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epidemiology chapter 1-4 > envrionmental science exam 3 > Flashcards

envrionmental science exam 3 Flashcards

1
Q

food security

A

Guarantee of adequate, safe, nutritious, and reliable food supply available to all peoples
In general, food production has kept pace, or even exceeded, population growth.
However, many of the world’s soils are in decline and most arable lands are already utilized

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2
Q

undernutrition

A

Receiving fewer calories than dietary requirements
Globally, undernutrition is falling. Less, people going hungry

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3
Q

over nuturition

A

Consumption of excess calories
In U.S. more than 1/3rd of population is obese
Non-communicable diseases are at their highest rates: cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancers, etc

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4
Q

malnutrition

A

Failure to obtain adequate vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats, etc from foods
Example: Protein deficient diets can lead to children developing kwashiorkor, this combined with inadequate calories can lead to marasmus

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5
Q

traditional agriculture

A

Began about 10,000 years ago

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6
Q

polycultures

A

mixture of different plants grown together

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7
Q

machinery

A

allowed for faster cultivating ,harvesting and transporting and processing of crops

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8
Q

monocultures

A

vast areas of single crops not mixed ,reduces biodiversity also more susceptible to pests and disease

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9
Q

traditional farming - slash and burn

A

cut down and burn forests to clear land for monocultures or animals
Destroys habitats and releases GHGs
Input of fertilizers and use of pesticides interrupt natural cycles and pollute water and soil
Inefficient use of water through wasteful irrigation
Lack of crop rotations and overgrazing depletes soils and can lead to desertification

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10
Q

tilling

A

Leaves soils exposed to wind and water. Erodes over time

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11
Q

sustainable farming

A

intercropping -Plant mixed varieties, better mimicking natural ecosystem, less cutting of trees
Plants used that mutually benefit, also adds to surrounding ecosystem
Use of compost and natural fertilizers. Organic
Slower release of nutrients, less likely to negatively impact natural cycles, reduces environmental loads
Targeted application of water and fertilizers
Crop rotation: Alternate crops grown each year/season
No Tilling: Crop residues and plant material are left. Creates barrier that protects soils from erosion and degradation

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12
Q

pests

A

Can damage crops, especially monocultures because they easily move from plant to plant

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13
Q

weed

A

Any plant that competes with crops

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14
Q

pesticides

A

Poisons applied to kill pests and weeds because monocultures lack natural protections
Typically decline in effectiveness over time as pests and weeds gain resistance
Some pests survive > pass on resistant genes > pesticides become less effective > more toxic pesticides used > cycle repeats

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15
Q

biological control

A

Use of organisms that compete or consume pests/weeds

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16
Q

integrated pest management

A

Use of organisms that compete or consume pests/weeds

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17
Q

pollination

A

Male sex cells of plant (pollen) fertilize female sex cells

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18
Q

mutualistic interaction

A

Pollinators get nectar, plant gets fertilized

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19
Q

pollinators

A

are declining due to impacts from industrial agriculture
Insecticides, loss of habitats, invasive parasites and pathogens, human exploitation

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20
Q

colony collapse disorder

A

majority of worker bees disappear, colony dies
1/3rd of U.S. colonies collapse each year

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21
Q

animal agriculture

A

Since 1950: Global meat production increased 5x
Some animals convert crops or grass more efficiently
Feedlots (factory farms): Huge warehouses that raise animals for food in high densities
Positives: More efficient. Less land used. Cheaper and higher production
Negatives: Large consumption of grains. Raises prices of otherwise cheap crops. Waste pollutes nearby soils and waterways. Heavy use of antibiotics creates resistant strains of diseases
Major contributor to GHG emissions: Methane and nitrous oxide much stronger GHGs than CO2

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22
Q

overharvest

A

is collapsing wild sea life populations

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23
Q

aquaculture

A

Cultivation of aquatic organisms for food in controlled environments

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24
Q

postive

A

Reduces pressure on wild populations. Consumes fewer fossil fuels. Safer working environment. Can be quite energy efficient

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25
Q

negatives

A

Large amounts of waste. Fed grains which can raise prices. Some fed fishmeal from wild caught, adding to pressure. Fish can escape and spread disease or outcompete natives (if invasive)

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26
Q

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)

A

Genetically engineered using recombinant DNA, patching DNA together from multiple organisms
Goal is desirable traits: faster growth, disease resistance, higher nutrition, etc
Difference from artificial selection:
Mixes DNA of different organisms/species
Genetic material mixed in labs, not existing in nature
Creates novel combinations directly

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27
Q

pros and cons for genetically modified organisms

A

cons - adverse effects of GM foods on health are the transfer of antibiotic resistance, toxicity and allergenicity.
pros -More nutritious food.
Tastier food.
Disease- and drought-resistant plants that require fewer environmental resources (such as water and fertilizer)
Less use of pesticides.
Increased supply of food with reduced cost and longer shelf life.
Faster growing plants and animals.

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28
Q

biodiversity benefits

A

food security- Biodiversity reduces crop failures and helps prevent rapid spread of diseases between animals
medicine -Made from plants and animals for centuries. About half of modern pharmaceuticals derived from wild plants.
Many species not discovered yet, many more medicines to find

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29
Q

ecosystem services

A

Provides goods and services like food, fuel, plant pollination, pest and disease control, aesthetic benefits, etc
17 ecosystem services estimated to be worth $148 trillion per year

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30
Q

functional ecosystems

A

Increases resilience of ecological systems. Keeps them stable, balanced, and healthy

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31
Q

economic

A

: Tourism and recreation

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32
Q

biophilia

A

People see inherently value life and its diversity

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33
Q

biodiversity loss

A

Human disturbance tends to make ecosystems more similar
Creates “winner” and “loser” species. Generalists typically winners while specialists losers

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34
Q

population shrinking creates two main issues

A

Loss of genetic diversity
Reduced geographic range

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35
Q

extirpation

A

Disappearance of a species from an area, not globally

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36
Q

6th mass extinction

A

Global extinction rate is 100-1000x higher than background rate
About 20% of (known) species are threatened

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37
Q

archeological evidence

A

Supports that human arrival to islands and continents typically followed by extinctions

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38
Q

habitat loss

A

Greatest threat. Either destroyed, fragmented, or degraded

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39
Q

habitat fragmentation

A

Breaking up of continuous habitat into separated pieces through farming, logging, roads, development, etc

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40
Q

wetlands

A

More than half in U.S. and Canada drained for agriculture

41
Q

great plains

A

Less than 1% untouched. Grassland bird species 82-99% loss

42
Q

pollution

A

Harm organisms and ecosystems in various ways:
Noise and light pollution interfere with animal behaviors and patterns
Agricultural runoffs, oil spills, plastics, heavy metals and endocrine disruptors

43
Q

overharvesting

A

Hunting or harvesting unsustainably
Poaching: Unlawful killing of species for meat or body parts, mainly large animals like elephants, rhinos, sharks, whales, etc

44
Q

invasive species

A

Can outcompete, prey upon, or displace natives
Pet trade escapes, transported through human movement, escape of captive animals (aquaculture), transfer of diseases (bacteria and viruses)

45
Q

some intentional

A

moving plants or animals into areas for human benefit. Typically beneficial to humans but detrimental to local ecosystems

46
Q

climate change

A

climate patterns and weather changes. Difficult for most species to adapt to such significant, quick changes
Loss of ice in artic affecting species like the polar bear

47
Q

conservation biology

A

Scientific study and pursuit to understand the processes that influence the loss, protection, and restoration of biodiversity

48
Q

endangered species act

A

Enacted in 1973. Offers protection to species that are endangered or threatened.

49
Q

endangered

A

Danger of going extinct

50
Q

threatened

A

Vulnerable to becoming endangered
Forbids government and citizens from harming individuals or their habitats and forbids trade in products made from species

51
Q

captive breeding

A

Individuals bred and raised in controlled conditions with intent of reintroducing to wild

52
Q

species successes

A

bald eagle, peregrine falcon, brown pelican

53
Q

biodiversity hotspot

A

Region that supports a great number of endemic species
Very valuable pockets of high biodiversity, hence protection

54
Q

parks and protected areas

A

Setting aside of undeveloped lands
Nearly 15% of world’s land
Pressures from outside reserves can still negatively impact populations within

55
Q

community based conservation

A

Conservation biologists working cooperatively with local communities to protect ecosystems and wildlife
25% of world’s protected areas

56
Q

fossil fuels

A

Highly combustible substances formed underground over millions of years from buried remains of dead organisms
Coal (solid), Oil (liquid), and Natural gas (gas)
Replenish very slowly: Would take millions of years to replenish what we’ve used

57
Q

net energy

A

Energy returned – Energy invested

58
Q

EROI

A

Energy returned on investment

59
Q

higher EROI

A

more energy gained per unit invested

60
Q

Lower EROI

A

less energy gained per unit invested

61
Q

fossil fuel formation and extraction

A

Formed when organic material (dead and decaying organisms) are broken down over millions of years in anaerobic environment (oxygen depleted) and heat and pressure are applied over time.

62
Q

coal

A

Most abundant fossil fuel. Mostly formed from woody plants

63
Q

strip mining

A

extraction near surface

64
Q

subsurface mining

A

extraction of deep underground deposits

65
Q

oil and natural gas

A

Mostly formed from dead plankton. Oil is high concentration of hydrocarbons while natural gas is methane

66
Q

reserves to production ratio

A

The remaining reserves of a fossil fuel divided by production (extraction)

67
Q

Oil R/P ratio

A

50 years

68
Q

Natural Gas R/P ratio:

A

50 years

69
Q

coal R/P ratio

A

150 years

70
Q

Once “Peak Oil” occurs

A

we may face economic and societal collapse and/or it could push developments to conserve or exploit new energy sources

71
Q

clean coal technologies

A

techniques and equipment that remove chemical contaminants like sulfur, mercury, and arsenic during generation of electricity from coal

72
Q

scrubbers

A

devices that chemically convert or physically remove pollutants

73
Q

carbon capture

A

Capturing CO2 emissions, converting from gas to liquid, then storing underground or under ocean

74
Q

energy efficiency

A

Same energy output with less input

75
Q

energy conservation

A

Practice of reducing wasteful or unnecessary energy use

76
Q

energy itensity

A

Energy use per dollar of Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
U.S. energy intensity has lowered to less than half of what it was about 70 years ago

77
Q

cogeneration

A

Excess heat from producing energy is utilized to heat homes, workplaces, or produce other kinds of power

78
Q

Energy Efficiency and Conservation Cont

A

Ways to save energy: Smart building design to reduce heating and cooling costs, energy efficient lightbulbs and appliances, etc

79
Q

fuel efficiency

A

hybrid, electric, and hydrogen cell vehicles can reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality
Government has ramped up required fuel efficiencies for vehicles over time:

80
Q

rebound effect

A

Increases in efficiencies may lead to increased consumption of energy and/or fuel

81
Q

nuclear energy

A

Energy that holds together protons and neutrons in nucleus

82
Q

nuclear fission

A

Nuclei of large, heavy atoms like uranium or plutonium are bombarded with neutrons and split

83
Q

chain reaction

A

Nucleus split leads to release of further neutrons, which then impact other nuclei, releasing more energy and neutrons

84
Q

nuclear

A

is cleaner than fossil fuels, but can lead to major accidents (Chernobyl, Three Mile island, Fukushima, etc)

85
Q

nuclear wastes

A

Difficult to dispose of because they will continue to emit large amounts of radiation.
Due to fears of accidents and issues with waste disposal, nuclear power’s growth has slowed

86
Q

renewable benefits

A

Inexhaustible, long-term security
Energy diversification, reduces price volatilities and reliance on imported fuels/energy
Help those in remote areas or developing countries produce their own energy
Reduce air pollution
Slow climate change

87
Q

policy

A

can help promote renewables through green subsidies, tax credits/rebates, etc

88
Q

critics

A

Believe such funneling of taxpayer money towards renewables is inefficient and potentially skews the market. Not a “level playing field

89
Q

supporters

A

Point out that governments have long subsidized fossil fuel industries and still do, so never was nor is a “level playing field”

90
Q

In the U.S

A

Oil and gas have received 75x more subsidies than renewable energy

91
Q

per year basis

A

13x more than renewable energy
For every $1 in taxpayer money towards renewables, $4 towards fossil fuels

92
Q

photovoltaic cells

A

Convert sunlight to electrical energy through electrons movement through silicon plates

93
Q

net metering

A

Energy that the homeowner provides (like through solar power) is subtracted from the homeowner’s utility bill

94
Q

benefits

A

Inexhaustible, enough to power all human civilization (just need to harness it)
No fuel required or emissions
No moving parts and require little maintenance

95
Q

drawbacks

A

Location: Not all regions receive equal amounts of sunlight
Timing: Daily or seasonal variations in sunshine will impact power production
Cost: Up-front costs of equipment, although prices are dropping over time

96
Q

bioenergy

A

Energy acquired from the chemical energy stored in biomass (organic material)
Can be renewable, if not overharvested
Usages: Burn for heat, processing to create electricity, or transforming into liquid fuels

97
Q

biopower

A

Biomass burned to generate electricity
Burn waste products like woody debris from logging, liquid waste from pulp mills, manure and wastes from feedlots or landfills, and residue from crops

98
Q

biofuels

A

Liquid fuels, primarily used to power vehicles
Ethanol, biodiesel, fuels from algae, and cellulosic ethanol (made generally from plants rather than specific crops, like corn)

epidemiology chapter 1-4 (6 decks)

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