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Organisms and The Environment > Global environmental change > Flashcards

Global environmental change Flashcards

1
Q

define global change

A

planetary-scale changes in the earth system

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2
Q

what causes global change (7)

A 
solar variation 
plate tectonics 
volcanism 
proliferation and abatement of life 
meteorite impact 
resource depletion 
changes in the earths orbit
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3
Q

what is the main driver for global change

A

growing population causes increased demand for energy, food, services and disposal of waste

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4
Q

what is the result of global change

A

climate change
species extinction
desertification and ocean acidification
ozone depletion and pollution

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5
Q

define pollution

A

introduction of contaminants into natural enviro that causes adverse change
can be: energy, heat, noise, light or chemical substances

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6
Q

how do we measure toxic?

A

Lethal concentration: concentration of chemicals in the air/water that will kill 50% of test animals in single exposure
lethal dose: the single dose of a chemical that, when fed to group of test animals/ applied dermally will kill 50% of the animals

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7
Q

additive pollution

A

effects of each pollutant add together to produce overall effect (A+B=AB)

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8
Q

antagonistic pollution

A

one pollutant cancels out/reduces the impact of another (A+B+A)

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9
Q

synergistic pollution

A

pollutants combine in a way that the environmental effects are greater than would be expected additively

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10
Q

point source pollution

A

e.g. sewage outlet

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11
Q

multi source pollution

A

e.g. chimney stacks

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12
Q

seeping pollution

A

e.g. fertiliser runoff

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13
Q

spreading pollution

A

e.g. volatiles in air flow

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14
Q

what are the characteristics of acute pollution

A

large volume of pollutant released into enviro

  • often from one point source (one off/accidental)
  • commonly toxic affect
  • afterwards ecosystem begins to recover and return to original situation
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15
Q

what are the characteristics of chronic pollution

A

low level input but almost constant = ecosystem under stress with no chance to recover = cumulative effect

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16
Q

acute pollution: crude oil

A

blend of chemical compounds:

  • aliphatic hydrocarbons
  • aromatic hydrocarbons
  • polar compounds
  • sulphur compounds
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17
Q

biotic effects of crude oil

A

around 90% sunlight intercepted
division of algal cells inhibited at oil levels of 0.1ppm
oceans dependent on phytoplankton
food chains modified (directly and indirectly)

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18
Q

chronic pollution: pesticides

A

toxic chemicals introduced into ecosystem to kill/reduce population size/growth of particular pests or weeds
Benefits:
saves many human lives (improved harvest)
reduces weeds/pests
fewer storage losses
control livestock and crop diseases

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19
Q

what are the different methods of applying pesticides

A 
direct contact
secondary contact
ingested
repellent
lure and kill
fumigant
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20
Q

direct contact pesticide

A

spraying pest

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21
Q

secondary contact pesticide

A

spraying plant

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22
Q

ingested pesticide

A

taken in by root = killed when pest eats it

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23
Q

repellent pesticide

A

deters pest

problem: pest may relocate

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24
Q

lure and kill pesticide

A

artificially toxic and attracts pest to ingest it

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25
Q

fumigant pesticide

A

fumes are toxic

don’t need to ingest or have contact

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26
Q

what are the 3 main types of pesticides

A

organochlorine:
- broad spectrum toxins
- remains in enviro for a long time
chlorophenoxy:
- chemistry resembles plant auxins
- broken down in soil in matter of days
organophosphates:
- highly toxic to humans
- biodegradable and non-persistent, readily broken down

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27
Q

chronic pollution: DDT and peregrine falcons

A
  • peregrine egg thickness decreased and breaking
  • high levels DDE (metabolite of DDT) found in fatty tissues peregrine carcasses
  • more DDE = thinner shells
  • realised DDT was reducing calcium deposition
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28
Q

biomagnification

A

when element/chemical moves from one compartment to another and occurs at higher concentration in the second
occurs when concentration factor > 1

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29
Q

concentration factor

A

concentration of the pollutant in the consumer / concentration of the pollutant in the diet

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30
Q

pollution: plastic

A

accumulation of plastic in enviro neg impact wildlife/habitat/humans
slow to degrade
affects: bodies of water, marine animals, humans, wildlife

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31
Q

pollution: microplastics

A

usually <5mm in diameter

sources include: cosmetics, clothing, industrial processes

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32
Q

primary microplastics

A

manufactured

direct result of human material and product use

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33
Q

secondary microplastics

A

fragments derived from breakdown of larger plastic debris

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34
Q

what are the main causes of extinction

A 
habitat fragmentation
agriculture
human over population 
deforestation
poaching and hunting
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35
Q

genetic diversity

A

total number of genetic characteristics in the genetic makeup of a species

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36
Q

genetic variability

A

tendency of genetic characteristics to vary

37
Q

species diversity

A

number of different species

consists of species richness and evenness

38
Q

species richness

A

count of species

39
Q

species evenness

A

quantifies how equal the abundances of the species are

40
Q

ecosystem/ecological diversity

A

variation in ecosystems found in region or variation in ecosystems over the whole planet
is the largest scale of biodiversity

41
Q

gamma diversity

A

total species diversity in a landscape

determined by alpha and beta diversity

42
Q

alpha diversity

A

the mean species diversity in sites or habitats at a more local scale

43
Q

beta diversity

A

the differentiation among habitats

44
Q

endemism

A

describes usually limited geographical distribution of a taxonomic group. usually at family, genus or species level (group only found in a certain area)

45
Q

biodiversity hotspot

A

area of species richness and high level of endemism

have high conservation value

46
Q

direct use value

A

direct role of biological resources in consumption and production
e.g. food, medicine, ecotourism, biocontrol, industrial resources

47
Q

indirect use value

A

derives form the function biodiversity perform and is critical to human well being e.g. pollination

48
Q

non use value

A

aspects of biodiversity that do not aid human life e.g. aesthetics

49
Q

what is biocontrol

A

use of natural enemies to control species regarded as pests

would avoid pollution and toxicity aspects of pesticides

50
Q

give to e.g. of poor sustainability today

A

global fish harvest

fuel wood

51
Q

what are the pros and cons of ecotourism

A 
pros:
education 
tourism
improving economy 
enriching life

cons:
damage caused via travel
indirect environmental harm due to poor awareness

52
Q

ecosystem processes

A

actions or events that link organisms to their environment

e.g. decomposition, nutrient cycling, primary productivity

53
Q

ecosystem services

A 
the benefits provided by ecosystems to humans 
grouped into:
provisioning 
regulating
supporting
cultural
54
Q

provisioning service e.g.

A

production of food and water

55
Q

regulating service e.g.

A

control of climate and disease

56
Q

supporting service e.g.

A

nutrient cycles and crop pollination

57
Q

cultural service e.g.

A

spiritual and recreational benefits

58
Q

climate change definition

A

large scale long term shift in planets weather patterns or average temp

59
Q

earths climate temp

A

14c but recently increasing

60
Q

what are the natural causes of climate change

A

solar activity
earths orbit - Milankovitch cycles
continental drift

61
Q

describe solar activity

A

sunspot activity and how strong it is e.g. little ice age when reduced

62
Q

describe Milankovitch cycles

A

cyclical movement related to earths orbit around the sun combines to affect solar heat
eccentricity cycle = ellipsical
axial tilt = between 22.1 and 24.5 degrees
precession = wobbles like a tilt

63
Q

describe continental drift

A

continents once joined and now drifting apart due to circulating heat of earths interior and has large effect on climate

64
Q

recent causes of climate change

A

el nino = water in eastern/central pacific warmer due to winds. change in ocean conditions changes weather volcanic eruptions
greenhouse effect

65
Q

1827

A

jean baptiste joseph fourier 1st recognised existence of greenhouse effect

66
Q

1860

A

john tyndall measured absorption of infrared radiation by carbon dioxide

67
Q

1896

A

svante Arrhenius calculated effect of increasing concentration of greenhouse gases

68
Q

1940

A

G S Callender first to calculate the warming due to increasing CO2 from burning fossil fuels

69
Q

1957

A

Roger revelle and Hans suess first expression of concern about climate change

70
Q

pre industrial global average concentration of CO2

A

260-280 ppm

71
Q

1990 level CO2

A

350ppm

72
Q

predicted level co2 in 2060

A

600ppm

73
Q

what are the greenhouse gases

A

CO2, H20, CH4, CFCs

- co2 major contributor and less effective absorber

74
Q

signs of climate change in wales

A

sea levels at Holyhead increased over past 50 yrs
wheat crops at Aberystwyth flower 1-2 weeks earlier
blackcap arriving earlier on skokholm island

75
Q

sea level rise in the netherlands

A

50% country below sea levels
400km of dunes provide protection
10,000 million estimated cost of protection against 1m sea level rise

76
Q

sea level rise in bangledesh

A

30% of land 2m below sea level
estimated 1m rise by 2050, 2m by 2100
120 mil people located in delta region

77
Q

sea level rise low lying islands

A
  1. 5 mil people

0. 5 m rise would remove 50% groundwater

78
Q

how sea level rise would affect freshwater

A

effect ground water supplies and reserves
yet increasing pop
worlds major water sources shared

79
Q

co2 effects on plants

A
  • c3 plants respond positively and increase photosynthesis but do acclimate. growth increase about 40% (vs C4 plant by 20%)
  • plants commonly increase ratio of carbon to nitrogen = more nitrogen based defences against herbivores
  • insects that eat plants limited by nitrogen, need to eat more and would develop more slowly
  • causes partial closing of stomata making plants more efficient in water usage
  • leaves of plants may become thicker and have more starch
80
Q

effects of climate change on agriculture

A
  • neg effect partially compensated by increased productivity from fertilization effect of co2
  • increased disparity in cereal production between developed and less developed countries (developed increased 5%, less developed declined by 10%)
  • some crops require cold to germinate
81
Q

impacts of climate change in human health

A
  • impacted by pollution, inadequate water supplies and poor soil
  • main direct effect = heat stress
  • potential increased spread of disease e.g tropical diseases could spread mid latitude (malaria)
  • 150 mil environmental refugees
82
Q

define invasive species

A

living organism that’s not native to an ecosystem and can harm the enviro, economy or human health

83
Q

E.g invasive species Japanese knotweed

A

introduced from eastern asia
now across most of uk
forms dense strands and hard to control
illegal to sell house and not inform buyers its present

84
Q

e.g. invasive species rhododendron

A

introduced from Iberian peninsula
blocks light
carries diseases fatal to native trees

85
Q

characteristics of invasive species

A 
fast growth
rapid reproduction
high dispersal ability
phenotypic ability (alter growth to suit conditions)
tolerance of enviro conditions 
can live of wide range of food types 
association with humans 
prior successful invasion history
86
Q

define urbanisation

A

pop shift from rural to urban areas

how towns/cities formed

87
Q

environmental effects of urbanisation

A

urban heat islands (urban areas retain and produce heat)
rural areas solar energy evaporated by eater from soil/vegetation
cities often warmer

88
Q

define land use

A

management and modification of natural enviro
impacts local and global biodiversity
greatest cause of extinction e.g. deforestation

89
Q

different types of land use

A 
recreational 
transport 
agricultural 
residential 
commercial

Organisms and The Environment (9 decks)

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