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Env Studies AS > AS Unit1 definitions > Flashcards

AS Unit1 definitions Flashcards

0
Q

Specific heat capacity

A

A measure of the amount of heat energy needed to heat a particular mass of material through a temperature rise. Eg. Water heats up slowly as it has a high specific heat capacity.

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1
Q

Physiological function

A

Any substance that is involved in chemical reactions in a living organism. E.g. Water in cells

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2
Q

Thermophillic

A

Heat-loving. Eg. Bacteria at edge of volcanoes. ( don’t denature)

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3
Q

Ambient gases

A

The surrounding gases available to organisms. (For life need CO2 for photosynthesis and Nitrogen for protein synthesis).

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4
Q

Atmosphere

A

The gases surrounding Earth, characterised by their temperature, density, turbulence and composition.

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5
Q

Photolysis

A

The splitting of molecules by light, including water molecules in the early atmosphere, producing oxygen

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6
Q

Greenhouse gas

A

A gas that absorbs infrared radiation and causes atmospheric heating. Eg CO2

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7
Q

Transpiration

A

Loss of water by evaporation from the stomata of leaves

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8
Q

Biosphere

A

All living organisms on earth

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9
Q

Hydrosphere

A

All the water on earth found in solid, liquid or gas form (eg oceans, ice caps, rivers, lakes, soil, groundwater, living organisms)

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10
Q

Lithosphere

A

The relatively hard outer layer of the earth, consisting of the crust and upper layer of the mantle

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11
Q

Biomimetics

A

The study of living organisms so the knowledge can aid engineering and technological developments. Eg shark skin grooves reduce friction in water & design is being used for swimsuits and boat riblets.

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12
Q

Teratology

A

The study of the causes of birth defects. Eg. Sea urchins produce half a million eggs and can be used to test the effect of drugs on embryos.

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13
Q

Indigenous species

A

Species native to the area.

Usually better adapted to climate, pests and soil conditions.

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14
Q

Gene pool

A

The total variety of different genes in all the members of the population.

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15
Q

Vavilov centre

A

An area of the world identified by the Russian Vavilov, where crop plants were first domesticated and wild varieties are still found. Eg of drought resistant maize in wild gene pool.

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16
Q

CITIES

A

Convention on International Trade In Endangered Species (of wild fauna and flora). E.g. yellow headed parrot poaching for pets; African Blackwood tree used to make clarinets.

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17
Q

Niche

A

The role the species plays in its habitat eg how it uses its resources and responds to other species

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18
Q

Endemic

A

An endemic species is indigenous to a particular area and is not normally found elsewhere. Eg ground nesting birds such as honey creepers in Hawaii.

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19
Q

SSSIs

A

Sites of Specific Scientific Interest (designed to protect habitats)
Eg Studland bay on Isle of Portland, Dorset.

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20
Q

NNR

A

national nature reserve

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21
Q

Wildlife and countryside act

A

A uk act of parliament in 1981 and 1984 that provides protection for many wildlife species and designated protected areas such as SSSIs, NNRs, SPAs, SACs and Ramsar sites.

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22
Q

SPA

A

Special protection area
Designated by national England under the EU birds directive to protect and manage areas importance for rare and vulnerable birds. Eg the Severn estuary.

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23
Q

SAC

A

Special areas of conservation designated under the EU habitats directive protecting habitats for rare and vulnerable animals, plants and habitats eg Dartmoor.

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24
MNR
marine nature reserve
25
Ramsar site
A wetland site designated to protect its biodiversity.
26
International whaling commission (IWC)
An international organisation that aims to control (not ban) whaling to ensure sustainable exploitation at whales. Eg. Limits on numbers; protected species; protects suckling mothers.
27
Inbreeding
Breeding between closely related individuals, which increases the risk of recessive genes producing disadvantaged characteristics in offspring.
28
EU common fisheries policy
EU agreement to manage fishing and aquaculture. Aims to sustainably exploit stocks in line with the needs of member states. (Not successful in setting and monitoring quotas or stopping undersized fishing)
29
Cryopreservation
Preserving by freezing, such as semen for artificial insemination (preventing transport of animal itself)
30
Artificial insemination
Form of selective breeding where semen is collected from a chosen male and inserted artificially into the female to obtain a pregnancy.
31
Embryo transfer
The transfer of fertilised eggs or embryos from a female of a rare species into one closely related more common female which acts as a surrogate.
32
Micro propagation
A tissue culture method where large numbers of plants are produced from a tissue sample from the original plant without the need for seeds. genetically identical cells are raised on agar.
33
Plagioclimax
A community of species that does not fully develop to a climax, but is maintained by external influences. Eg grazing or ploughing reducing wild flowers.
34
Eco tourism
Tourism intended to have a low environmental impact, usually involving seeing wildlife.
35
NGO
Non governmental organisations
36
Natural England
The UK government organisation with responsibility for wildlife and the landscape. Do ecological research; provide advice and info; provide grants; designate protected areas
37
RSPB
Royal society for the protection of birds is an independent charity aiming to: - raise public awareness - lobby government - educate eg through schools - provide research grants - purchase and manage bird reserves to protect habitats
38
ESS environmental stewardship scheme
An agri-environmental scheme where farmers receive payments for farm practices that benefit wildlife and the environment. Organic farms receive high payments.
39
LNRs
Local nature reserves
40
National parks and access to the countryside act 1949
UK law which established national parks, areas of outstanding natural beauty and public rights of way
41
Natura 2000
A network of protected sites in the EU. It combines SPAs and SACs.
42
Species recovery programme
Programme to help increase the numbers of endangered species in the UK. Run by national England. Eg dormouse, red squirrel.
43
DEFRA
Department for environment, food, and rural affairs. Aims include: - concern for climate change and energy - sustainable consumption and production ( eg farming) - protecting the countryside and natural resources
44
Biodiversity
A measure of the variety and abundance of wildlife
45
BAP
Biodiversity action plan. Co-ordinated by DEFRA and established at the Rio summit. Three main plans: 1. Species action plans for those under threat 2. Habitat action plans to conserve habitats 3. Local action plans for each country
46
Forestry commission
UK government forestry organisation: - manages timber production - research and leisure in forests - wildlife conservation
47
WWF
World wildlife fund for nature is an environmental campaigning and pressure group set up as a charity. Eg lobby's governments on climate change, food miles and endangered species.
48
National trust
UK charity that conserves important buildings and landscapes.
49
FoE and Greenpeace
Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace are environmental pressure groups.
50
Species
A group of organisms that resemble each other more than other organisms and naturally interbreed to produce offspring.
51
Abiotic factors
Physical factors such as light, water and temperature.
52
Biotic factors
Biological factors such as food and disease.
53
Nutrient
Ant chemical that is essential to an organism for growth or metabolism
54
Micro climate
A small area with a climate that is different from the surrounding area
55
Biomass
The total mass of living or recently living material in an area
56
Carbon sequestration
Any process that is used to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere Eg. Underground storage or afforestation
57
LEDC
Less economically developed countries | Tend to use unsustainable wood for fuel & building
58
Slash and burn farming
Subsistence farming in a forest where a clearing is created by burning. After a few years nutrient depletion and weeds cause it to be abandoned.
59
Plankton
Organisms that drift in the surface layers of the sea
60
Symbiosis
A relationship between organisms of different species where one species benefits from the other and the other may benefit, be unaffected or die.
61
No take zone
An area where the catching or removal of species is banned. Eg fishing close to coast.
62
Upwelling
Where deep ocean water comes to the surface often carrying nutrients and causing rich algal blooms.
63
Albedo
A measure of the reflectivity of a surface. More reflective = higher albedos = eg ice which reduces heating of the atmosphere by sunlight
64
UV light
Short wavelength radiation emitted by the sun. It can cause chemical reactions such as sunburn, DNA damage and ozone depletion.
65
British Antarctic Survey (BAS)
UK research organisation that operates four stations in Antarctica. Looks at climate change, geology, biodiversity and sustainability of ecosystem
66
Habitat. With ONE B!
The place where an organism, species or population lives.
67
Exoskeleton
A skeleton on the outside of an organism eg some insects
68
Turbulence
The roughness of the environment caused by chaotic air or water flow
69
Heterotrophs
An organism that gains its organic compounds for energy and growth from other organisms
70
Cellulase
An enzyme that digests cellulose produced by bacteria, fungi and protozoans
71
Mycorrhizal fungi
A symbiotic fungi that aids the uptake of nutrients such as phosphates and water in the soil eg ladies slipper orchid seeds are too small to grow independently and the seeds combine with the fungi to grow, then after 2 years produce leaves, start to photosynthesise and give sugar back to the fungi.
72
Pollination
The transfer of male plant gamete onto the female part of the flower, resulting in fertilisation.
73
Community
The population living in a particular area
74
Taxonomy
The study of organisms to assess how they should be classified/grouped.
75
Genus
A group of closely related species | Eg ash tree = species Deciduous Trees = genus
76
Taxon
A group of organisms based on their biological similarities.
77
Ecosystem
The community of organisms living in an area, their inter-relationships and interactions with their abiotic environment. Eg a woodland or coral reef
78
Biome
A large geographical region with particular climatic features, in which a characteristic unique community of species lives. Eg desert or mangrove swamp
79
Biosphere
The part of the planet inhabited by living organisms - land, soil, water, atmosphere
80
Ecological succession
The sequence of changes in a community as an area is colonised and develops until a climax community is eventually produced. Eg new garden pond
81
Hydrosere
Ecological succession that starts in water | Eg lake may have seed dropped in by bird
82
Lithosere
Ecological succession on bare rock | Eg volcanic eruption first collonised by algae and litchens (autotrophs).
83
Secondary succession
Changes that occur in an area that has reached its climax state. Eg forest fire...starts again but more rapid than primary succession as seeds/animals exist around it.
84
Edaphic
A factor related to soil, particularly as it affects living things.
85
Density dependent factor
An environmental factor affected by the density of the population. Eg food supply, disease
86
Density independent factor
An environmental factor not influenced by the population density of the species eg. Drought, volcanic eruption, flood
87
Carrying capacity
The greatest population that can be supported sustainably in an area
88
Sigmoidal population growth curve
Plots the growth pattern of the population over time and has three stages: - lag phase - log phase - stable fluctuating phase
89
NPA. national parks authority
The organisation that runs the national park (designated areas for informal public recreation, wildlife conservation and maintenance of the rural economy). Eg Lake District, Dartmoor.
90
AONB
Area of outstanding natural beauty. Designated by natural england. Eg Scilly Isles
91
Heritage coast
A coastline protected from development for its scenic or environmental value. Eg South Devon
92
National trails
Long distance routes for cycling, walking or horse riding eg North downs way, South Downs way
93
Country park
An area of the countryside managed for public enjoyment.
94
Urban park
An area of semi-natural land in an urban area used for public recreation.
95
Neptune coastland campaign
National trust campaign to buy and protect important coastline.
96
Green belt
A designated area around an urban area to restrict urban expansion.
97
Time zoning
A method of avoiding land use conflicts by allowing different uses at different times. Eg golf course closed for several months to allow grass grazing for migrating geese.
98
Leopold matrix
A grid used to assess and compare the environmental impacts of proposed developments.
99
EIA
Environmental impact assessment which: - describes proposal - describes environment that may be affected - describes the impacts using a Leopold matrix - provides modifications and alternatives - clear summary for public use
100
CBA
Cost benefit analysis.

Env Studies AS (5 decks)

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