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ESS Flashcards

1
Q

Zonation

A

change in community along an environmental gradient due to factors: spatial and static

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2
Q

Factors influencing zonation

A

temperature, precipitation, solar insolation, soil type, interactions between species

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3
Q

Estimating Biomass and energy of tropic levels within a community

A

measurement of dry mass, controlled combustion, extrapolation from samples – used to create ecological pyramids

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4
Q

Estimating Abundance of non-motile organisms

A

Quadrats, population density, percentage cover, percentage frequency

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5
Q

Simpson Diversity Index

A

D = N(N-1)/sum of n(n-1) (capital N is total number of organisms and n is number of individual of particular species

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6
Q

Speciation

A

gradual change of a species over a long time

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7
Q

Reasons for speciation

A

Physical barriers, Lang Bridges, Continental Drift

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8
Q

Human threats to biodiversity

A

Habitat destruction, introducing invasive species, pollution, over-harvesting, hunting

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9
Q

Factors for determining conservation status of species (IUCN)

A

Population size, degree of specialisation, distribution, reproduction potential and behaviour, geographic range and degree of fragmentation, quality of habitat, tropic level and probability of extinction

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10
Q

Value of Biodiversity

A

Direct - Food Sources, Natural Products.
Indirect - Environmental services, Educational Value, Biological Control agents, Future Potential, Gene Pools, Human Health, Human rights, Recreational and Ecotourism, Intrinsic Value, Biorights

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11
Q

Conservation Biology

A

Sustainable use and management of natural resources

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12
Q

Preservation Biology

A

attempts to exclude human activities (more difficult than conservation)

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13
Q

Approaches to Conservation

A

Species based
habitat Based
Both

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14
Q

Species based conservation example

A

CITES
- agreement between governments to address species becoming endangered because of international trade
- species are grouped by appendecies based on how threatened they are (I = cannot be traded, II = can be traded but with regulations, III = included at request of country needing coorporation from other countries)

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15
Q

Flagship Species

A

Popular despite not playing large role in ecosystem
Disadvantages:
- takes priorites over more important species
- if they become extinct will send message that we’ve failed

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16
Q

Keystone Species

A

Plays critical role in ecosystem - their loss would be devastating

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17
Q

Single Large Habitat Conservation

A

Contains sufficient numbers of large wide-ranging species, minimises edge effects =, provides more habitats for species

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18
Q

Several Small Habitat Conservation

A

Provides greater range of habitats, more populations of a rare species, danger of man0made disaster wiping out reserve is reduced

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19
Q

Greenhouse Effect

A

caused by gas in atmosphere reducing heat loses by radiating back into space -> trapping heat energy reflected from Earth’s surface

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20
Q

Ozone

A

In stratosphere Good (absorbs UV radiation), in trophosphere bad

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21
Q

Damaging Effects of UV

A

Genetic Mutation and subsequent effects on health, damage to living tissue, cataract formation in eyes, skin cancers, suppression of immune system, damage to photosynthetic organisms, damage to consumers of these organisms

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22
Q

Beneficial Effects of UV

A

stimulates production of vitamin D, can be used to treat skin diseases, used as steriliser to kill bacteria, can be an air and water purifier, industrial uses

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23
Q

Ozone Depleting Substances

A

CFCs - releases chlorine atoms, HCFCs (shorter lifetime in atmosphere), Halons, Methly Bromide, Nitrogen Oxides

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24
Q

Reducing ODS

A

Alter
- replace gas-blown plastics
- replace CFCs with propane or air
- replace aresols

Regulate
- recover and recycle CFCs
- legislate to have fridges returned to manufacturer and coolants removed and stored
- capture CFCs from scrap AC unites

clean up and Restore
- add ozone or remove chlorine from stratosphere

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25
Q

Montreal Protocol

A

Agreement to phase out production of ODS directed by UNEP

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26
Q

Effects of ozone

A

Damage to plants, damage to humans, damage to materials and products

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27
Q

Photochemical Smog

A

Complex mixture of hundreds of primary and secondary pollutants. Is formed when ozone, nitrogen oxides and gaseous hydrocarbons from vehicle exhaust interact with strong sunlight

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28
Q

Dangers of particulates

A

Respiratory Problems, Carcinogenic (cancer causing), reduces productivity as less sunlight reaches leaf

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29
Q

Thermal Inversion

A

Increases Photochemical Smog.
On warm day - an even warmer layer of air on top of polluted air prevents air rising and traps pollution on ground level

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30
Q

Direct Effects of Acid Deposition

A

weakening tree growth in coniferous forests, acid falling on lakes and ponds decreasing pH of water and effecting aquatic organisms

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31
Q

Indirect effects of acid deposition

A

Toxic - increased solubility of metal ions which is toxic to fish and plant roots
Leaching of nutrients

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32
Q

Reducing Effects of Acid Deposition

A

Liming lakes to neutralise acidity, reducing emissions, precombustion techniques, end of pipe measures

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33
Q

Energy Choices

A

availability of supply, technological developments, politics, economics, cultural attitudes, sustainability, environmental considerations

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34
Q

Enhanced Greenhouse effect

A

increased GHGs = enhanced greenhouse effect causing global warming and climate change (only a concern because of anthropogenic activities)

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35
Q

Water Vapour

A

Has larges effect in trapping heat energy and is th most potent GHG however is usually not listed because concentration varies constantly

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36
Q

Ocean Conveyer Belt

A

Currents move nutrients if locked in dense water then oceanic food webs suffer. Reversal impacts entire marine food web and market which can also change weather patterns across world (el nino la nina)

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37
Q

Maximum Sustainable Yield

A

increase in natural capital that can be exploited each year without depleting original stock or potential for replenishment. Harvesting at this rate leads to population decline and unsustainable industry therefore should use Optimal sustainable yield instead.

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38
Q

Indicator Species

A

most sensitive to change so they are early warning signs something may have changed in an ecosystem

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39
Q

Biotic Index

A

Indirectly measures health in environment by looking at number of living things - assesses impact on species according to their tolerance, diversity and relative abundance

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40
Q

Human activities leading to soil degredation

A

Overgrazing, deforestation, unsustainable agriculture

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41
Q

Soil Erosion Processes

A

Sheet wash - large areas of surface soil are washed away during heavy storm periods and in mountainous areas as landslides.
Gullying - channels develop on hillsides following rainfall - over time these become a lot deeper
Wind Erosion

42
Q

Ecocentric Value system

A

puts ecology and nature as central to humanity.

43
Q

Anthropocentric Value system

A

humans must sustainably manage the global system

44
Q

Technocentric Value System

A

technological developments provide solutions to environmental problems

45
Q

Soil Degredation Causes

A

Erosion - removal of soil (water or wind)
Process making soil infertile - chemicals

46
Q

Human Activities leading to soil degredation

A

Overgrazing, deforestation, unsustainable agriculture

47
Q

Overgrazing

A

too many animals graze in same area leaving bare patches where roots no longer hold soil together.
Causes Erosion

48
Q

Overcropping

A

depletes soil nutrients (friable)
reduces soil fertility - no nutrients returned to soil
susceptible to erosion

49
Q

Deforestation

A

the more vegetation is removed the more soil will become prone to erosion (positive feedback loop)
Root systems of forests bind soil together - removal bad

50
Q

Unsustainable agricultural techniques

A

removal of crops after harvest (erosion)
growing crops in rows with uncovered soil between (erosion)
plowing in direction of slope
excessive use of pesticides (toxic soils)
irrigation - water evaporates before reaching crops (causes salinization)

51
Q

Processes of soil erosion

A

Sheet wash - washed away during storms
Gullying - channels on hillsides following rainfall over time becoming deeper
Wind Erosion - high winds continually remove surface layer

52
Q

ways to conserve soil

A

Addition of soil conditions - lime and organic materials
Wind reduction - planting trees or bushes between fields
Soil conserving cultivation techniques (growing cover crops, terracing, plowing, contour farming)
Improved Irrigation Techniques (trickle flow)
Stop Plowing marginal lands
Crop Rotation

53
Q

Subsistence Farming

A

Farming for self and community
Mixed crops, human labour, low inputs and low outputs, vulnerable to food shortages

54
Q

Cash Cropping

A

growing crops for market not for self

55
Q

Commercial

A

large profit-making scale
often a monoculture
high inputs and high outputs

56
Q

Extensive commercial farming

A

more land with lower density of stock and plants
lower inputs and outputs

57
Q

Intensive commercial farming

A

land more intensively used - high density
high inputs and outputs

58
Q

Pastoral

A

raising animals on grass and land not suitable for crops

59
Q

Arable

A

growing crops on good soils to eat directly or feed to animals

60
Q

Mixed farming approach

A

systems approach - crops and animals work together
animal waster fertilise crops and crops fed to animals

61
Q

Differences between commercial and subsistence farming

A

Agribusiness, Scale, Industrialisation, Mechanization, Fossil Fuel Use, Seed/crop/livestock choices, water use, fertilizer/pest control, antibiotics, legislation, pollinators

62
Q

Malnutrition

A

lack of nutrients, excessive (obsesity), unbalanced

63
Q

MEDCs food habits

A

relatively cheap costs
purchase food out of choice
seasonality mostly gone
exotic food available all year around

64
Q

LEDCs food habits

A

struggle to produce enough food for population
political and economic agendas
environmental limitations on food production

65
Q

Factors determining choice of food

A

Climate, cultural and religious, political, socio-economic

66
Q

Politics of food supply

A

NPP adapts but we demand more meat (reaching limits) those in poverty also increasing

67
Q

History of Agriculture

A

Animal Domestication –> livestock –> growing crops–> fertilisers –> harvesting –> crop rotation

68
Q

Efficiency of farming system

A

measured by energy it takes to produce crop vs Energy contained within crop of harvested product

69
Q

Terrestrial food production systems

A

usually harvested at first of second trophic levels (efficient use of solar energy)
higher losses - skeletol waste

70
Q

Aquatic Food production systems

A

food comes from higher trophic levels therefore lower energy efficiency (entropy)

71
Q

Factors contributing to decrease in agricultural land

A

soil erosion
salinization
desertification
urbanisation

72
Q

Strategies to improve agricultural sustainability

A

Maximise yield of food production systems (improved technology, alter what we grow and how, new green revolution)
Reduce food waster - improving storage and distribution
Monitoring and Control (governments, national, individuals)
Change attitudes (no meat)
Reduce food processing, packaging and transport

73
Q

Human impact on water cycle

A

withdrawals (domestic use, irrigation)
discharges (additions of pollutants to water)
changing speed of water flow and where (channeling, canalising dams)
diverting rivers or sections of rivers

74
Q

Freshwater availability problems

A

disrupted rainfall patterns
low water levels
underground aquifiers being exhausted
contamination
irrigation
fertilisers and pesticides

75
Q

Freshwater availability solutions

A

reservoirs, redistribution, desalination, rainwater harvesting, artificially recharging aquifiers, reduced domestic waste, grey water recycling

76
Q

Marine Organisms classification

A

Bethnic - living on sea bed
Pelagic - living surrounded by water (above seabed or surface)

77
Q

Sustainable ways to fish farm

A

fishmeal uses more trimmings and scraps (have been wasted in past)
livestock and poultry waster replaced for fishmeal
8 species of caniverous fish can eat alternative sources without eating other fish

78
Q

Impacts of fish farms

A

loss of habitats, pollution, spread of diseases, escaped species may survive to interbreed with wild fish or outcompete native species cauisng population crash

79
Q

Overfishing

A

commercial fishing, fishing fleets, fishing vessels, indiscriminate fishing gear, huge nets

80
Q

Aquatic pollution

A

floating debris, organic material, inorganic plant nutrients, toxic metals, synthetic compounds, suspended solids, hot water, oil, radioactive pollution, pathogens, light, noise, biological pollutants

81
Q

Biochemical Oxygen Demand

A

measure of amount of dissolved oxygen is required to break down organic material in given volume of water (biotic index)

82
Q

Eutrophication

A

results in excess growth of plants and phytoplankton, happens when excess nutrients are added to an aquatic ecosystem

83
Q

Impacts of Eutrophication

A

bad looks
foul smells
anaerobic water
loss of biodiversity
death of higher plants
increased turbidity of water
lead to dead zones

84
Q

Ingredients of soil

A

Mineral particles from underlying rock
organic remains that have come from the plants and animals humus
water within spaces between soil grains
air with soil grains

85
Q

Soil Horizons

A

O - start to decompose dead material
A - where humus builds up
B - organic matter deposited from layer above
C - weathered rock - soil forms
R - parent material (bedrock or other medium)

86
Q

tools for quanitfying human population

A

CBR (PS/no.B * 1000) - birth
CDR (PS/no.D * 1000) - death
NIR (CBR-CDR/10) - increase rate
DT - 70/NIR (doubling time
Total Fertility Rate

87
Q

Biomagnification

A

increase in concentration of persistent or non-biodegradable pollutants along a food chain

88
Q

Bioaccumulation

A

build up of pollutants within organisms or trophic level because they can’t break down

89
Q

Ecological Pyramids

A

allow easy examination of energy transfer and losses
give idea of organisms that exist at different trophic levels
demonstrate ecosystem that are in balance

90
Q

Pyramid of numbers

A

no. of individual organisms at each trophic level

91
Q

Pyramids of biomass

A

displays weight of biological material at each trophic level

92
Q

Pyramid of productivity

A

shows rate of flow of energy through each trophic level (most accurate)

93
Q

NPP

A

GPP- respiration
result from fact all organisms have to respire
they are deductions as some energy is used in staying alive

94
Q

Nitrogen Fixation

A

nitrogen in air combines with other elements

95
Q

Ammonification

A

when nitrogen transformed into ammonia

96
Q

Assimilation

A

when plants and animal take ammonia and nitrates as food for energy

97
Q

Denitrification

A

when the nitrate is converted into nitrogen gas and put back into atmosphere

98
Q

Replace - pollution management strategies

A

replace fossil fuel use with alternatives (renewables)
reduce overall demand for electricity - education
use public transport
use low sulphur fuels

99
Q

Regulate - pollution management strateges

A

clean up technologies at points of emission
catalytic converters to convert nitrous oxides to nirtogen gas

100
Q

restore - pollution management strategies

A

recolonise damaged areas
international agreements
liming forestry plantations

101
Q

Mitigation strategies for climate change

A

Stablise or reduce GHG emissions
Remove carbon dioxide from atmospshere
Geo-engineering

102
Q

Adaptation strategies for climate change

A

change land use through planning legislation
build to resist flooding
change agricultural production
manage weather
migrate to other areas
manage water supplies

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