04 - Environmental Science Methods Flashcards

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1
Q

building block of sugars and proteins. Found in animal waste & gas. Sink is in atmosphere, principal reservoir is ~700 G tonnes (as CO2), rock calcium carbonate (CaCO3)

A

Carbon

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2
Q

circulation of water through bodies of water, the atmosphere, and land

A

Hydrological Cycle

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3
Q

study of phenomena through systematic data collection, testable predictions

A

Science

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4
Q

biology (ecology, botany, zoology), geology, geography (climatology), etc. are examples of?

A

natural science

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5
Q

Viewing the environment as a source and spirit. Ecosystem understanding from long term local experiential knowledge of a people through oral communication

A

Indigenous World View

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6
Q

complex, interacting, planetary conditions necessary for life. The cryosphere is the frozen portion of this.

A

Ecosphere

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7
Q

gaseous gravitationally bound thin veil, from outgassing and biotic action. Involved in weather, climate, & the distribution of life.

A

Atmosphere

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8
Q

waters in all realms (oceans, rivers, lakes, groundwater, and atmospheric water vapor), 1.36 billion km3, and the cryosphere (frozen matter)

A

Hydrosphere

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9
Q

The rigid outer layer of Earth. Consisting of the crust and upper mantle, and it includes the solid landmasses, oceanic crust, and the top portion of the mantle.

A

Lithosphere

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10
Q

The zone of earth where life exists. physical and chemical factors forming life, interconnected, web-spanning spheres
zone of living matter on Earth (animals, plants, bacteria, etc. in soil, water, air, …)

A

Biosphere

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11
Q

HALEB

A

H - Hydrosphere
A - Atmosphere
L - Lithosphere
E- Ecosphere
B - Biosphere

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12
Q

energy cannot be created or destroyed, merely changed

A

Law of Conservation of Energy

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13
Q

Energy that is diffused/dispersed/difficult to gather, cool, most energies available to us

A

low-quality energy

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14
Q

total energy of all moving atoms in a substance

A

heat

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15
Q

energy that is easy to use but disperses quickly, e.g., hot fire, burning coal/gasoline

A

high-quality energy

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16
Q

energy transformations decrease the quality of usable energy (can be seen in food chain)

A

law of entropy

17
Q

amount of energy in a system that is not available to do work. Its the measure of disorder/randomness of a system

A

Entropy

18
Q

classification of organisms in a community according to feeding relationships first trophic level includes green plants, second level includes herbivores, etc.

A

Trophic Level

19
Q

Producer VS Consumer

A

The producer is an autotroph capable of synthesizing organic material while a consumer is an organism consuming others for food. Phototroph is an example of a producer that makes food through photosynthesis

20
Q

Primary, Secondary, Tertiary Consumers

A

Primary: First consuming organism in a food chain (rabbits eating grass)
Secondary: second consuming organism in a food chain (wolves eating rabbits)
Tertiary: organism at the top trophic level that consumes other organisms

21
Q

Herbivore, Carnivore, Omnivore

A

Herbivore: eats plants (primary consumer)
Carnivore: eats meat
Omnivore: both

22
Q

digest organic debris outside their body, absorb/release nutrients in the process

A

decomposer

23
Q

organism that feeds on other organisms

A

heterotroph

24
Q

super-predator, top of the food chain, e.g., big cats, raptors

A

Apex Predator

25
Q

nutrient/energy pathway in an ecosystem, from producer to consumer

A

food chain

26
Q

energy transfer among organisms directly dependent on solar radiation. Transfer of energy from plants (producers) to herbivores then to carnivores

A

grazing food chain

27
Q

nutrient/energy pathway source of dead plant/animal and wastes

A

Decomposer Food Chain

28
Q

organic waste, e.g., fallen leaves

A

Detritus

29
Q

Complex intermeshing of food chains in an ecosystem

A

Food Web

30
Q

Gross Primary Productivity, Net Primary Productivity, Net Community Productivity

A

GPP: total of energy produced by autotrophs (can produce their own food) over a time period
NPP: pFor lants, GPP minus energy used during cellular respiration
NCP: biomass rate of accumulation (respiration and predation)

31
Q

flooded coastal region inlet or stream mouth where salt water and fresh water mix

A

Estuary