Human Ecology Flashcards
science of relationships between living organisms and their environment
ecology
relationships between people and their environment; the environment is perceived as an ecosystem
human ecology
everything in a specified area - the soil, air, water, living organisms and physical structures, including everything built by humans
ecosystem
the living parts of an ecosystem: microorganisms, plants, animals, humans
biological community
is everything about people, their population and the psychology and social organizations that shape their behavior
social system
form the base of the food web; largest group in ecosystem; incorporate inorganic carbon and nitrogen from the atmosphere
producers at the base
living organisms that get energy from consuming other organisms
consumers in the chain
living component; breaks down waste material and dead organisms; vital recycling function, returning nutrients incorporated into dead organisms to the soil where plants can take them up again
decomposers and nutrient cycling
the dynamic evolutionary process that fits organisms to their environment, enhancing their evolutionary fitness
adaptation
scientific study of nature, with the aim of protecting species, their habitats and ecosystems from extinction
conservation
types of conservation
- environmental conservation
- animal conservation
- marine conservation
- human conservation
refers to the environment being used in a way that is sustainable
environmental conservation
the practice of protecting endangered wild animal species, along with their habitats
animal conservation
protection of species and ecosystems that live in oceans and seas
marine conservation
risk of losing traditional culture due to the ever-expanding influence; learning their customs and traditions and helping them improve their standards of living
human conservation
represent the interconnected nature of living organisms of their world. it could be as small as a drop of pond water or as big as the amazon rainforest
ecosystem
components of an ecosystem are all of the nonliving elements
abiotic
components of the ecosystem both live on and interact with the abiotic components
biotic
a change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns when that change lasts for an extended period of time
climate change
climate impacts on human health
- temperature-related impacts
- air quality impacts
- increases in ozone
- changes in particulate matter
- changes in allergens and asthma triggers
illnesses that are transmitted by vectors(mosquitoes, ticks, fleas)
vector-borne diseases
natural hosts
birds
insect vector
mosquitoes
incidental host
humans
People can become ill if exposed to contaminated drinking or recreational water. Climate change increases the risk of illness through increasing temperature, more frequent heavy rains and runoff, and the effects of storms.
Water-related illnesses
can affect exposure to waterborne pathogens
climate impacts
mean that waterborne vibrio bacteria and harmful algal toxins will be present in the water or in seafood at different times of the year
changing water temperatures
resulting from increases in extreme precipitation, hurricane rainfall, and storm surge will increasingly contaminate water bodies used for recreation
runoff and flooding
such as storm surges can damage or exceed the capacity of water infrastructure, increasing the risk that people will be exposed to contaminants
extreme weather events
three factors contribute to vulnerability
- sensitivity
- exposure
- adaptive capacity
degree to which people or group are affected by a stressor such as higher temperature
sensitivity
physical contact between a person and a stressor
exposure
ability to adjust to or avoid potential hazards
adaptive capacity
are vulnerable to many health risks due to biological sensitivities and more opportunities for exposure
children
are vulnerable to heat waves and other extreme events
pregnant woman
are vulnerable to many of the impacts of climate change. they may have greater sensitivity to heat and contaminants
older adults
such as outdoor workers, paramedics, firefighters, and transportation workers, as well as workers in hot indoor work environments
occupational groups
can be very vulnerable during extreme weather events, unless communities ensure that their emergency response plans specifically accommodate them
people with disabilities
are typically vulnerable to extreme heat, especially if they are taking medications that make it difficult to regulate body temperature
people with chronic medical conditions
Any changes in a person’s physical health or surrounding environment can also have serious impacts on their mental health. In particular, experiencing an extreme weather event can cause stress and other mental health consequences, particularly when a person loses his/her loved ones or home.
mental health
