Human Impact on the Environment Flashcards
3rd Unit
Pollution
Any harmful/dangerous substance that is released into the environment
Conservation
Using resources at a minimum so that they can last longer
Sustainability
The ability to reuse materials so they don’t run out
Examples of our limiting factors
Food, water, space, oxygen
Direct Harvesting
Organisms are removed from the environment and NOT replaced
Deforestation
Decreases biodiversity by habitat destruction
Overpopulation
Created by improved health care and hygiene
Carrying capacity
Amount of organisms that can be supported by the habitat
Limiting Factors
Are factors in the environment that limit the size of populations
What are some of the detrimental effects of overpopulation
Technology, Waste Disposal, Over Consumption, Overcrowding, Habitat Destruction, Industrialization
Other names for Imported Species
Non-native or Invasive species
Imported species
Animal and vegetation species that are introduced into environments.
They become pests & disrupt the ecosystem by reducing biodiversity
How do ecologists solve the pest problems?
Diseases created specifically for the pest, use of pesticides or insecticides or Biological Control
Biological Control
The release of natural predators of a pest species
Water Pollution
Introduction of harmful chemicals into lakes, rivers, oceans
Examples of what pollutes the water
Sewage, wastes from homes & factories, animal wastes from farm, fertilizers
Toxic Wastes
Can cause environmental problems. When they are disposed the cells of the organisms that live there can collect it
Biological Magnification
The increase in the concentration of toxic substances as they move through the food chain
Thermal contamination
Power plants and industries use water to cool down their machines and then release it to a river or lake. The warm water cannot hold much oxygen and some species may suffocate.
Contaminant
Any dangerous/hazardous substance that is contaminating a certain space
Air Pollution
The release of harmful substances into the air
Example of what pollutes the air
Fossil Fuels
Acid Rain
Caused mainly by S02 (Sulfur) and N02 (Nitrogen). Lowers pH of lakes, kills plants animals
Carbon Dioxide
Greenhouse gas that I produced from burning fossil fuels and a product of cellular respiration
Greenhouse gases
Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere
Examples of greenhouse gases
CO2, methane, water vapor
How does deforestation cause an increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide?
Less trees = less photosynthesis = more CO2 and less O2
Global warming
The increase in earth’s temperature because of the increased levels of greenhouse gases. CO2 from burning
Detrimental effects of Global Warming
Melting of the polar ice caps, rising in sea level, flooding in many coastal areas
Ozone Layer
Protects us from UV radiation
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s)
Chemicals that destroy the ozone layer
Examples of CFC’s
Aerosol cans, refrigerator emissions, air conditioner emissions
Problem with CFC’s
They create holes in the ozone layer around the earth. Lets UV radiation enter the earth
Effects of UV in living things
Mutations that lead to cancer
Nonrenewable resources
Finite = limited
Once we use them, they’re gone FOREVER
Examples of nonrenewable resources
Fossil fuels: Coal, oil, natural gas
Renewable resources
Replaceable
They will keep coming as long as we treat them properly
Alternative Energy Sources
Hydroelectricity, wind power, solar energy, nuclear energy
Hydroelectricity
Dammed water is sent through a turbine & generates electricity
Advantages of hydroelectricity
-Little or no pollution
-Doesn’t depend on fossil fuels
Disadvantages of hydroelectricity
-Destroys the surrounding aquatic ecosystems
Wind Power
Wind spins turbine blades to produce electricity
Advantages of wind power
-Little or no pollution
-Don’t use water
Disadvantages of wind power
-Depends if the day is windy or not
-Need a lot of turbines to generate as much energy as one fossil fuel power plant
Solar Energy
The use of the sun’s energy to generate electricity
Advantages of solar energy
-Relatively pollution free
-Is affordable
Disadvantages of solar energy
-Not available at night
-Reduced during cloud cover
Nuclear energy
Energy produced from splitting of atoms
Advantages of nuclear energy
-The only emission is water vapor
-Low fuel costs (uranium)
Disadvantages of nuclear energy
-Waste is radioactive
-High maintenance costs
Ecological Succession
The process by which an ecosystem changes over time
Trade off
Decisions by you weighing the pros and cons our actions will have in the environment
