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Environmental Science 100 > GE 100 Exam One (Chapters 1-11) > Flashcards

GE 100 Exam One (Chapters 1-11) Flashcards

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1
Q

natural resource

A

something we get from the environment to meet our biological and economic needs and wants; environmental goods that come from the lithosphere

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2
Q

environmental services

A

natural processes that regulate conditions in the environment in ways that make the planet suitable for life

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3
Q

waste assimilation

A

the ability of the environment to absorb, detoxify, and disperse wastes to make them less harmful

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4
Q

pollution

A

a waste that produces a physical, biological, or chemical change in air, water, soil, or food that potentially is harmful to humans or other living organisms

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5
Q

principles of sustainability

A

1) a sustainable society does not use natural resources or produce wastes faster than they are regenerated or assimilated by the environment
2) a sustainable society must account for highly interconnected relationships with its environment and how these connections can cause decisions to succeed or fail
3) the first two principles of sustainability must be meshed with the ethical and moral principles that govern fairness among nations, between genders, and among current and future generations
4) social incentives must reward those who act in a sustainable way and punish those who act in a non-sustainable manner

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6
Q

system

A

a collection of parts that generates a regular or predictable pattern

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7
Q

non-renewable resource

A

any use diminishes its future availability

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8
Q

renewable resource

A

soil, biodiversity, and forests

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9
Q

best first principle

A

humans use the highest-quality sources of natural resources and environmental services first. As the high-quality sources of a resource are depleted, they are replaced by lower-quality sources. Low-quality sources require more effort to obtain than high-quality resources, therefore depletion makes it harder and harder to obtain resources

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10
Q

human development

A

the process of enlarging the range of people’s choices by increasing their opportunities for education, health care, a clean environment, income, employment, and political freedom

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11
Q

externality

A

a cost associated with the production of consumption of a good that is not accounted for in the price of that good and that is borne by others in society

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12
Q

subsidy

A

government-provided goods or services that would otherwise have to be purchased in the market, or special exemptions from standard required payments or regulations

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13
Q

environmental performance bond

A

a sum of money a firm must deposit with a government agency before it is granted a permit for an activity with the potential for significant environmental impact; the bond is set at an amount equal to the best estimate of the worst potential future environmental damages; the bond is returned if the firm demonstrates that the anticipated damages did not and will not occur

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14
Q

ecological footprint

A

equal to all the natural resources and environmental services used to produce your food, clothing, and shelter, as well as the other goods and services you use

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15
Q

elements

A

a substance that cannot be broken down to other substances by ordinary chemical means

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16
Q

compounds

A

specific proportional combinations of two or more elements

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17
Q

nutrients

A

chemical elements that are essential for life

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18
Q

macronutrients

A

nutrients required in large amounts; “macro” describes the fact that organisms need these elements in relatively large amounts

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19
Q

trace elements

A

needed in very small amounts; critical to the health of an organism

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20
Q

atoms

A

units of matter; the smallest units of an element that can combine with other elements in a chemical reaction

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21
Q

molecule

A

an assembly of two or more tightly bound atoms; the package of atoms behaves as a single distinct object

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22
Q

subatomic particles

A

protons, neutrons, electrons

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23
Q

protons

A

positive charge, mass unit of one

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24
Q

neutrons

A

no charge, mass unit of ~one

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25
Q

electrons

A

negative charge, little mass

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26
Q

nucleus

A

protons and neutrons packed tightly at the center of an atom; electrons orbit nucleus at nearly the speed of light

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27
Q

atomic number

A

the number of protons in an atom’s nucleus; subscript to the left of the element’s symbol

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28
Q

atomic mass

A

the sum of the number of protons plus neutrons in the nucleus of an atom; written as a superscript to the left of the symbol of the element

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29
Q

isotopes

A

elements with the same atomic number but different atomic masses

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30
Q

physical change

A

one in which a substance changes its physical form and appearance but not its chemical composition; cosmetic changes

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31
Q

chemical change/ reaction

A

a substance is transformed into a different substance by changing its chemical composition

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32
Q

reactants

A

the two elements that combine to create the product

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33
Q

fuels

A

substances that can be burned to produce heat

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34
Q

combustion

A

the complete oxidation of a substance through the use of air

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35
Q

radioactivity

A

the process in which some atoms naturally emit particles or rays with tremendous energies

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36
Q

radioactive isotopes/ radioisotopes

A

a naturally or artificially produced radioactive isotope of an element

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37
Q

nuclear decay

A

when a radioactive element emits an alpha particle, its atomic number decreases by two units and its mass number decreases by four units

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38
Q

half-lives

A

the time it takes for the process of radioactive decay to convert half of the atoms of one element to atoms of another element

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39
Q

radioactive carbon dating

A

half-lives are not affected by physical treatment or chemical reaction; can be used as a reliable “archaeological clock” to determine the ages of shells, bones, and fossils

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40
Q

fission

A

occurs when a heavy isotope splits into lighter isotopes; more neutrons and much energy are released

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41
Q

fusion

A

occurs when the nuclei of two light elements are combined to form a heavier nucleus; a small amount of matter is destroyed and a huge amount of energy is released
*fusion releases much more energy than fission

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42
Q

law of conversation of matter

A

matter is neither created nor destroyed in a physical or chemical transformation; all that changes is its form or quality

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43
Q

electromagnetic radiation/ radiant energy

A

the energy carried by light

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44
Q

mechanical energy

A

the energy of the organized motion of matter, typically is the energy that drives the work done by machines

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45
Q

kinetic energy

A

the energy of motion

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46
Q

potential energy

A

the energy of position

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47
Q

chemical energy

A

energy that is stored in the arrangement of elements, such as the energy stored in fossil fuels or carbohydrates

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48
Q

nuclear energy

A

the energy that binds the protons and neutrons together in the nuclei of atoms

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49
Q

electrical energy

A

the force of charged particles acting on one another

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50
Q

heat

A

the kinetic energy associated with the random motion of atoms and molecules; temperature measures the average speed of atoms or molecules in a substance at a particular time

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51
Q

Work =

A

Force x Distance

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52
Q

heat of fusion of water

A

is the energy required to change a gram of water from a solid to the liquid state without changing its temperature; water’s heat of fusion is ~80 calories/gram

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53
Q

heat of vaporization of water

A

the energy required to change a gram of water into the gaseous state at the boiling point (100 deg C); this is equal to 539 calories/ gram

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54
Q

raw materials

A

the basic material from which a good or product is manufactured or made

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55
Q

energy converter

A

a device that converts energy to work (examples: plants, humans, engines)

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56
Q

power

A

the rate at which work is done or the rate at which energy is used
= Quantity of work done (or quantity of energy used)/ time required to do the work (or convert the energy)

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57
Q

first law of thermodynamics

A

there is no increase or decrease in quantity of energy in any energy conversion; the total energy input to an energy converter and the total energy output always are equal

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58
Q

second law of thermodynamics

A

in all energy conversion processes, energy loses its ability to do work and is degraded in quality

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59
Q

efficiency

A

the amount of useful energy or work output compared to the total energy input
= kcals of work out/ kcals of total energy converted

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60
Q

entropy

A

the degree of order or organization in a system

*matter and energy that are highly disorganized or random have high entropy

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61
Q

spontaneous process

A

the tendency for energy and materials to move from an ordered, low-entropy state to a disordered, high-entropy state

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62
Q

entropy law

A

the general tendency for energy and materials to move from an ordered to a disordered state

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63
Q

nonspontaneous process

A

the movement toward a greater state of organization

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64
Q

complexity

A

the number of storages and flows and the number and strength of feedback loops in a system

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65
Q

dependent variable

A

the variable that is affected by another variable, typically represented on the left side of an equation and along the y-axis of a graph

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66
Q

economic system

A

the collection of firms and households that produce and consume the goods and services people associate with material well-being

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67
Q

equilibrium

A

the state of a system in which there is no net change

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68
Q

experiments

A

a set of actions and observations to verify or falsify a hypothesis or research a causal relationship between phenomena

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69
Q

feedback loop

A

linkages that move through a system and ultimately connect back to itself

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70
Q

fitness

A

the number of offspring an individual leaves in the next generation

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71
Q

flows

A

movements of energy or materials between storages in a system

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72
Q

function

A

a mathematical formula that relates one variable to another

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73
Q

general systems theory

A

the study of relationships, structures, and interdependence of storages and flows

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74
Q

gradient

A

a change in the entropy of energy or matter over a specific distance

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75
Q

homeostasis

A

the ability of a system to maintain its behavior or set point when disturbed

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76
Q

independent variable

A

the variable that affects another variable, typically represented on the right side of an equation and along the x-axis of a graph

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77
Q

integrated systems approach

A

the use of information from many disciplines that is needed to understand and solve specific environmental problems and generate general policy that moves society toward sustainability

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78
Q

invalidated/ falsified

A

rejection of a hypothesis because observations or experimental results are inconsistent with expectations

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79
Q

natural selection

A

the differential survival and reproduction or organisms with genetic characteristics that enable them to better utilize environmental resources

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80
Q

negative feedback loop

A

creating homeostasis by changing the effect of a disturbance after one complete loop so that the system is moved back toward its original state; Moves through a system and
offsets the original effect stabilizing

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81
Q

positive feedback loop

A

destabilizes a system by reinforcing the effect of a disturbance so that the system is moved further away from its original state; Moves through a system and
reinforces the original effect destabilizing

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82
Q

positive relationship

A

correlation between parts of a system such that an increase in one part of a system causes an increase in another part of the system

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83
Q

reductionist approach

A

a scientific methodology based on the premise that the best way to learn about something is to break it into its parts and study the parts separately

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84
Q

resilience

A

the ability of a system to return to its set point following a disturbance

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85
Q

resistance

A

the ability of a system to withstand a disturbance

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86
Q

risk management

A

the process of making decisions without complete information due to the presence of a stochastic element

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87
Q

scenario analysis

A

a modeling technique that involves entering different sets of data into a model and determining how changes in the input data affect the model’s output

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88
Q

set point

A

the level of a storage or flow that systems maintain via homeostasis

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89
Q

simulation models

A

representation of an object, concept, or system showing the expected working of a system

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90
Q

stability

A

the ability of a system to return a storage or flow to a set point following a disturbance

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91
Q

stochastic

A

containing uncertainty due to an element of chance

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92
Q

storage

A

a system part where energy or materials stay for an extended period

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93
Q

subsystem

A

a system that is part of a larger system

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94
Q

systems

A

a collection of parts, which are known as storages and flows that interact with each other to generate regular or predictable patterns or behaviors

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95
Q

time lag

A

the period that lapses between a cause and its effect

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96
Q

validated

A

confirmation of a hypothesis because observations or experimental results are consistent with expectations

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97
Q

variance

A

the degree of dispersion or scattering around a variable’s expected value

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98
Q

advection

A

the horizontal transfer of mass or energy as air masses move in response to pressure differences, such as winds

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99
Q

albedo

A

the fraction of incoming solar radiation that is reflected back to space

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100
Q

asthenosphere

A

the upper part of the mantle, which has a consistency that is somewhere between a liquid and a solid and moves large quantities of heat from Earth’s center toward the surface

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101
Q

condense

A

to change from a gas to a liquid as a result of being cooled

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102
Q

consolidation

A

the process of joining particles to form sedimentary rocks

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103
Q

convection cell

A

regular movement in a gas or liquid due to the application of energy that creates gradients in temperature and pressure

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104
Q

coriolis effect

A

the deflective effect of Earth’s rotation on all freely moving objects

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105
Q

easterlies

A

surface winds that move from the poles toward the polar front

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106
Q

ekman transport

A

the overall movement of a mas of water resulting from a balance between the Coriolis force and frictional stress at the bottom

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107
Q

el nino

A

a change in ocean and atmospheric circulation associated with a weaker than normal zone of high pressure as measured at Tahiti

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108
Q

equatorial low

A

a region of low pressure near the equator due to rapidly rising air

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109
Q

erosion

A

the process of carrying away soil particles from their parent material by wind or water

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110
Q

ferrell cell

A

a zonally symmetric pattern on atmospheric circulation located between 30 and 60 degrees north and south of the equator

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111
Q

gyre

A

a circular motion of water with a diameter of thousands of kilometers

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112
Q

hadley cell

A

a pattern of atmospheric circulation driven by solar energy in which warm air rises near the equator, cools as it travels pole-ward at high altitude, sinks as cold air, and warms as it travels equator-ward

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113
Q

igneous rocks

A

rock formed when molten materials harden

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114
Q

lithosphere

A

the outermost layer of crust and uppermost mantle that consists of about two dozen major plates on which the continents ride

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115
Q

metamorphic rocks

A

rocks that have been physically altered by heat and/ or pressure

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116
Q

orographic precipitation

A

effect that results from or is enhanced by mechanical lifting of an air mass over mountains

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117
Q

photosphere

A

the visible outer layer of the sun that reradiates energy absorbed from its interior

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118
Q

plate

A

a large rigid slab of solid rock that makes up a portion of the lithosphere

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119
Q

polar cell

A

a weak pattern of atmospheric circulation characterized by ascending motion in the subpolar latitudes, descending motion over the pole, pole-ward motion aloft, and equator-ward motion near the surface

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120
Q

polar front

A

an area of low pressure ate about sixty degrees north and south of the equator

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121
Q

radiation balance

A

the difference between incoming and outgoing radiation

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122
Q

reflection

A

the process whereby a surface turns back a portion of the radiation that strikes it

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123
Q

rock cycle

A

a series of processes through which a rock changes over time, between igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic forms

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124
Q

scatter

A

to disperse radiation in different directions

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125
Q

sedimentary rocks

A

rocks created by pressure and cementation of particles in a process known as consolidation

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126
Q

sediment

A

fine particles created from the weathering of rocks

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127
Q

solar consent

A

the amount of solar radiation that reaches the upper layers of Earth’s atmosphere: 1.97 calories per square centimeter per minute

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128
Q

specific heat

A

the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of a material of a particular mass

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129
Q

subtropical high

A

a region of high pressure about thirty degrees north and south of the equator due to the descending portion of the Hadley cell

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130
Q

temperature profile

A

the change in temperature with depth

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131
Q

thermocline

A

the portion of the water column where temperature changes very rapidly

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132
Q

thermohaline circulation

A

regular circulation of ocean waters between the surface and deep layers due to differences in temperature and salinity

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133
Q

trade winds

A

ground-level winds associated with the pressure gradient that causes air to move from the subtropical high to the equatorial low

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134
Q

upwellings

A

areas where large quantities of deep ocean water rise back to the surface

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135
Q

weathering

A

the breakup of solid rock

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136
Q

westerlies

A

midlatitude surface winds that blow from the subtropical high toward the polar front

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137
Q

winds

A

horizontal motion of air caused by the uneven heating of the atmosphere combined with Earth’s rotation

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138
Q

active range

A

the span of body temperatures at which ectotherms can carry out their everyday activities

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139
Q

aerobic respiration

A

the release of energy from glucose or another organic substrate in the presence of oxygen

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140
Q

anaerobic respiration

A

the release of energy from glucose or another organic substrate in the absence of oxygen

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141
Q

autotrophs

A

organisms that convert inorganic forms of energy to organic forms of energy

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142
Q

basal metabolic rate

A

the rate at which an organism uses energy while at rest

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143
Q

biomagnification

A

increased concentration of pesticides or other toxic materials living in organisms at higher trophic positions via the food chain

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144
Q

biomass

A

the mass of a species or group of species

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145
Q

carnivores

A

animals that eat other animals

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146
Q

decomposers

A

organisms that get food energy from dead parts of other organisms

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147
Q

detritivores

A

organisms that eat decomposing organic material known as detritus

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148
Q

detritus

A

dead or decaying organic matter

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149
Q

ecological efficiency

A

the percentage of energy from one trophic level that is incorporated in the next level

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150
Q

ectotherms

A

animals that obtain most of their body head from the environment

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151
Q

endotherms

A

animals that obtain most of their body heat from internal metabolic processes

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152
Q

energy pyramid

A

a diagram that compares the amount of energy available at each position, or level, in the feeding order

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153
Q

food chain

A

the simplest representation of energy flow in a community

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154
Q

food web

A

interconnected feeding relationships in an ecosystem

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155
Q

grazers

A

organisms in the second trophic position that eat autotrophs

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156
Q

gross primary reproduction

A

the rate at which autotrophs convert inorganic forms of energy to organic forms of energy

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157
Q

heterotrophs

A

organisms that obtain energy-containing molecules by eating other organisms

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158
Q

hibernation

A

a state in which the metabolic rate slows by as much as 99%

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159
Q

K selected

A

an evolutionary strategy in which organisms allocate a relatively small fraction of their energy budget toward reproduction

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160
Q

maintenance respiration

A

the use of energy to maintain order in a living system

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161
Q

maturation

A

a growth process in which juveniles increase in size and change in form to the point at which they are capable of reproduction

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162
Q

metamorphosis

A

a dramatic change in body form that occurs as juveniles change to adults

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163
Q

mimicry

A

species without protective chemicals that have the warning colors of animals with protective chemicals

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164
Q

net primary production

A

the difference between gross primary production and maintenance in autotrophs

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165
Q

omnivores

A

heterotrophs that feed on both plants and animals

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166
Q

parenting

A

energy allocated toward reproduction in the form of caring for offspring

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167
Q

photosynthesis

A

the use of solar energy to break the bonds between the hydrogen and oxygen atoms in water molecules, and the incorporation of hydrogen atoms and carbon dioxide molecules to form glucose

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168
Q

phytoplankton

A

single-cell photosynthetic algae that live suspended in bodies of water and drift about

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169
Q

primary consumers

A

organisms in the second trophic position that eat autotrophs (also known as grazers)

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170
Q

r selected

A

an evolutionary strategy in which organisms allocate a large fraction of their energy budget toward reproduction

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171
Q

reproduction

A

allocation of energy to produce and care for offspring

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172
Q

respiration

A

biochemical pathways that convert food to energy

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173
Q

scavengers

A

animals that eat portions of dead animals

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174
Q

secondary consumers

A

the rate at which heterotrophs create new biomass per unit area in a given time period

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175
Q

senescence

A

failure of body systems that decreases the probability of survival and reproduction

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176
Q

trophic position

A

the position along the food chain or food web at which an organism obtains energy

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177
Q

zooplankton

A

small multicellular organisms that are among the most important primary consumers in aquatic environments

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178
Q

absorption

A

the movement of nutrients to the interior portion

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179
Q

acid mine drainage

A

the outflow of acidic water from (sometimes abandoned) metal mines or coal mines

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180
Q

aerosols

A

tiny solid particles or liquid droplets that remain suspended in the atmosphere for a long time

181
Q

anoxic

A

environments without oxygen

182
Q

available

A

chemical forms of nutrients that organisms can use

183
Q

biogeochemical cycles

A

the flow of matter among storages in the biological, geological, and chemical systems of Earth

184
Q

biota

A

all living organisms

185
Q

carbohydrates

A

organic molecules that contain only carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen

186
Q

deforestation

A

the action or process of clearing of forests; also: the state of having been cleared of forests

187
Q

denitrification

A

the loss of gaseous nitrogen from soil by biological or chemical means

188
Q

digestion

A

breaking complex forms of organic molecules into smaller building blocks

189
Q

essential

A

molecules that an organism cannot synthesize from its constituents

190
Q

eutrophication

A

a process in which water bodies receive excess nutrients that stimulate excessive growth of autotrophs

191
Q

fats

A

organic molecules that contain only carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen and can store large amounts of energy per unit mass

192
Q

flow

A

movements of energy or materials between storages in a system

193
Q

kwashiorkor

A

severe malnutrition caused by a diet with insufficient protein that is found primarily in young children

194
Q

legumes

A

plants that have symbiotic relationships with nitrogen fixers

195
Q

Liebig’s law of the minimum

A

the growth rate of a plant is often determined by the nutrient that is least abundant or least available relative to the needs of the plant

196
Q

limiting nutrient

A

the nutrient that is in least supply relative to the quantity required by an autotroph

197
Q

mineralization

A

conversion of organic forms of nutrients to inorganic forms

198
Q

nitrification

A

a process whereby ammonia is oxidized to nitrite and then to nitrate by bacterial or chemical reactions

199
Q

nitrogen fixation

A

a biological or chemical process by which molecular nitrogen from the atmosphere is converted to organic or available nitrogen

200
Q

nonessential

A

molecules an organism can synthesize from its constituents

201
Q

nonspontaneous flow

A

movement of energy or matter against the tendency toward a greater state of entropy

202
Q

nutrients

A

chemicals that are needed by living organisms

203
Q

proteins

A

large complex molecules made up of one or more chains of amino acids

204
Q

redfield ratio

A

the ratio of nitrogen atoms to phosphorus atoms that are needed by autotrophs

205
Q

residence time

A

the time that an atom spends in a storage pool

206
Q

spontaneous flow

A

movements of matter or energy that are consistent with the tendency toward a greater state of entropy

207
Q

storage

A

a system part where energy or materials stay for an extended period

208
Q

symbiosis

A

the intimate living together of two dissimilar organisms in a mutually beneficial relationship

209
Q

tailings

A

material that remains after all metals considered economic have been removed from ore during milling

210
Q

transpiration

A

the process by which water absorbed by plants, usually through the roots, evaporates from the plants’ surface, principally from the leaves

211
Q

unavailable

A

forms of nutrients that cannot be used by an autotroph

212
Q

unknown carbon sink

A

an unknown mechanism that removes carbon from the atmosphere or a known mechanism that removes carbon faster than estimated by scientists

213
Q

adaptations

A

behavioral or physiological traits that allow a plant or animal to thrive in a particular environment

214
Q

benthic

A

the area on or near the floor of a body of water

215
Q

biome

A

a major regional community of plants and animals with similar life forms and environmental conditions

216
Q

channel

A

a path that is always filled with water and connects mudflats to the ocean

217
Q

community

A

a group of interacting species

218
Q

competitive exclusion principle

A

the observation that no two species can share the same exact niche indefinitely unless at least one factor limits the density of the better competitor

219
Q

convergent evolution

A

evolution of similar characteristics in unrelated species due to similar environmental stresses

220
Q

deciduousness

A

plants that shed their leaves seasonally to avoid adverse weather conditions such as cold or aridity

221
Q

ecosystem

A

the community and the physical environment in which the community lives

222
Q

environmental gradients

A

changes in conditions from one region to the next

223
Q

epifauna

A

organisms that are attached to or move about the surface of the bottom of a water body

224
Q

epilimnion

A

the upper layer of a water body where sunlight may power high rates of net primary production

225
Q

epipelagic

A

the oceanic zone extending from the surface to about 200 meters, where enough light penetrates to allow photosynthesis

226
Q

estuary

A

a semi-enclosed coastal body of water that has a free connection with the open ocean, and within which seawater is measurably diluted with freshwater derived from land drainage

227
Q

euphotic zone

A

the surface layer of the ocean that receives enough sunlight for photosynthesis

228
Q

eutrophic

A

water bodies that have high net primary production

229
Q

filter feeders

A

organisms that obtain food by separating it from passing water

230
Q

germinate

A

the process by which a seed starts to grow and develop

231
Q

growing season

A

the number of consecutive days during which temperatures remain above zero degrees celsius

232
Q

habitat

A

geographical locations and environmental conditions where a plant or animal lives

233
Q

hadal

A

the deepest layer of the ocean, below 6,000 meters

234
Q

hypolimnion

A

the layer of water in a thermally stratified lake that lies below the thermocline, is noncirculating, remains perpetually cold, and is usually low in oxygen

235
Q

infauna

A

aquatic animals that live in the substrate of a body of water, especially in a soft sea bottom

236
Q

intertidal zone

A

the area between land that is wetted by the high tide but always covered by the low tide

237
Q

lentic

A

characterizing aquatic communities found in standing water

238
Q

limnetic zone

A

the well-lit, open-surface water area far from shore

239
Q

littoral zone

A

shallow waters that are near the shore

240
Q

lotic

A

of, relating to, or living in actively moving water

241
Q

mesopelagic

A

the middle layer of the ocean from 200 to 1,100 meters

242
Q

mudflat

A

large areas of mud in the intertidal zone that are exposed to the air during low tide

243
Q

niche

A

totality of a species’ environmental requirements

244
Q

oligotrophic

A

aquatic ecosystems with low rates of net primary production

245
Q

payback period

A

the time it takes an energy investment to capture or save an amount of energy equivalent to the investment

246
Q

pelagic

A

open areas of the ocean away from the bottom

247
Q

permafrost

A

soil material that remains below zero degrees celsius for two or more years

248
Q

phreatic zone

A

the saturated soil below a stream

249
Q

potential evaporation

A

the amount of water that would evaporate if water were available

250
Q

prairies

A

the North American term for grasslands

251
Q

reproductive range

A

the area where individuals have enough energy for reproduction

252
Q

riparian zone

A

the transition zone between a waterway and the surrounding terrestrial environment

253
Q

rooting depth

A

the vertical distance from the soil surface that contains 95% of a plant’s roots

254
Q

salinity

A

the concentration of mineral salts dissolved in water

255
Q

salt marsh

A

the transition area from land to sea that is farthest from the sea

256
Q

specializations

A

adaptations well suited for a relatively narrow range of conditions

257
Q

survival range

A

the area where an individual can obtain enough energy and materials to survive

258
Q

thermocline

A

the portion of the water column where temperature changes very rapidly

259
Q

upwellings

A

areas where large quantities of deep ocean water rise back to the surface

260
Q

allelopathy

A

direct or indirect harmful effects of one plant on another through the production and release of chemical compounds

261
Q

annuals

A

plants that live for a single growing season

262
Q

climax community

A

plant and animal species that tend to persist for an extended period

263
Q

competition

A

simultaneous demand by two or more individuals for limited environmental resources

264
Q

disturbances

A

a discrete, punctuated killing, displacement, or damaging of one or more individuals (or colonies) that directly or indirectly creates an opportunity for new individuals (or colonies) to become established

265
Q

ecological resistance

A

the degree to which an ecosystem changes following a disturbance

266
Q

ecological restoration

A

the process of reestablishing to the extent possible the structure, function, and integrity of indigenous ecosystems and sustaining the habitats they provide

267
Q

ecological stability

A

the ability of an ecosystem to return to its original state following a disturbance

268
Q

ecosystem health

A

the degree to which ecosystems are stressed by human activities

269
Q

facilitation

A

a mechanism for succession in which species in early and middle successional communities change their microenvironments in ways that make them less hospitable for their own needs or more hospitable to species that inhabit later successional communities

270
Q

frequency

A

number of events per unit time

271
Q

functional group

A

species that play a similar role in an ecosystem

272
Q

inhibition

A

a mechanism of succession in which one species has a direct or indirect harmful effect on another species

273
Q

light compensation point

A

the light level at which photosynthesis generates energy equal to respiration

274
Q

light saturation point

A

the light level at which further increases in light do not increase photosynthesis

275
Q

macroenvironment

A

characteristics of a large geographical area

276
Q

microenvironment

A

small-scale conditions at which an organism lives

277
Q

perennials

A

plants that live for several growing seasons

278
Q

pioneer community

A

the first plants and animals to inhabit an area that was previously uninhabited

279
Q

predictability

A

variance in the average time between events

280
Q

primary succession

A

succession in areas where there was no soil or where a disturbance destroyed the soil

281
Q

redundancy

A

the presence of more than one species in a functional group

282
Q

resilience

A

the ability of a system to return to its set point following a disturbance

283
Q

secondary succession

A

occurs when a disturbance destroys a climax or intermediate community without destroying the soil

284
Q

spatial scale

A

geographic area

285
Q

strong interaction

A

a trophic connection between species in which the predator eats only a few types of foods, so the likelihood of consumption of one species by another is high

286
Q

succession

A

a change in plant and animal communities that follows a disturbance

287
Q

tolerance model

A

a mechanism for succession in which species replace one another based on their ability to withstand limiting factors

288
Q

trophic cascades

A

population changes transmitted via the food web from one trophic position to the next

289
Q

turnover rate

A

the average time required to disturb an entire area

290
Q

weak interaction

A

a trophic linkage among species such that the likelihood of consumption of one species by another is small

291
Q

age classes

A

the number of males and females in an age group

292
Q

age dependency ratio

A

the number of people under the age of 15 plus the number of people over the age of 65 divided by the number of people between those ages

293
Q

age structure

A

the distribution of a population among age classes

294
Q

agriculture

A

the process by which a natural ecosystem is replaced with one that supports plants and animals of people’s choosing

295
Q

baby boomers

A

people born in the US between 1946 and 1964

296
Q

birthrate

A

the number of new individuals produced by a population in a period

297
Q

carrying capacity

A

the maximum number of individuals of a population that can be maintained indefinitely by the environmental goods and services that are generated by a given area of the environment

298
Q

crude birthrate

A

the number of births per 1,000 people per year

299
Q

death rate

A

the number of individuals that die in a given period

300
Q

demographic transition

A

the process of moving from high birthrates and high death rates to high birthrates and low death rates, and finally to low birthrates and low death rates

301
Q

density dependent factors

A

variables that affect population growth but are not related to the size of the population

302
Q

density independent factors

A

variables that affect population growth and are related to the size of the population

303
Q

doubling time

A

the time required for a variable to double

304
Q

environmental resistance

A

the slowdown in population growth in proportion to the size of the population

305
Q

exponential population growth

A

continuous population growth in proportion to the size of the population

306
Q

gathering

A

the collection of edible plants from unaltered ecosystems

307
Q

geometric population growth

A

growth in populations that produce a single batch of offspring in a year

308
Q

hunting

A

capture of wild animals from an ecosystem

309
Q

limiting factor

A

the item that is in least supply relative to the needs of a population

310
Q

logistic equation

A

a function describing the idealized growth of a population subject to a density-dependent limiting factor

311
Q

maximum intrinsic growth rate

A

the largest per capita rate at which a population can grow under ideal conditions

312
Q

overshoot

A

population exceeding carrying capacity

313
Q

population

A

individuals of the same species that inhabit a specific area

314
Q

population density

A

the number of individuals per unit area

315
Q

population growth

A

an increase in population

316
Q

population histograms

A

diagrams that represent the number of males and females in various age groups

317
Q

population momentum

A

built-in potential for population growth due to a large number of individuals entering reproductive age

318
Q

replacement level fertility

A

the total fertility rate at which a population remains a constant

319
Q

strong sustainability

A

a criterion that prohibits human actions degrading the environment or using environmental goods or services faster than they are generated by the environment

320
Q

sustainable development

A

economic activities that meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

321
Q

total fertility rate

A

the average number of children a woman will bear over her lifetime

322
Q

weak sustainability

A

the principle that actions that degrade the environment or use a natural resource or a waste-processing service faster than it is generated by the environment can be sustainable if these losses are offset by an increase in either economic capital or social institutions

323
Q

affluence

A

the average material standard of living in a nation, typically measured by per capita GDP or GNP

324
Q

avoided costs

A

the costs of providing a service (such as chemical pest control) that are avoided by maintaining a natural service (natural pest control)

325
Q

biodegradable waste

A

waste that is capable of undergoing anaerobic or aerobic decomposition, such as food and garden waste, paper, and paperboard

326
Q

capital

A

any asset or stock of assets, financial or physical, capable of producing income

327
Q

common property

A

a resource owned by the public, such as fish in public waters, trees on public land, and the atmosphere

328
Q

consumption

A

the purchase of goods and services by consumers

329
Q

contingent valuation

A

a valuation technique that asks people directly how much they are willing to pay or to accept for improving or deteriorating environmental quality

330
Q

crustal abundance

A

the amount of an element in Earth’s crust, measured as a percentage by weight

331
Q

depletion

A

the movement from high-quality, low-cost resources to lower-quality, higher cost resources

332
Q

direct market valuation

A

the use of the free market to place a value (price) on environmental goods and services

333
Q

dissipative waste

A

waste that is not technologically or economically feasible to collect and recycle

334
Q

draft animal

A

an animal used for pulling heavy loads

335
Q

economic growth

A

an increase in a nation’s production of goods and services

336
Q

ecosystem services

A

the conditions and processes through which natural ecosystems, and the species that make them up, sustain and fulfill human life. Examples include provision of clean water, maintenance of livable climates (carbon sequestration), pollination of crops and native vegetation, and fulfillment of people’s cultural, spiritual, and intellectual needs

337
Q

environmental accounting

A

any quantitative approach to linking financial and environmental performance

338
Q

environmental degradation

A

processes induced by human behavior and activities (sometimes combined with natural hazards) that damage the natural resources base or adversely alter natural processes or ecosystems

339
Q

environmental energy cost

A

the amount of solar energy and heat from Earth’s core that are used to produce a natural resource

340
Q

exhaustion

A

the complete depletion of a natural resource

341
Q

factors of production

A

inputs to the production of a good or service, such as labor, capital, technology, energy, and materials

342
Q

firms

A

establishments that produce goods and services for consumers

343
Q

goods

A

physical, tangible products used to satisfy people’s wants and needs

344
Q

green national accounts

A

the incorporation of environmental benefits and costs into economic decision making. The phrase often refers specifically to incorporating the depreciation of natural resources and the environment into estimates of net domestic product or net national product

345
Q

gross domestic product

A

the monetary value of all the finished goods and services produced within a country’s borders in a specific time period, usually on an annual basis

346
Q

gross national income

A

the total income earned by the citizens of a country

347
Q

gross national product

A

value of all the goods and services produced in an economy, plus the value of the goods and services imported, less the goods and services exported

348
Q

hedonic pricing

A

the use of statistical techniques to determine, from the prices of goods with different measurable characteristics, the prices that are associated with those characteristics. The latter can then be used to construct what the comparable price of a good would be from its characteristics

349
Q

income

A

the amount of money received from employment (salary, wages, tips), profit from financial instruments (interest, dividends, capital gains), and other sources (welfare, disability, child support, social security, and pensions)

350
Q

labor

A

a measure of the work done by human beings, especially work done for wages

351
Q

labor productivity

A

the rate of output of a worker or group of workers per unit of time

352
Q

market failure

A

the result when the prices of goods and services do not reflect the true costs of producing and consuming those goods and services. In the context of environmental externalities, a market failure occurs when the price of goods and services does not reflect full societal costs, which are conventional financial costs plus environmental externalities

353
Q

material waste

A

any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted

354
Q

natural resource accounting

A

the process of adjusting national accounts such as GNP to reflect the environmental costs of economic production

355
Q

natural resource or environmental accounting

A

any quantitative approach to linking financial and environmental performance

356
Q

nondegradable wastes

A

wastes that are incapable of being broken down into simple, less toxic compounds

357
Q

opportunity costs

A

the cost of using a resource based on what it could have earned if used for the next best alternative. For example, the opportunity cost of farming your own land is the amount you could have received by renting it to someone else

358
Q

ore

A

a mineral deposit containing a metal or other valuable resource in economically viable concentrations

359
Q

persistent wastes

A

wastes that degrade very slowly over time

360
Q

personal consumption expenditures

A

money spent by households on the purchase of goods and services

361
Q

petrochemicals

A

chemicals obtained by refining crude oil. Petrochemicals are used as raw materials in the manufacture of most industrial chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides, plastics, synthetic fibers, paints, medicines, and many other products

362
Q

postconsumer waste

A

waste collected after the consumer has used and disposed of it

363
Q

private property

A

ownership of property (or other assets) by individuals or corporations

364
Q

production

A

in economics, manufacturing or mining or growing something (usually in large quantities) for sale

365
Q

property rights

A

the rights of an individual to own property and keep the income earned from it

366
Q

public property

A

property owned by a government

367
Q

resource quality

A

the amount of effort (capital, labor, energy) that is required to extract a natural resource

368
Q

services

A

in economics, the nonmaterial equivalent of a good. Examples are airlines, banks and savings institutions, business services, financial services, food, lodging and travel services, information, entertainment and software, insurance, real estate, telecommunications, transportation, and utilities

369
Q

travel cost method

A

a method used to estimate the economic use values associated with ecosystems or sites that are used for recreation based on the assumption that time and travel cost expenses that people incur to visit a site represent the “price” of access to the site

370
Q

utility

A

in economics, a measure of the happiness or satisfaction gained from a good or service

371
Q

waste

A

any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted

372
Q

waste assimilation

A

the ability of the environment to absorb, detoxify, and disperse wastes in a way that makes them less harmful

373
Q

waste heat

A

the portion fo the energy input to a mechanical process that is rejected to the environment

374
Q

wealth

A

the total value of the accumulated assets owned by an individual, household, community, or country

375
Q

matter

A

anything that has mass and takes up space

376
Q

macronutrients

A

CHONSP

carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorous

377
Q

trace elements

A

manganese, selenium, iodine

378
Q

nuclear change

A

Substance changes from one element to another due to the emission of a particle or the absorption of a nucleus

379
Q

nuclear radiation: alpha

A

two protons and two neutrons

380
Q

nuclear radiation: beta

A

high speed electron

381
Q

nuclear radiation: gamma

A

high energy x rays

382
Q

half lives

A

the time it takes for radioactive decay to

convert half of the atoms of one element to atoms of another element

383
Q

energy

A

anything that has the capacity to do work

384
Q

types of renewable energy

A

biomass, hydropower, geothermal, wind, solar

385
Q

types of nonrenewable energy

A

petroleum, coal, natural gas, uranium, propane

386
Q

electromagnetic spectrum

A

radio-infrared-visible-ultraviolet-xray-gamma

387
Q

calorie

A

the heat required to raise the temperature of one gram of water one degree celsius

388
Q

horsepower

A

11 kcals per minute for sustained power

389
Q

Total Energy =

A

Useful Work + Waste

390
Q

Efficiency =

A

Work Done/ Energy Used

391
Q

Maxwell’s Demon

A

second law of thermodynamics only has a statistical certainty

392
Q

why does order matter?

A

-Order implies that there is predictability
-An ordered system will follow a typical
pattern as a result of positive and negative
feedbacks
- Systems may be defined by the outcome of
their behavior
-A system that achieves the intended
outcome may be seen as good or successful

393
Q

goal of biological systems

A

leave the most offspring in the next generation

394
Q

evolutionary behavior

A

Biological systems can be judged as good
or bad if they meet the Darwinian goal of
reproduction

395
Q

predictability and human systems

A

When the consequences of a system are
desirable or undesirable, predictability
allows us to avoid undesirable outcomes
and encourage desirable outcome (example: farming)

396
Q

economic behaviors

A

maximize profit, utility

397
Q

economic goals

A

Efficiency–Pareto optimality Makes some

people better off without making anyone worse off

398
Q

how do systems generate order?

A

energy is used to create a gradient (high entropy and low entropy)

399
Q

homeostasis

A

the ability to maintain behavior when disturbed

400
Q

set point

A

the regularity of behaviors

401
Q

reductionist approach

A

study parts in isolation

402
Q

integrated approach

A

study interactions among parts

403
Q

why is atmospheric circulation important?

A

predictability

404
Q

density of water

A

most dense at 4 degrees celsius

405
Q

energy return on investment (EROI) =

A

energy obtained/ energy used to obtain energy

406
Q

surplus energy =

A

energy obtained - energy used to obtain energy

407
Q

photosynthesis

A

CO2 + H2O +sunlight –> C6H12O6 + O2

408
Q

maintenance

A

Using energy to maintain order against the

tendency towards a greater state of entropy

409
Q

Endotherms vs Ectotherms

A 
Ectotherms Endotherms
Basal Metabolic Rate     Low High
Efficiency                      High Low
Active Period                 Low High
Surplus Energy              Low High
410
Q

estivation

A

changes in response to altered weather

411
Q

forms of storage

A

carbs, proteins, fats

412
Q

senescence

A

biological aging

413
Q

leaf area index

A

the number of leaves that cover an area of the ground

414
Q

available nutrients

A

form usable by an organism

415
Q

unavailable nutrients

A

form not usable by an organism

416
Q

redfield ratio

A

the average composition of plant material

417
Q

non-essential amino acids

A

can be made from ingredients (there are ten)

418
Q

essential amino acids

A

cannot be made by the body (there are eight)

419
Q

material and energy balance

A

storage t+1 = storage t + in t - out t

420
Q

Nitrogen Cycle

A 
Molecular nitrogen N2
Nitric Acid NO
Nitrous oxide N2O
Nitrite NO2
Nitrate NO3
Ammonia NH3
Ammonium NH4
421
Q

nitrogenous wastes

A

Ammonia - toxic -> aquatic organisms
Urea - mildly toxic -> Many mammals
Uric acid - non-toxic -> reptiles & birds
energy intensive

422
Q

haber-bosch process

A

fertilizers

N2 + 3H2 –> 2NH3

423
Q

sulfur cycle

A 
Sulfate SO4
(oxidized)
S
2- Reduced form
H2S Hydrogen sulfide
CaSO4*H2O Gypsum
FeS2 Pyrite
H2SO4 Sulfuric acid
424
Q

determinants of niche

A 
Land use
Temperature
Cloud Cover
Precipitation
Topographic
425
Q

terrestrial biomes limiting factors

A

temperature: Growing Season
Soil moisture: Precipitation vs. evaporation
solar radiation: Latitude & clouds

426
Q

types of terrestrial biomes

A 
tropical rain forest
dry tropical forest
savannah
grasslands
chaparral
desert
temperate forests
boreal forests
tundra
427
Q

leaves and biomes

A 
Biome, Size, Thickness, Life Span
Tropical
Rain Forest Large, Thin, Evergreen
Dry tropical
Forest        Large, Thin, Deciduous
Desert       Small, Thick, Evergreen
Temperate Large, Thin, Deciduous
High latitude Small, Thin, Evergreen
428
Q

aquatic ecosystem limiting factors

A 
temperature
light
oxygen
nutrients
salinity
429
Q

Turnover Rate =

A

Frequency * Areal Extent

430
Q

unpredictable weather events

A

volcano eruption

earthquake

431
Q

predictable weather events

A

forest fires

wind throw

432
Q

decreasing variability

A

temperature, soil moisture

433
Q

early vs. late successional species

A

Trait Early Late
Seed Dispersal Long Short
Germination
Trigger Light CO2
Maximum
Dormancy Period Long Short
Allocation
Flexibility High Low
Recovery From
Stress High Low
Nutrient
Acquisition High Low

434
Q

ecosystem trends through succession

A

Attribute Early Late
Biomass Low High
Net Primary
Productivity High Low
Food Chains Short simple Long complex
Species
Diversity Low High
Niche Broad Narrow
Mineral
Cycles Leaky Tight
Stability Low High

435
Q

tolerance

A

Adaptations by one species allow it to tolerate
conditions that other species cannot tolerate, which
causes the less tolerant species to disappear

436
Q

population growth =

A

∆Pop = Birthrate - Deathrate

437
Q

population change

A

∆Pt = rmax * Pt-1 * (K-Pt-1)/K

r Maximum growth rate (decimal)
K Carrying capacity

438
Q

why did Malthus theory not come true?

A

Humans are able to expand the area from

which they draw life support (trade)

439
Q

IPAT equation

A

impact = population * affluence * technology

CO2 emissions = people * (gdp/ person) * (CO2/ gdp

440
Q

crude birth rate

A

Number of live births

per 1,000 population in a given year

441
Q

crude death rate

A

Number of deaths per

1,000 population in a given year

442
Q

population growth rate

A

Growth Rate = Crude Birth Rate - Crude Death Rate

443
Q

doubling time

A

the time in years it takes for a

population to double in size = (70/growth rate)

444
Q

total fertility rate

A

The average number of children a woman would have assuming that current age-specific birth rates remain constant throughout her childbearing years Replacement fertility is 2.1

445
Q

private property

A

Control over the good. Can
exclude others from its use. Can destroy/improve
as owner sees fit

446
Q

Usufruct Rights

A

Control over the output from land.

Cannot destroy/improve as owner sees fit

447
Q

externalities

A

Goods or services do not reflect the total costs
associated with their production or consumption.
This leads to too much or too little of their
production or consumption. This is known as a
‘market failure’

448
Q

command & control

A

Mandates limits on

emissions and/or the use of specific technologies

449
Q

Market-Based Mechanisms

A

The use of market

instruments, such as taxes or tradable permits

Environmental Science 100 (3 decks)

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