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GEOG 2400 > CH 1-5 > Flashcards

CH 1-5 Flashcards

1
Q

Critical thinking

A

logical, orderly, analytical assessment of ideas, arguments

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2
Q

Ecology

A

The study of the relationships within ecosystems and the environment

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3
Q

Environmental geography

A

Study of the spatial interactions of humans in specific places and their surroundings

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4
Q

Major themes in environmental geography

A

Environmental quality, population, natural resources

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5
Q

Biosphere

A

The part of the earth that supports life

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6
Q

Renewable resources

A

Resources that can be replaced

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7
Q

Nonrenewable resources

A

Resources that cannot be replaced

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8
Q

Ecological/environmental backlash

A

Damage as a result of altering the environment

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9
Q

Aswan High Dam

A

Example of an environmental backlash

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10
Q

Indigenous peoples

A

The least powerful, most neglected groups, who possess valuable ecological wisdom, victims of the rich and politically powerful

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11
Q

Sustainability

A

Ecological stability and human progress that can last in the long term

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12
Q

Sustainable developement

A

Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations

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13
Q

Principles that lie at the heart of sustainability

A

Conservation, recycling, renewable resources, population control

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14
Q

Frontier ethic

A

An unsustainable way to think about the environment

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15
Q

Facets of frontier ethic

A

There is always more, Humans are separate from nature, Human success derives from control of the nature

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16
Q

Six factors that contribute to today’s unsustainability

A

Frontier ethic, inefficiency, overconsumption, fossil fuel dependence, overpopulation, problem of pollutants

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17
Q

Ways humans view the environment

A

The organic model, the mechanical model, the systems approach

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18
Q

The organic model

A

See the world as a living thing

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19
Q

The Mechanical model

A

The Earth is a machine, we can do with it what we want

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20
Q

The Systems approach

A

Life on Earth exists within a complex series of relationships

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21
Q

Gaia concept

A

Life, through interaction with the environment is able to regulate the Earth’s environment

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22
Q

Biodegradable

A

Pollutants that may be broken down by living organisms

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23
Q

Nonbiodegradable

A

Pollutants that are not easily broken down; can persist in the environment for thousands of years

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24
Q

Cross Media Contamination

A

Occurs when pollution crosses boundary lines (from water to air to land)

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25
Q

Environmental science

A

Systematic study of our environment and our place in it

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26
Q

Boloney detection

A

People giving false or misleading information as propaganda

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27
Q

Reasons for Baloney Detection

A

Argument from authority, appeal to ignorance, special pleading, observational selection, uncertainty, weasel words

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28
Q

George Perkins Marsh

A

Wrote Man & Nature about overgrazing and deforestation

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29
Q

Gifford Pinchot

A

First American professional forester

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30
Q

Utilitarian conservation

A

Forests should be saved, not because they are beautiful, but to provide homes and jobs for people in the future

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31
Q

Biocentric preservation

A

Other organisms have a right to exist and pursue their own interests

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32
Q

John Muir

A

First president of the Sierra Club

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33
Q

Rachel Carson

A

Wrote Silent Spring in 1962, beginning of modern environmental movement

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34
Q

Aldo Leopold

A

Pioneering wildlife ecologist, wrote A Sand County Almanac

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35
Q

Earth Day

A

World’s first secular, theme driven global holiday

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36
Q

Kinetic Energy

A

Energy contained in moving objects

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37
Q

Potential energy

A

Stored energy, latent, but available for use

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38
Q

Energy

A

The capacity to do work

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39
Q

Joule

A

Work done when 1 kilogram is accelerated 1 meter per second per second

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40
Q

calorie

A

The amount of energy needed to warm one gram of a water 1 degree C

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41
Q

Specific Heat

A

The amount of energy required to warm one gram of a substance 1 degree C

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42
Q

First Law of Thermodynamics

A

Energy is conserved. It is neither created nor destroyed

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43
Q

Second Law of Thermodynamics

A

With each successive energy transfer, less energy is available to do work

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44
Q

Entropy

A

All mechanical systems degrade and disperse energy as they operate

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45
Q

pH Scale

A

A measure of acidity

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46
Q

Water

A

The universal solvent

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47
Q

Photosynthesis

A

The conversion of sunlight to chemical energy

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48
Q

Species

A

Organisms that are generally similar and can reproduce

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49
Q

Population

A

All the members of a species that live in the same area at the same time

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50
Q

Biological community

A

All populations living and interacting in an area

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51
Q

Range

A

Geographic area where a certain type of plant or animal may be found

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52
Q

Ecosystem

A

A biological community and its physical environment

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53
Q

Biomass

A

The total weight of living matter in a given area

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54
Q

Primary producers

A

Organisms that photosynthesize

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55
Q

Consumers

A

Organisms that do not use photosynthesis

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56
Q

Food web

A

Interconnected food chains

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57
Q

Trophic level

A

An organism’s feeding position in a food chain

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58
Q

Herbivore

A

An organism that eats plants

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59
Q

Carnivore

A

An organism that eats meat

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60
Q

Omnivore

A

An organism that eats both plants and animals

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61
Q

Detritivores

A

Scavengers, clean up carcasses

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62
Q

Decomposers

A

Fungi and bacteria which complete the final breakdown of organic matter, return nutrients to soil

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63
Q

Biotic

A

Living organisms in an ecosystem

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64
Q

Abiotic

A

Nonliving things in an ecosystem

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65
Q

Human impacts on the environment

A

Reduction, Fragmentation, Substitution, Simplification, Contamination, Overgrowth

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66
Q

Reduction

A

Loss in an area of ecosystem

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67
Q

Fragmentation

A

Ecosystem broken into smaller parts

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68
Q

Substitution

A

Replacing one set of organisms in an ecosystem with another

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69
Q

Simplification

A

Replacing a set of organisms in an ecosystem with a less diverse set

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70
Q

Contamination

A

Introduction of pollutants

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71
Q

Overgrowth

A

Introduction of plant nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorous)

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72
Q

Eutrophication

A

Oxygen depletion of water due to over-stimulated plant growth

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73
Q

Adaptation

A

Acquisition of traits that allow a species to survive

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74
Q

Natural Selection

A

Survival of the fittest; the process of better selected individuals passing their traits down to the next generation

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75
Q

Disturbances

A

External forces that cause changes to ecosystems

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76
Q

Range of tolerance

A

Physical and chemical conditions where organisms can live

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77
Q

Optimum range

A

Conditions where ecosystems can thrive

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78
Q

Zone of Physiological Stress

A

Where survival is possible but difficult

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79
Q

Zone of Intolerance

A

Where an organism will die

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80
Q

Indicator species

A

Organisms whose sensitivities can tell about environmental conditions in an area

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81
Q

Acclimation

A

Some change occurs in organisms, but changes are not permanent

82
Q

Mutations

A

Changes in genetic materials (can be bad or good)

83
Q

Selective Pressures

A

Limited resources or environmental conditions - reduces chances for survival

84
Q

Speciation

A

The development of a new species as a result of many small changes

85
Q

Habitat

A

The place or set of environmental conditions in which an organism lives

86
Q

Niche

A

The role played by the organism in a biological community (or ecosystem)

87
Q

Predator

A

Any organism that feeds directly upon another living organism

88
Q

Coevolution

A

The predators becoming better hunters and the prey becoming better at hiding, fighting, or fleeing

89
Q

Symbiosis

A

Intimate living together of members of two or more species

90
Q

Commensalism

A

A relationship where one member benefits and the other is not harmed or benefited

91
Q

Mutalism

A

A relationship where both members benefit

92
Q

Parisitism

A

A relationship where one member is helped while the other is harmed

93
Q

Host

A

Where the parasite lives

94
Q

Batesian Mimicry

A

Harmless species evolve colors and body shapes of unpalatable or poisonous species

95
Q

Mullerian Mimicry

A

Two dangerous species have evolved to look alike

96
Q

Keystone Species

A

A species that plays a major role in the ecosystem

97
Q

R- Species

A

A species with rapid reproduction and high mortality rate of offspring

98
Q

K- Species

A

Species which reproduce more slowly and at older ages

99
Q

Ecotones

A

Boundaries between adjacent communities

100
Q

Edge effects

A

Animals extend their ecosystem into another community

101
Q

Diversity

A

The number of different species in an area

102
Q

Abundance

A

The number of individuals in a species in an area

103
Q

Primary succession

A

A community begins to develop on a site previously unoccupied by living organisms

104
Q

Secondary succession

A

The existing community is disrupted and a new community develops at the site

105
Q

Climax community

A

Whatever nature intended to be in the area

106
Q

Invasive species

A

Nonnative organisms that move into an area

107
Q

Pioneer species

A

In a primary succession, the first organisms to grow in the area

108
Q

Holocene Epoch

A

The last 10,000 years of geologic time. Great changes caused by man and not geology

109
Q

Terracing

A

Cutting into slopes to create more farmland

110
Q

Polders

A

Land reclaimed from the sea in the Netherlands

111
Q

Thomas Malthus

A

Believed population growth would be faster than food production so we will die

112
Q

Malthus’ natural checks on population

A

Famine, disease, war, natural disasters

113
Q

Neo-Malthusians

A

Supporters of Malthus

114
Q

Boserup thesis

A

Ester Boserup claimed increased labor and technology will make up for population growth

115
Q

Human population

A

The population of the earth

116
Q

Ecological footprint

A

The amount of productive land to support each person on the planet

117
Q

Population density

A

The number of people per square mile

118
Q

Physiological density

A

The number of people per square mile of productive land

119
Q

Total fertility rate

A

Number of children born to an average woman in a population during her entire reproductive life

120
Q

Population pyramid

A

A graphic representation of a nation’s population by sex and age

121
Q

Demography

A

The study of population

122
Q

Carrying Capacity

A

The number of people the Earth can support

123
Q

Birthrate

A

The number of live births per 1,000 per year

124
Q

Death rate

A

The number of deaths per 1,000 a year

125
Q

Infant mortality rate

A

The number of deaths per 1,000 per year before age one

126
Q

Bare branches

A

Chinese men who, due to Chinese government actions and people’s actions, will never have a girlfriend or wife (40 million by 2020)

127
Q

Zero population growth

A

When the number of deaths equal the number of births

128
Q

Zero Population Growth

A

1960s activist group concerned with overpopulation

129
Q

Variables on population

A

Birth, Death, Immigration, Emigration

130
Q

Immigration

A

People moving into a nation

131
Q

Emigration

A

People leaving a nation

132
Q

Lysol

A

One of the most popular methods of birth control from 1930 to 1960

133
Q

Dependency ratio

A

The number of nonworking people compared with the number of working people in a population

134
Q

Biome

A

A bio-geographical area characterized by certain vegetation, animals, and climate

135
Q

Biodiversity

A

The number and variety of biological species that live in a biome

136
Q

Vertical Zonation

A

Vegetation zones are determined by altitude

137
Q

Temperature and Precipitation

A

Determine the distribution of biomes on land

138
Q

The Circle of Illumination

A

The boundary between daylight and darkness

139
Q

12 hours

A

The amount of daylight and darkness on the equator

140
Q

Tropical Rainforests

A

In the equatorial areas of the planet, hot and wet all year, dense vegetation

141
Q

High canopy

A

200ft

142
Q

Middle canopy

A

65 to 150ft

143
Q

Low canopy

A

15 to 50 ft

144
Q

Cloud Forests

A

Found in high mountains where fog and mist keep vegetation wet all the time

145
Q

2/3

A

The portion of all species of plants and insects are in the tropical rainforests

146
Q

Lianas

A

Vines that stretch from tree to tree and intertwine. Up to 8 inches in diameter

147
Q

Epiphytes

A

Rainforest plants that live entirely above ground, supported physically, but not nutritionally by other plants

148
Q

Tropical rainforest floor

A

Has constant moisture, rotting fruit, moldy odors, windless air, and echoing sounds of life in the trees

149
Q

1%

A

The portion of sunlight from the top of the high canopy that reaches the rainforest floor

150
Q

Tropical seasonal forests

A

The transition zone between the tropical rainforests and the tall grass savannas. Has drought-tolerant trees that look brown and dormant during the dry season

151
Q

Tropical Savanna

A

A transitional biome between the tropical seasonal forests and semi-arid tropical steppes and deserts

152
Q

Grass

A

The main vegetation of the savanna

153
Q

Africa

A

The continent with the largest amount of tropical savanna, including the Serengeti plains of Tanzania and Kenya

154
Q

Sahel region

A

An environmentally fragile area of the Sahara Desert

155
Q

Examples of the great mid-latitude grasslands

A

Ukraine, Argentina, US Great Plains

156
Q

98th Meridian

A

In the US mid-latitude grasslands, it divides the wetter east with taller grass from the drier west with shorter grasses

157
Q

Prairies

A

The North American mid-latitude grasslands

158
Q

Steppe

A

The short grass grasslands of S.E. Europe and S.W. Asia

159
Q

Desert

A

Biome that covers more than 1/3 of the earth’s land area

160
Q

10 inches

A

A general upper limit of annual rainfall in a desert

161
Q

Desertification

A

The expansion of deserts

162
Q

Great Green Wall

A

China’s effort to stop expansion of the northern desert

163
Q

Cold deserts

A

Found in high latitudes where the influence on sup tropical high pressure is less than six months a year

164
Q

Deserts and Semi-Arid Areas

A

Formed on the eastern side of the subtropical high pressure cells

165
Q

The Western sides of continents

A

Where deserts tend to form due to the cool dry air of the eastern side of the subtropical highs

166
Q

Xerophytic plants

A

Plants found in dry areas

167
Q

Features of Xerophytic plants

A

Long root system, plants spread apart, waxy coatings, small leaves, thick epidermal layers

168
Q

Temperate Shrubland

A

Woody shrubs and grassy woodlands occupying regions poleward of the shifting subtropical highs

169
Q

Chaparral

A

Scrubby evergreens of California

170
Q

Deep roots

A

What plants in Southern California have in order to rebound quickly after a fire

171
Q

Temperate rainforest

A

Area in North America found along narrow Margins of the Pacific Northwest having lots of rain and tallest trees on Earth

172
Q

Mixed forests

A

Forests with moist warm summers and cool to cold winters, with a mix of deciduous and evergreen needle trees

173
Q

Deciduous

A

Dropping leaves in winter

174
Q

Humid subtropical and humid continental

A

Climates associated with the mid-latitude broadleaf and mixed forests

175
Q

Boreal forest

A

The largest continuous forest on Earth

176
Q

Taiga

A

The less densely forested ragged edge of the boreal forest; the transition zone to the arctic tundra

177
Q

Permafrost

A

Permanently frozen subsoil

178
Q

Muskeg

A

Boggy sections of reclaimed lakes in high latitude forests

179
Q

Tundra

A

Found in the extreme northern area of North America nd Russia. Warmest month 50 degrees F

180
Q

Types of tundra

A

Desert, Grass, Bush

181
Q

Marine Snow

A

Dead plankton, algae, fish that drop to the bottom of the ocean, providing food for deep ocean ecosystems

182
Q

Photic Zone

A

Area of water that is penetrated by light

183
Q

Littoral Zone

A

The area near the shore of an ocean or the bank of a lake where most of the vegetation and animals live

184
Q

Saragasso sea

A

A mat of algae that supports a diversity of animals in the Western Atlantic

185
Q

Mangrove trees

A

Salt tolerant trees that reclaim tropical coastlines

186
Q

Estuary

A

Where fresh water and salt water mix

187
Q

Tide pools

A

Depressions in rocky shoreline that are flooded at high tide, but some water remains at low tide

188
Q

Wetlands

A

Shallow ecosystems where the land surface is saturated or submerged at least part of the year

189
Q

Swamps

A

Wetlands with trees

190
Q

Marshes

A

Wetlands without trees

191
Q

Bogs

A

Water saturated ground fed by precipitation

192
Q

Fen

A

Water saturated ground fed by ground water

193
Q

Coral Reefs

A

Colonies of small animals that liv with algae. Calcium rich skeletons protect the algae, and the algae feed the coral animals. They shelter fish, worms, and other life forms

194
Q

Coral bleaching

A

Whitening of corals reefs due to stress often followed by death

195
Q

Keystone species

A

Species that play a major role in the ecosystem

196
Q

Umbrella species

A

Species that require a lot of land

197
Q

Flagship species

A

Species that humans react to emotionally

198
Q

Madagascar Rosy Periwinkle

A

Anti-cancer plant that has sent 99% of childhood leukemia patients into remission

199
Q

Endangered

A

In imminent danger of extinction

200
Q

Threatened

A

Are likely to become endangered

201
Q

Vulnerable

A

Naturally rare or have been locally depleted

GEOG 2400 (3 decks)

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