exploring env exam 2

Flashcard #1
Term: Population
Definition: A group of individuals of the same species living in a specific area.

Flashcard #2
Term: Population size
Definition: The total number of individuals in a population.

Flashcard #3
Term: Population density
Definition: Number of individuals per unit area.

Flashcard #4
Term: Population distribution
Definition: Pattern of spacing among individuals (clumped, uniform, or random).

Flashcard #5
Term: Sex ratio
Definition: The proportion of males to females in a population.

Flashcard #6
Term: Age structure (distribution)
Definition: Proportion of individuals in different age groups.

Flashcard #7
Term: Exponential growth
Definition: Population increases by a fixed percentage each year; forms a J-shaped curve.

Flashcard #8
Term: Doubling time
Definition: Time required for a population to double in size; formula: 70 \div \text{growth rate (%)}.

Flashcard #9
Term: Limiting factors
Definition: Environmental conditions that limit growth, such as food, water, or space.

Flashcard #10
Term: Environmental resistance
Definition: All limiting factors combined that resist population growth.

Flashcard #11
Term: Carrying capacity
Definition: Maximum population size an environment can support indefinitely.

Flashcard #12
Term: Factors leading to increased population
Definition: High birth rates, immigration, abundant resources, and improved medicine.

Flashcard #13
Term: Factors leading to decreased population
Definition: High death rates, emigration, disease, famine, or limited resources.

Flashcard #14
Term: How a population remains stable
Definition: Birth + immigration = death + emigration.

Flashcard #15
Term: Clumped population distribution
Definition: Organisms group (e.g., fish).

Flashcard #16
Term: Uniform population distribution
Definition: Even spacing (e.g., penguins).

Flashcard #17
Term: Random population distribution
Definition: No pattern (e.g., dandelions).

Flashcard #18
Term: Expanding age structure histogram
Definition: Broad base, rapid growth.

Flashcard #19
Term: Stable age structure histogram
Definition: Straight sides, little growth.

Flashcard #20
Term: Contracting age structure histogram
Definition: Narrow base, shrinking population.

Flashcard #21
Term: Natality & immigration
Definition: Increase population.

Flashcard #22
Term: Mortality & emigration
Definition: Decrease population.

Flashcard #23
Term: Can a population grow exponentially forever?
Definition: No. Limiting factors and carrying capacity slow it.

Flashcard #24
Term: Calculate the doubling time of a population
Definition: Use the rule of 70: Doubling time = 70 \div \text{growth rate (%)}.

Flashcard #25
Term: Part limiting factors play in population growth
Definition: They slow or stop growth when resources run out.

Flashcard #26
Term: How a J-shaped curve becomes an S-shaped curve
Definition: As population nears carrying capacity, growth slows to form an S-shape.

Flashcard #27
Term: How to support 7.5 billion humans
Definition: Through technology and agriculture, but it reduces resources for other species.

Flashcard #28
Term: Implications of supporting 7.5 billion humans for other species
Definition: Human resource use lowers carrying capacity for wildlife.

Flashcard #29
Term: Density dependent factors
Definition: Disease, competition.

Flashcard #30
Term: Density independent factors
Definition: Weather, natural disasters.

Flashcard #31
Term: How predator-prey, stress, and crowding are affected by density
Definition: Increased density causes more competition, stress, and disease.

Flashcard #32
Term: How carrying capacity can change
Definition: It rises with better technology, falls with environmental damage.

Flashcard #33
Term: Total fertility rate (TFR)
Definition: Average number of children born per woman.

Flashcard #34
Term: Replacement level fertility
Definition: Number of children needed to replace parents (about 2.1 in developed countries).

Flashcard #35
Term: Human Development Index (HDI)
Definition: Measures life expectancy, education, and income.

Flashcard #36
Term: Demographic transition
Definition: Model showing changes from high birth/death rates to low birth/death rates.

Flashcard #37
Term: Emigration/immigration
Definition: Moving out of or into a country, affecting population size.

Flashcard #38
Term: Why Bangladesh is a great model for studying population growth
Definition: It shows how education, healthcare, and women’s empowerment reduce fertility rates.

Flashcard #39
Term: Why the human population is growing
Definition: Lower death rates due to better healthcare, sanitation, and food.

Flashcard #40
Term: Problems with people moving to cities (megacities)
Definition: Overcrowding, pollution, housing shortages, and poor sanitation.

Flashcard #41
Term: What happened to global population growth rate?
Definition: It has slowed but population keeps increasing because many people are of childbearing age.

Flashcard #42
Term: Implications for a country that continues growing
Definition: Strain on resources, housing, and jobs.

Flashcard #43
Term: Implications for a shrinking country
Definition: Aging population, fewer workers, slower economy.

Flashcard #44
Term: Where most of the world’s people are being born
Definition: In developing nations, especially Africa and South Asia.

Flashcard #45
Term: Future population trend for the US
Definition: Slow growth, sustained mainly by immigration.

Flashcard #46
Term: Correlation between development, poverty, and quality of living
Definition: Higher development reduces poverty and improves living standards.

Flashcard #47
Term: I=PAT equation
Definition: Impact = Population × Affluence × Technology. Technology can lower impact if used sustainably.

Flashcard #48
Term: Relationship between consumption and HDI
Definition: As HDI rises, consumption usually increases, increasing ecological footprint.

Flashcard #49
Term: Is the US saving the world’s people by immigration?
Definition: Not necessarily; helping through global education, aid, and sustainable development is more effective.

Flashcard #50
Term: Ways to lower total fertility rate
Definition: Access to education, contraception, family planning, and empowering women.

Flashcard #51
Term: Why aren’t we doing more to lower TFR?
Definition: Cultural, political, and religious barriers.

Flashcard #52
Term: Why high fertility rates are dangerous
Definition: They strain resources, increase poverty, and harm the environment.

Flashcard #53
Term: 1. Preindustrial stage of demographic transition
Definition: High birth/death rates.

Flashcard #54
Term: 2. Transitional stage of demographic transition
Definition: Death rates drop, births stay high.

Flashcard #55
Term: 3. Industrial stage of demographic transition
Definition: Birth rates drop.

Flashcard #56
Term: 4. Postindustrial stage of demographic transition
Definition: Low birth/death rates, stable population.

Flashcard #57
Term: Why the demographic transition won’t work for developing countries
Definition: They may lack resources for education and healthcare.

Flashcard #58
Term: Effects of gender equity, education, and family planning
Definition: They lower fertility and stabilize population growth.

Flashcard #59
Term: How fertility levels are correlated with HDI
Definition: Higher HDI = lower fertility.

Flashcard #60
Term: How poverty and population growth are related
Definition: Poverty encourages higher birth rates; large families are seen as economic security.

Flashcard #61
Term: How wealthy nations affect the environment
Definition: They consume more resources and produce more waste per person.

Flashcard #62
Term: Agriculture
Definition: Cultivation of soil and raising of crops and livestock for food.

Flashcard #63
Term: Cropland
Definition: Land used to grow crops.

Flashcard #64
Term: Rangeland (pasture)
Definition: Land used for grazing livestock.

Flashcard #65
Term: Soil
Definition: Mixture of minerals, organic matter, air, and water that supports plant growth.

Flashcard #66
Term: Industrialized agriculture
Definition: Uses machinery, fertilizers, and pesticides for large-scale production.

Flashcard #67
Term: Erosion
Definition: Loss of soil by wind or water.

Flashcard #68
Term: Desertification
Definition: Conversion of productive land into desert due to poor management.

Flashcard #69
Term: Pest / Weed
Definition: Unwanted organism that damages crops.

Flashcard #70
Term: Fungicides
Definition: Chemicals that kill fungi.

Flashcard #71
Term: Herbicides
Definition: Chemicals that kill plants.

Flashcard #72
Term: Insecticides
Definition: Chemicals that kill insects.

Flashcard #73
Term: Green Revolution
Definition: 1940s–1960s increase in food production using high-yield crops and fertilizers.

Flashcard #74
Term: Monoculture
Definition: Planting one crop type; reduces biodiversity.

Flashcard #75
Term: Biological control
Definition: Using natural predators to control pests.

Flashcard #76
Term: Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
Definition: Combines biological, chemical, and cultural methods to manage pests.

Flashcard #77
Term: Genetically Modified Organism (GMO)
Definition: Organisms with altered genes for desirable traits.

Flashcard #78
Term: Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs)
Definition: Large livestock operations with confined animals.

Flashcard #79
Term: Aquaculture
Definition: Raising aquatic organisms for food.

Flashcard #80
Term: Sustainable agriculture
Definition: Farming that maintains productivity and minimizes harm to the environment.

Flashcard #81
Term: Organic agriculture
Definition: Avoids synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.

Flashcard #82
Term: Relationship between food production and population growth
Definition: Food production has kept up, but not guaranteed as resources become limited.

Flashcard #83
Term: 3 main crops humans depend on
Definition: Wheat, rice, and corn.

Flashcard #84
Term: Traditional vs. industrialized agriculture
Definition: Traditional = small-scale, labor-intensive; industrialized = mechanized, high input.

Flashcard #85
Term: How to increase global food production
Definition: Improve efficiency, reduce waste, use sustainable practices.

Flashcard #86
Term: Why soil erosion is a problem
Definition: It reduces fertility and clogs waterways.

Flashcard #87
Term: Why desertification is a problem
Definition: It decreases farmland and leads to food insecurity.

Flashcard #88
Term: Barriers to sustainable agriculture
Definition: Monocultures, farmland conversion, overgrazing, clearcutting.

Flashcard #89
Term: Problems with irrigation
Definition: Waterlogging, salinization.

Flashcard #90
Term: Problems with fertilizers
Definition: Runoff causes eutrophication and water pollution.

Flashcard #91
Term: Declining genetic diversity issues
Definition: Reduces resilience to pests and disease.

Flashcard #92
Term: Dependence on fossil fuels (agriculture)
Definition: Increases pollution and costs; unsustainable long-term.

Flashcard #93
Term: Pesticide resistance
Definition: Pests evolve and become harder to control.

Flashcard #94
Term: Green Revolution pros/cons
Definition: Increased food supply but harmed soil and biodiversity.

Flashcard #95
Term: Ways to achieve sustainable agriculture
Definition: Crop rotation, conservation tillage, organic farming, IPM, efficient irrigation.

Flashcard #96
Term: Farmland conservation methods
Definition: Crop rotation, contour farming, strip planting, terracing, intercropping, shelterbelts, no-till.

Flashcard #97
Term: Personal choices for sustainability (agriculture)
Definition: Eat local, reduce meat, avoid waste.

Flashcard #98
Term: Importance of pollinators
Definition: They’re essential for crop fertilization and biodiversity.

Flashcard #99
Term: GMO issues
Definition: Ethical, health, and environmental concerns.

Flashcard #100
Term: Benefits of GMOs
Definition: Higher yields, pest resistance, less pesticide use.

Flashcard #101
Term: Precautionary principle (GMOs)
Definition: Act cautiously with GMOs until proven safe.

Flashcard #102
Term: Wealth & meat consumption
Definition: Rises as income increases.

Flashcard #103
Term: Efficiency of eating lower on the food chain
Definition: Uses less energy and resources.

Flashcard #104
Term: CAFO description
Definition: Factory farms with confined animals; efficient but cause pollution and ethical concerns.

Flashcard #105
Term: Sustainable meat solutions
Definition: Eat less meat, support pasture-based or plant-based diets.

Flashcard #106
Term: Aquaculture pros/cons
Definition: Efficient food source but can cause pollution and disease.

Flashcard #107
Term: Future of organic foods
Definition: Growing demand; better for environment but costlier.

Flashcard #108
Term: Eat more sustainably
Definition: Choose plant-based, seasonal, and local foods.

Flashcard #109
Term: Environmental health
Definition: Study of how environmental factors affect human well-being.

Flashcard #110
Term: Toxin vs. toxicant
Definition: Toxin = natural poison; toxicant = synthetic chemical.

Flashcard #111
Term: Pollutant
Definition: Substance that harms the environment.

Flashcard #112
Term: Toxicology
Definition: Study of poisonous substances and their effects.

Flashcard #113
Term: Environmental toxicology
Definition: Examines toxins in the environment and their ecological effects.

Flashcard #114
Term: Pesticide drift
Definition: Wind carries pesticides to unintended areas.

Flashcard #115
Term: Toxicity
Definition: Degree to which a substance is harmful.

Flashcard #116
Term: Dose vs. response
Definition: Relationship between amount of exposure and effect.

Flashcard #117
Term: Why doesn’t exposure always cause harm?
Definition: Depends on dose, duration, and individual sensitivity.

Flashcard #118
Term: Toxic vs. hazardous compound
Definition: Toxic damages organisms chemically; hazardous may be dangerous by flammability or reactivity.

Flashcard #119
Term: Neurotoxins
Definition: Affect nerves.

Flashcard #120
Term: Carcinogens
Definition: Cause cancer.

Flashcard #121
Term: Mutagens
Definition: Alter DNA.

Flashcard #122
Term: Teratogens
Definition: Harm embryos.

Flashcard #123
Term: Allergens
Definition: Trigger immune response.

Flashcard #124
Term: Endocrine disruptors
Definition: Mimic hormones.

Flashcard #125
Term: How toxins move through the environment
Definition: Through air, water, soil, and food chains.

Flashcard #126
Term: Stored toxins (in body)
Definition: Lipophilic (fat-soluble) chemicals accumulate in tissues.

Flashcard #127
Term: Persistent chemicals
Definition: Last long and bioaccumulate, making them more dangerous.

Flashcard #128
Term: Natural defenses (against toxins)
Definition: Liver enzymes, excretion, skin, and immune system.

Flashcard #129
Term: Acute vs. chronic exposure
Definition: Acute = short-term high dose; chronic = long-term low dose.

Flashcard #130
Term: Bioaccumulation and biomagnification
Definition: Toxins build up in individuals and increase up the food chain.

Flashcard #131
Term: Chemical interactions
Definition: Antagonistic (cancel out), additive (sum), synergistic (enhanced effect).

Flashcard #132
Term: Endocrine disruptors
Definition: Chemicals that interfere with hormones; affect fish, frogs, and humans.

Flashcard #133
Term: Ways to measure toxicity
Definition: Animal testing, cell cultures, epidemiological studies.

Flashcard #134
Term: LD50
Definition: Dose that kills 50% of test organisms; lower LD50 = more toxic.

Flashcard #135
Term: Threshold of response
Definition: Dose below which no effect occurs.

Flashcard #136
Term: Why individuals respond differently to toxins
Definition: Genetics, health, and age affect sensitivity.

Flashcard #137
Term: Effects of toxins on ecosystems
Definition: Toxins harm species, reduce biodiversity, and disrupt food webs.

Flashcard #138
Term: How to reduce toxins
Definition: Use safer chemicals, regulate industries, and recycle properly.

Flashcard #139
Term: Biodiversity
Definition: Variety of life at genetic, species, and ecosystem levels.

Flashcard #140
Term: Extinction
Definition: Disappearance of a species.

Flashcard #141
Term: Extirpation
Definition: Local extinction of a species in one area.

Flashcard #142
Term: Mass extinction
Definition: Event where many species vanish quickly.

Flashcard #143
Term: Biophilia
Definition: Human love for nature and life.

Flashcard #144
Term: Endangered vs. Threatened vs. Vulnerable species
Definition: Endangered = near extinction; Threatened = likely to become endangered; Vulnerable = at risk.

Flashcard #145
Term: Endangered Species Act (ESA)
Definition: US law protecting threatened and endangered species.

Flashcard #146
Term: CITES
Definition: International treaty to stop trade of endangered species.

Flashcard #147
Term: Umbrella species
Definition: Protecting them helps many others.

Flashcard #148
Term: Flagship species
Definition: Charismatic species used for conservation campaigns.

Flashcard #149
Term: Biodiversity hotspots
Definition: Areas rich in species but threatened by human activity.

Flashcard #150
Term: Species-area curve
Definition: Shows relationship between habitat size and number of species.

Flashcard #151
Term: Levels of biodiversity
Definition: Species, genetic, and ecosystem diversity.

Flashcard #152
Term: How extirpation leads to extinction
Definition: If a species disappears in all regions, it becomes extinct.

Flashcard #153
Term: Why the 6th mass extinction is different
Definition: It’s caused by humans.

Flashcard #154
Term: Reasons to conserve biodiversity
Definition: Provides resources, stability, medicine, beauty, and ecosystem services.

Flashcard #155
Term: Ethical obligation argument (biodiversity)
Definition: Humans have a moral duty to protect life.

Flashcard #156
Term: Causes of biodiversity loss
Definition: Habitat destruction, invasive species, pollution, overuse, and climate change.

Flashcard #157
Term: How to save biodiversity
Definition: Laws, treaties, protected areas, zoos, captive breeding, reintroduction.

Flashcard #158
Term: Why the ESA is controversial
Definition: Limits land use and affects development.

Flashcard #159
Term: Importance of biodiversity hotspots
Definition: Protect many species with limited effort.

Flashcard #160
Term: Long-term solutions for biodiversity
Definition: Habitat restoration, sustainable development, and global cooperation.

Flashcard #161
Term: Maximum sustainable yield
Definition: Largest harvest without reducing future population.

Flashcard #162
Term: Deforestation
Definition: Clearing forests faster than they regrow.

Flashcard #163
Term: Clearcutting
Definition: Cutting all trees; efficient but harmful to ecosystems.

Flashcard #164
Term: Transfrontier conservation area
Definition: Protected regions across national borders.

Flashcard #165
Term: Paper park
Definition: Protected on paper only, not in practice.

Flashcard #166
Term: Tragedy of the commons
Definition: Shared resources are overused without regulation.

Flashcard #167
Term: First parks and preserves purpose
Definition: For hunting, recreation, and resource protection.

Flashcard #168
Term: World’s first National Park
Definition: Yellowstone National Park (1872).

Flashcard #169
Term: What National Parks protect
Definition: Natural beauty, wildlife, and ecosystems.

Flashcard #170
Term: Allowed/prohibited in National Parks
Definition: Allowed: recreation, education. Prohibited: logging, mining.

Flashcard #171
Term: Main thing to protect in rangelands
Definition: Grassland vegetation and soil quality.

Flashcard #172
Term: Condition of 1/3 of rangelands
Definition: Degraded by overgrazing.

Flashcard #173
Term: Ways to manage rangeland sustainably
Definition: Rotational grazing, reseeding, controlling livestock numbers.

Flashcard #174
Term: Role of Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
Definition: Manages public lands for grazing, mining, and recreation.

Flashcard #175
Term: BLM’s new approach
Definition: Ecosystem-based management, considering sustainability.

Flashcard #176
Term: How grazing fees cause degradation
Definition: Too low, encouraging overuse.

Flashcard #177
Term: Problems facing forests
Definition: Deforestation, illegal logging, and fragmentation.

Flashcard #178
Term: Clearcutting (tree harvesting method)
Definition: Cheap, damaging.

Flashcard #179
Term: Selective cutting (tree harvesting method)
Definition: Sustainable but costly.

Flashcard #180
Term: Sustainable forestry methods
Definition: Replanting, reduced-impact logging, certification programs.

Flashcard #181
Term: U.S. National Forest system purpose
Definition: For resource use and recreation; managed by U.S. Forest Service.

Flashcard #182
Term: Problems facing national forests
Definition: Overuse, fire suppression, habitat loss.

Flashcard #183
Term: National Wildlife Refuge function
Definition: Protect habitats for fish and wildlife.

Flashcard #184
Term: Threats to refuges
Definition: Pollution, invasive species, and lack of funding.

Flashcard #185
Term: Wilderness areas
Definition: Lands kept natural; controversial due to land-use restrictions.

Flashcard #186
Term: Problems in parks abroad
Definition: Poaching, funding shortages, lack of enforcement.

Flashcard #187
Term: Habitat fragmentation
Definition: Breaking habitats into smaller patches, harming species survival.

Flashcard #188
Term: SLOSS dilemma
Definition: “Single Large Or Several Small” reserves