 90% is lost as heat or used to grow the food
This energy loss means fewer consumers can survive each level
Productivity
Productivity: The amount of solar energy captured by producers
Biomass: Total weight of living matter in an area
Primary Productivity: Amount of glucose a plant makes
Gross (GPP): Total energy captured
Net (NPP): Energy left after respiration losses
Respiration (R): Energy used within cells (breathing)
GPP - R = NPP
Secondary Productivity (SP): Energy taken in by consumers
Gross (GSP) Food eaten minus fecal losses
Net (NSP: energy let after respiration losses
Respiration(R) energy used within cells
FE - FL - R = NSP
Ecological Pyramids
Pyramid of Numbers: Measures total pop. of organisms
Pyramid of Biomass: Measures biomass of organisms
Pyramid of Energy: Measures energy usage of energy
Bioaccumulation
Some persistent pollutants in the environment can build up inside wildlife
Biomagnification: Increase of a pollutant in a food chain
Concentrations of bioaccumulated pollutants build up faster than a species can metabolize or remove them
Biomagnification is more significant for species higher on the food chain
Topic 2.3 - Biogeochemical Cycles
Matter cycles around the planet, providing needed elements for life
Earth’s atmosphere, oceans, and lands are connected by these cycles
Main Biogeochemical Cycles
Water Cycle
Carbon Cycle
Nitrogen Cycle
Water (H2O Cycles)
Major Transfers
Evaporation (water bodies into vapor
Condensation (vapor into clouds)
Precipitation (rain into water bodies
Transpiration (plants’ “sweat”)
Role
Regulates Earth’s Temperature
Needed for all life functions
Carbon (C) Cycle
Major Transfers
Photosynthesis (CO2 into plants)
Decomposition (Waste into the ground)
Combustion (burning releases CO2)
Respiration (food into CO2)
Roles
Keeps Earth Warm (Sometimes a little too warm)
Main element for life
Nitrogen (N) Cycle
Major Transfers
Nitrogen Fixing (N from air into soil)
Ammonification (waste N into soil)
Assimilation (Plants get N from soil)
Denitrification (bacteria put N into air)
Roles
Main Nutrient for plant growth
Key element in protein
– N forms the amino group in essential amino acids
Water, carbon, and nitrogen are the most essential for life
Earth, uniquely has large amounts of these plus stable temperatures
Making it a Goldilocks zone!!!
Human Activities can potentially alter these cycles. Disruption of these cycles can impact ecosystems all over the planet
Other elemental and matter cycles include oxygen rocks and minerals
Fossil Fuels
Fossil Fuels consist of oil, natural gas, and coal, which power human activities
Primary uses for fossil fuels are electricity, vehicles, and heating
Formed over millions of years from dead plants buried underground
Largest amounts in US, Russia, China, Brazil, Canada and the Middle East
Oil- Liquid
Gasoline for cars, plastics, power plants
Energy 38%
Nat. Gas - Gas
Main uses heating homes and other buildings, power plants
Energy 24%
Coal - Solid
Main uses
Power plants, making steel
Energy 24%
Burning Fossil Fuels increases CO2 in the air, increasing Earth’s temperatures
CO2 absorbs heat like a blanket for Earth
(CO2 = Carbon dioxide)
(O3 = OZONE, incase you need to know that)
Humans have been rapidly increasing fossil fuel use since the 1800s - Industrial Revolution
This is due to increases in human populations and energy demands
Global warming: Permanent increase in Earth’s average temperature
North Pole hotter because no land mass, South Pole colder because Antarctica there
Albedo effect: Surface like ice, sun hit ice, ice make 90% of the heat energy bounce off, keeps 10% of it, high effect, Black top absorbs 90% bounce 10% away low effect
Temperatures have been breaking new record highs in recent years (yikes)
Change of 1* C, yes ONE degree, Celsius, can cause major impacts to Earth’s cycles
+41% - increase in area burned by wildfires in average Mediterranean summer +1.5*C
+62% - increase in area burned by wildfires in average Mediterranean summer +2*C
+97% - increase in area burned by wildfires in average Mediterranean summer +3*C
Climate Change: New long-term weather patterns
Hotter summers unusual winters, more and stronger hurricanes
Burning fossil fuels also releases pollutants like mercury and sulfur
(What disease did Mercury cause? MAD HATTER DISEASE! YIKES)
Reducing Fossil Fuel Use
Many countries have goals to reduce fossil fuel use, but are held back by economic demands and political options
The Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement are two major international goals
Renewable energy and reducing electricity use are key strategies
Topic 2.4: Climates and Biomes
Defining climate and biome
Types of biomes
Where to find different biomes
Conditions in biomes
Climate is driven by precipitation and temperature,,
Weather: Short-term air conditions, like temperature, humidity, and wind.
Climate: Long-term weather patterns in an area
Biome: A group of ecosystems with similar climates
Distribution of Biomes
Latitude affects the distribution of biomes on Earth
Tropical: Close to the equator, with HIGH insolation and temperatures
Temperate: Between the equator and poles, hot summers and cold winters (Not too far yet not too close)
Boreal/Arctic/Polar: Near or at the poles, low insolation and temps
Insolation: Amount of energy from sunlight
Insolation (Sunlight) drives temperatures and productivity (plant growth)
Precipitation (Rain) is also needed for plant growth and photosynthesis
Rainforests have highest productivity due to more sunlight and water
Deserts have lowest productivity due to no water despite high sunlight
Temperatures determine what species can survive, especially plants
Humid Areas have stable temps, while dry areas have extreme temps
Few species can survive the extreme temps in deserts & boreal biomes
In temperate biomes, species can adapt to seasons, or migrate
Plants help conserve water and balance temps, which stabilizes the biome
Areas that are losing water & plantlife may shift into a new biome
Example: Grasslands dying, gradually becoming a desert
Climate Change/Global warming (from burning fossil fuels) & human actions like deforestation are permanently, changing biomes worldwide
Biomes
Aquatic (Water-based) Biomes: Freshwater (Ponds) and Marine (seas)
Terrestrial (Land-based) Biomes: Forests, Grasslands, Deserts, Tundra
Forest Biomes
Dominated by trees
Rainforest
– Conditions: Hot, Humid, high biodiversity
– Example: The Amazon
Temperate Forest
– Conditions: Seasonal, Mixed Trees
– Example: New England
Boreal Forest/Taiga
– Conditions: Cold, Snowy, evergreens
– Example: Canada
Grassland Biomes
Savannah
Conditions: Hot, season-based rain
Example: Kenya
Temperate/Prairie
Conditions: Seasonal-temps and rain
Example: Kansas
Desert Biomes
Hot Desert
Conditions: Extremely dry and Hot
Example: Arizona
Coastal Desert
Conditions: Dry, seasonal temp, on coasts
Example: Chile
Tundra Biomes
Arctic Tundra
Conditions: Cold from limited sun
Example: Greenland
Alpine Tundra
Conditions: Cold from high altitude
Example: The Alps
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Topic 2.5 Zonation & Succession
Zonation
Changes across a biome or ecosystem
Example: Different zones in the ocean based on depth
– Temp, pressure and light are key abiotic factors
Gradient: Gradual change of an abiotic factor, such as elevation or depth
Example: Change in ocean depth reducing light and temps,
–More Examples include mountain altitude, and tide range
Changing conditions across a gradient creates different communities
Transects: Line across a gradient for making measurements & observations
Measuring Abiotic factors
Ex: Temperature up a mountain
Counting numbers of wildlife
Ex: Animals along a beach
Kite Diagram: Shows populations in a transect
Wider sections show higher pop of a species
Succession
Long term change from barren land to a stable community
Primary Succession: Pioneer plants develop soil on bare rock, allowing other plants to grow
Lichen growing on rock, creating soil for other plants
Secondary Succession: Cleared soil where plants can begin growing immediately
New plants growing on soil after a forest fire
Pioneer Community: Beginning of succession, earliest plants/fungi set root
Mosses and Lichen growing on rock
Climax Community: End of succession with a stable environment
A fully grown forest
As Pioneer plants die, they decompose and form a soil layer for more plants
As the community grows, more soil is formed and nutrients are added
Plants can compete for sunlight based on height, especially in forests
Tall trees can block sunlight for shorter plants, limiting their growth
Clearing tall trees can allow smaller/younger plants to thrive