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Environmental Science 1/2 > Exam Revision > Flashcards

Exam Revision Flashcards

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Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Ecology

A

The study of the interaction between organisms and the environment

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2
Q

Biome

A

Contain many ecosystems. Influenced by global weather and climate patterns.

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3
Q

Ecosystem

A

A system formed by the interaction of a community of organisms and their abiotic components. Made up of habitats.

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4
Q

Habitats

A

Specific areas that make up and ecosystem, containing a variety of communities and interacting species.

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5
Q

Community

A

An ecological community is made up of various species interacting in a habitat.

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6
Q

Species

A

A group of similar or the same organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring.

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7
Q

Population

A

A group of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the same area

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8
Q

Individual

A

A singular organism.

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9
Q

System

A

A set of interrelated elements to make a unified whole.

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10
Q

Inputs

A

The matter/energy within/entering a system.

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11
Q

Outputs

A

The matter/energy produced from a system.

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12
Q

Components

A

The elements within a system.

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13
Q

Boundary

A

The physical barriers of a system.

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14
Q

Ecological processes

A

The act of the elements (biotic/abiotic) in an ecosystem that interact and undergo change.

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15
Q

Systems Thinking

A

Process for understanding how seemingly independent units within a larger entity are interrelated and influence one another.

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16
Q

Open System

A

A system in which matter and energy can be freely exchanged with the surrounding environment.

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17
Q

Closed System

A

A system in which matter and energy exchanges do not occur across the system’s boundary.

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18
Q

Semi-permeable System

A

A system by which certain matter and energy can be exchanged through the system’s boundary.

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19
Q

Food Chain

A

Series of steps in an ecosystem in which organisms transfer energy via consummation.

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20
Q

Food Web

A

Network of interactions formed by the transfer of energy among the various organisms in an ecosystem.

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21
Q
A
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22
Q

Autotroph

A

Organisms that produce their own energy (i.e. photosynthesizing plants).

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23
Q

Heterotroph

A

Organisms that obtain energy through the foods it consumes; also called a consumer.

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24
Q

Decomposers

A

Organisms that break down the dead remains of other organisms.

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25
Q

Producer

A

An organism that produces its own food/energy (i.e. plants).

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26
Q

Consumer

A

An organism that obtains energy by feeding on other organisms. Consumers are classified depending on their trophic levels on the food pyramid. Primary consumers are the first order of consumers, they feed on producers. Secondary consumers feed on primary consumers, etc.

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27
Q

Trophic levels

A

The hierarchical, successive levels of the food chain through which energy flows from primary producers to primary consumers, secondary consumers and so on.

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28
Q

Pyramid of numbers

A

Representation of the number of individual organisms in each trophic level of an ecosystem.

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29
Q

Pyramid of biomass

A

Representation of the total amount of living material available at each trophic level. The area at the bottom corresponds to the producer level. It represents the greatest amount of living material.

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30
Q

Hydrosphere

A

Encapsulates all the water at and near the surface of the Earth, 97% of which is in oceans.

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31
Q

Lithosphere

A

Encapsulates the solid, outer layer of the Earth that consists of the crust and the rigid upper part of the mantle.

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32
Q

Soil profiles/horizons

A

Soil profiles are the layers of soil that are divided into horizons.

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33
Q

Soil Porsity

A

The porousness of the soil/spaces between each soil particle.

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34
Q

Soil Compaction

A

When soil is pressed down tightly resulting in the removal of air pockets; therefore not allowing water to penetrate or plants to grow.

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35
Q

Soil Fertility

A

The measure of a soil’s ability to hold nutrients and to supply nutrients to a plant.

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36
Q

Biosphere

A

Consists of all life on Earth and all parts of the Earth in which life exists, including land, water, and the atmosphere.

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37
Q

Biota

A

Biotic factors of an ecosystem.

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38
Q

Biotic

A

Living things.

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39
Q

Atmosphere

A

Encapsulates the mixture of gases that surrounds the Earth.

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40
Q

Troposphere

A

0-17 km above Earth’s surface, site of weather, organisms, contains most atmospheric water vapor. (temperature decreases with increasing altitude, pressure decreases).

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41
Q

Stratosphere

A

12 to 50 km, Ozone held here, absorbs UV radiation.

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42
Q

Mesosphere

A

50 to 80 km, most meteorites burn up here.

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43
Q

Thermosphere

A

The thermosphere is the layer above the mesosphere, characterized throughout by an increase in temperature with height.

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44
Q

Weather

A

The state of the atmosphere at a place and time as regards heat, dryness, sunshine, wind, rain, etc.

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45
Q

Climate

A

The weather conditions prevailing in an area in general or over a long period.

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46
Q

Biogeochemical (nutrient) cycles

A

The cycles by which nutrients move through air, water, soil, rock, and living organisms.

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47
Q

Carbon-oxygen cycle

A

Movement of oxygen and carbon through the ecosphere (via; photosynthesis, respiration, combustion, deforestation, decomposition, fossilization).

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48
Q

Photosynthesis

A

Process by which photosynthetic organisms convert CO2 and H2O to C6H12O6 and O2.

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49
Q

Respiration

A

Process by which respiratory organisms convert C6H12O6 and O2 to CO2 and H2O

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50
Q

Combustion

A

The burning of organic compounds converting it into CO2 and other greenhouse gasses.

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51
Q

Deforestation

A

The action of clearing a wide area of forest.

52
Q

Decomposition

A

The process by which organic material/waste breaks down into nutrients (via bacteria/microorganisms).

53
Q

Fossilization

A

Preservation via lithification (turning something to stone) of organic remains.

54
Q

Hydrological cycle

A

Cycle of water, the movement of water and its transformation between the gaseous (vapor), liquid, and solid forms (via; evaporation, condensation, precipitation, surface-run off, infiltration, percolation, transpiration).

55
Q

Condensation

A

The change of the water’s state from a gas to a liquid.

56
Q

Precipitation

A

Rain, snow, sleet, or hail that falls to the ground after condensation of atmospheric water vapor.

57
Q

Surface run-off

A

Water that stays on top of the land and flows back to a water source.

58
Q

Infiltration

A

Flow of water from the land surface into the subsurface.

59
Q

Percolation

A

The process by which water moves downward in the soil, toward the water table.

60
Q

Aquifers

A

An underground water reservoir.

61
Q

Evaporation

A

Water is heated and converted from liquid to gas.

62
Q

Nitrogen Cycle

A

The transfer of nitrogen from the atmosphere to the soil, to living organisms, and back to the atmosphere (via; nitrogen fixation, nitrification, assimilation, ammonification, denitrification).

63
Q

Nitrogen fixation

A

Process of converting nitrogen gas compounds into nitrogen compounds (i.e. NH3) that plants can absorb and use.

64
Q

Nitrification

A

The process by which nitrites and nitrates are produced by nitrifying bacteria from NH3 or other fixated compounds.

65
Q

Assimilation

A

Absorption of nitrogen compounds via consumption.

66
Q

Ammonification

A

The process by which fungal and bacterial decomposers break down the organic nitrogen found in organic waste and convert it into ammonium (NH3).

67
Q

Denitrification

A

The conversion of nitrates into nitrogen gas via denitrifying bacteria which is then released into the atmosphere.

68
Q

Daily changes

A

Changes in the weather and biological activity during the span of 24 hours.

69
Q

Circadian rhythm

A

The daily cycle that follows the rising/setting of the sun that affects the physiological patterns of organisms.

70
Q

Diurnal/Nocturnal/Crepuscular

A

Diurnal: Organisms that are active during the day.

71
Q

Monthly changes

A

Changes in the tidal and migratory pattern of particularly aquatic organisms that follow the lunar rhythm that shifts every 28-29 days.

72
Q

Ecological succession

A

The gradual change in the structure and composition of an ecosystem.

73
Q

Primary succession

A

The development of an ecosystem without a prior existing community.

74
Q

Secondary succession

A

The development of an ecosystem with pre-existing soil.

75
Q

Pioneer species

A

First species to populate an area (of bare rock and ash) during primary succession.

76
Q

Climax community

A

The final stage of succession, where a stable community is formed with maximum biological activity.

77
Q

Cultural burning

A

The burning of small patches of forest using ‘cool flame’, practiced by Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders to manage the growth of undershrub and detritus to promote biodiversity and prevent ‘hot flames’ that are present as uncontrollable bushfires.

78
Q

Greenhouse effect

A

Process by which heat is retained in Earth’s atmosphere by carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and other gases.

79
Q

Carbon sequestration

A

A method of storing atmospheric carbon compounds in to prevent their release into the atmosphere and reduce human’s ‘carbon footprint’.

80
Q

Biological sequestration

A

Carbon taken up by plants in photosynthesis can be stored in large reserves of plant matter, is process known as biological sequestration.

81
Q

Geological sequestration

A

Process by which CO2 is captured from industrial processes and injected as liquid form into underground stores.

82
Q

Water reclamation

A

Processes of treating wastewater to make it safe for reuse or recycling.

83
Q

Stakeholders

A

All the entities effected/involved within a case.

84
Q

Regulatory frameworks

A

Rules that govern the way developments must proceed to ensure responsible decisions are made. Eg. emissions limits, sewerage treatment regulations.

85
Q

Value systems

A

A hierarchy based on a ranking of an individual’s values:

86
Q

Variables (scientific)

A

Independent variable - variable you are changing (i.e. amount of water to a plant)

87
Q

Quantitative

A

Data that is in numbers/units.

88
Q

Qualitative

A

Data in the form of words.

89
Q

Hypothesis

A

A testable prediction, often implied by a theory.

90
Q

Graphs

A

Charts that represent data (Ex: Pie, Bar, Line).

91
Q

Pollution

A

Matter or energy that has the potential to harm human/environmental health.

92
Q

Primary/secondary pollution

A

Primary pollution: pollutants directly discharged into environment

93
Q

Waste

A

A material of a byproduct eliminated/discarded as it is no longer useful/required after the completion of a process.

94
Q

Contaminants

A

The presence of a substance where it does not naturally occur or is found at concentrations above background levels.

95
Q

Sources

A

Where pollutants are released;

96
Q

Emissions

A

Production/discharge of something;

97
Q

Pollution sinks

A

Reserves where a pollutant may accumulate or become stored.

98
Q

Bioaccumulation

A

Buildup of pollutant in particularly organisms of high trophic levels in the food chain.

99
Q

Biomagnification

A

Condition where chemical concentration of pollutant in an organism exceeds the concentration of its food when the major exposure route occurs from the organisms diet.

100
Q

Bioconcentration

A

The specific bioaccumulation process by which the concentration of a chemical in an organism becomes higher than its concentration in the air or water around the organism.

101
Q

Mercury as a pollutant

A

Organic mercury: Methyl mercury (CH3Hg), Ethylmercury (C6H5Hg) -> Fat soluble, bioaccumulates -> Assimilated by organisms from inorganic forms -> Very (chronic) toxic

102
Q

Exposure

A

Amount of pollutant an individual/population is exposed to in a given time.

103
Q

Absorption

A

Process of taking in an energy/substance by chemical or physical action

104
Q

Dosage

A

How much pollutant is actually absorbed by an organism (mg/g)

105
Q

Toxicity

A

Measure of harm a substance causes to organisms:

106
Q

Threshold pollutant

A

Is a substance that is harmful to a particular organism once it reached a certain concentration, or threshold level

107
Q

Endocrine disruptors

A

Chemicals that interfere with the normal functioning of hormones in an organism’s body

108
Q

Lethal Dose (LD50)

A

Dose required to kill 50% of a population.

109
Q

Environmental indicators

A

Indicators used to assess the overall condition of the environment.

110
Q

Physical indicators

A

Assesses the physical condition of the environment (light intensity, turbidity, temperature).

111
Q

Chemical indicators

A

Used to assess the chemical properties of the environment (pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand, nutrients).

112
Q

Socioeconomic indicators

A

Provides data on the nations economy (education, infrastructure, income, etc.).

113
Q

Biological indicators

A

Species that can be used to monitor the health of an environment or ecosystem.

114
Q

Ecological niche

A

The way a species fits into an ecosystem,, or the role it plays in its community.

115
Q

Dissolved oxygen (BOD)

A

Measure of the amount of oxygen dissolved in water.

116
Q

Macroinvertebrates

A

Organisms without a backbone that can be seen without a microscope.

117
Q

Traditional farming

A

Conventional farming that involves large scale monocultures and is often unsustainable.

118
Q

Organic farming

A

Sustainable polyculture farming methods that follow the ecological principles and whole system food management approach(es).

119
Q

Food security

A

Having reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable and nutritious food.

120
Q

Food insecurity

A

Insufficiency of food.

121
Q

Ethical consumption

A

Conscious consumption that minimizes environmental impact.

122
Q

Ecological footprint

A

A measure of how much an individual consumes, expressed in area of land.

123
Q

Carbon footprint

A

The total carbon dioxide emissions produced by an individual, group, or location.

124
Q

Life Cycle Analysis

A

A process that attempts to identify the effect a product has on resources over its entire lifetime.

125
Q

CPR

A

C - condition

126
Q

SOE

A

State of Environment (government publication)

Environmental Science 1/2 (5 decks)

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