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env 101 > exam2- chaps 3, 7, 9 > Flashcards

exam2- chaps 3, 7, 9 Flashcards

1
Q

biosphere

A

the region of our planet where life resides, the combination of all ecosystems on Earth

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2
Q

transpiration

A

the release of water from leaves during photosynthesis

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3
Q

runoff

A

water that moves across the land surface and into streams and rivers

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4
Q

limiting nutrient

A

a nutrient required for the growth of an organism but available in a lower quantity than other nutrients

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5
Q

nitrogen fixation

A

a process by which some organisms can convert nitrogen gas molecules directly into ammonia

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6
Q

disturbance

A

an event, caused by physical, chemical, or biological agents, resulting in changes in population size or community composition

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7
Q

resilience

A

the rate at which an ecosystem returns to its original state after a disturbance

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8
Q

watershed

A

all of the land in a given landscape that drains into a particular stream, river, lake, or wetland

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9
Q

tragedy of the commons

A

the tendency of a shared, limited resource to become depleted because people act from self-interest for short-term gain

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10
Q

clear-cutting

A

a method of harvesting trees that involves removing all or almost all of the trees within an area

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11
Q

environment impact statement (EIS)

A

a document outlining the scope and purpose of a development project, describing the environmental context, suggesting alternative approaches to the project, and analyzing the environmental impact of each alternative

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12
Q

urban sprawl

A

creation of urbanized areas that spread into rural areas and remove clear boundaries between the two

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13
Q

malnourished

A

having a diet that lacks the correct balance of proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals

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14
Q

food insecurity

A

a condition in which people do not have adequate access to food

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15
Q

famine

A

the condition in which food insecurity is so extreme that large numbers of deaths occur in a given area over a relatively short period

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16
Q

industrial agriculture (agribusiness)

A

agriculture that applies the techniques of mechanization and standardization; also known as industrial agriculture

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17
Q

salinization

A

when the small amounts of salt in irrigation water becomes highly concentrated on the soil surface through evaporation

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18
Q

organic fertilizers

A

composed of organic matter from plants and animals

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19
Q

synthetic (inorganic)

A

produced commercially

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20
Q

monocropping

A

the prominent agricultural practice in the US where wheat and cotton are typically grown in monocrops of 405 hectares

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21
Q

pesticides

A

substances that kill or control organisms that we consider pests

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22
Q

insecticides

A

targets species of insects and other invertebrates that consume crops

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23
Q

herbicides

A

target plant species that compete with crops

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24
Q

broad-spectrum

A

ability to kill many different types of pests

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25
Q

selective

A

pesticides that focus on a narrower range of an organism

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26
Q

persistant

A

pesticides that remain in the environment for a long time

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27
Q

bioaccumulation

A

the process where pesticides such as DDT accumulate in the fatty tissue of predators

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28
Q

resistant

A

when organisms survive a pesticide or have a few individuals not susceptible

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29
Q

genetically modified organisms (GMO)

A

manipulation of genes so production can be rapidly produced with desirable traits that may be impossible to develop using traditional breeding techniques

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30
Q

conventional agriculture

A

agriculture that applies the techniques of mechanization and standardization; also known as industrial agriculture

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31
Q

desertification

A

the process in which soil becomes very poor in nutrients, and no longer is able to be used for sufficient farming

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32
Q

sustainable agriculture

A

fulfills the need of food and fiber while enhancing the quality of the soil, minimize use of nonrenewable resources, and enhances economic viability for farmer

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33
Q

fishery

A

a commercially harvestable population of fish within a particular ecological region

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34
Q

bycatch

A

the unintentional catch of nontarget species while fishing

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35
Q

aquaculture

A

farming aquatic organisms such as fish, shellfish, and seaweeds

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36
Q

aquifers

A

a permeable layer of rock and sediment that contains groundwater

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37
Q

water table

A

the uppermost level at which the water in a given area fully saturates rock or soil

38
Q

groundwater recharge

A

a process by which water percolates through the soil and works its way into an aquifer

39
Q

saltwater intrusion

A

an infiltration of salt water in an area where groundwater pressure has been reduced from extensive drilling of wells

40
Q

floodplain

A

the land adjacent to a river

41
Q

oligotrophic

A

low dissolved nutrient concentration

42
Q

mesotrophic

A

moderate of dissolved nutrient concentration

43
Q

eutrophic

A

high dissolved nutrient concentration

44
Q

impermeable surfaces

A

pavement or buildings that do not allow water penetration

45
Q

levee

A

an enlarged bank built up on each side of a river to prevent flooding

46
Q

dikes

A

a body of rock, either sedimentary or igneous, that cuts across the layers of its surroundings

47
Q

reseviour

A

a body of water created by blocking the natural flow of a waterway

47
Q

dam

A

a barrier that runs across a river or stream to control the flow of water

48
Q

aqueducts

A

a canal or ditch used to carry water from one location to another

49
Q

desalination (desalinization)

A

the process of removing the salt from salt water

50
Q

point sources

A

a distinct location from which pollution is directly produced

51
Q

nonpoint sources

A

a diffuse area that produces pollution

52
Q

wastewater

A

water produced by human activities including human sewage from toilets and gray water from bathing and washing of clothes and dishes

53
Q

dead zones

A

in a body of water, an area with extremely low oxygen concentration and very little life

54
Q

eutrophication

A

a phenomenon in which a body of water becomes rich in nutrients

55
Q

septic system

A

a relatively small and simple sewage treatment system, made up of a septic tank and a leach field, often used for homes in rural areas

56
Q

septic tank

A

a large container that receives wastewater from a house as part of a septic system

57
Q

leach field

A

a component of a septic system, made up of underground pipes laid out below the surface of the ground

58
Q

manure lagoons

A

human-made ponds lined with rubber, built to handle large quantities of manure produced by livestock

59
Q

acid deposition

A

acids deposited on Earth as rain and snow, or as gases and particles that attach to the surfaces of plants, soil, and water

60
Q

thermal pollution

A

nonchemical water pollution that occurs when human activities cause a substantial change in the temperature of water

61
Q

maximum contaminant levels (MCL)

A

the standard for safe drinking water established by the EPA under the Safe Drinking Water Act

62
Q

gray water

A

wastewater from baths, showers, bathrooms, and washing machines

63
Q

what elements do all living things have within themselves

A

C, H, N, O, P
(carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus)

64
Q

what is corn sweat

A

the process by which corn plants release moisture into the air to stay cool; it brings the midwest a surge in humidity every summer

65
Q

ocean acidification

A

increased carbon in the water affects the pH of the water (and therefore marine life)

66
Q

denitrification

A

removal of the nitrates or nitrites from soil, air, or water by chemical reduction (like certain bacteria)

67
Q

why might a farmer plant soy with no intent to harvest

A

to add nitrogen to the soil

68
Q

what are somethings that are leading to dead zones in water

A

organic v. nonorganic crops wastewater treatment; sceptic systems

69
Q

green revolution (aka the 3rd agriculture revolution) resulted in what developments + spanned what time period

A

mechanization, irrigation, fertilizers, monocropping; 1940s-60s

70
Q

cons of the green revolution

A
  • deforestation, timber was not as profitable as using the area as farm land
  • mechanization increased the burning od fossil fuels
  • irrigation caused water logging that killed off bacteria, some of which helped with denitrification
  • over fertilization resulted in runoff that disrupted the nutrient cycle and lead to dead zones
  • monocropping lead to a loss in biodiversity, pesticides too
71
Q

benefits of GMOs

A
  • greater yields of a crop due to salt resistance, drought resistance, pest resistance
  • higher quality products: more nutritious, larger, fewer pesticides
72
Q

what are some methods of sustainable agriculture

A

(not industrial agriculture)
intercropping; crop rotation; agroforestry; contour plowing; no-till agriculture; organic agriculture

73
Q

organic agriculture

A

bans GMOs but not pesticides, fertilizers, antibiotics (does it require a limitation?)

74
Q

how much of population gets their main source of protein from fish

A

30%

75
Q

urban blight (aka urban decay)

A

the sociological process by which a previously functioning city, or part of a city, falls into disrepair and decrepitude; usually caused by ageing, neglect, and lack of financial support for maintenance

76
Q

how much of the u.s. is monocultured grass lawns

A

50,000,000 acres (50 million) out of 1.9 billion acres

77
Q

CSA (farming)

A

community sustainable agriculture

78
Q

what percent of fisheries globally had collapsed as of 2006

A

30%

79
Q

four federal land management agencies and their top focuses

A

national park service- recreation and conservation
fish and wildlife services- wildlife conservation, hunting
u.s. forest service- timber harvesting, cattle grazing
bureau of land management- cattle grazing, mining, timber harvesting

80
Q

what are the two leading water quality laws in the u.s.

A

clean water act (1972)
safe drinking water act (1974, 1986, 1996)

81
Q

what is nutrient cycling

A

movement and conversion of matter in the biosphere (closed system)

82
Q

what percent of carrying capacity level can an organism be harvested down to and still keep the maximum sustainable yield

A

50%

83
Q

what is the difference between ecosystem resistance and resilience

A

resilience refers to how quickly an ecosystem can bounce back from disturbance
resistance means there is no effect to energy and matter

84
Q

what is the definition of a fishery collapse

A

population decline of 90%

85
Q

define the difference between confined and unconfined aquifers

A

confined aquifers are stuck underground with a recharge area, unconfined has an opening on surface

86
Q

what are the two leading water quality laws in the usa

A

clean water act, safe drinking water act

87
Q

what does CAFO stand for

A

concentrated animal feeding operation

88
Q

list three benefits of CAFOs

A

improve feeding efficiency, takes up less space, increase % of food energy converted to biomass

89
Q

what does the idealized exponential growth model look like

A

population size on y-axis and time on x-axis: the right half of a ‘U’

90
Q

what does the idealized logistic growth model look like

A

population size on y-axis and time on the x-axis: goes up like the right half of a ‘U’ and then forever goes to a point along the y-axis

env 101 (5 decks)

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