Intro./The Anthropocene Flashcards
Precautionary Principle
When you have uncertainty & it raises threats of harm to the environment/human health precautionary measures should be taken even if some cause & effect relationships are not fully established scientifically.
Biodiversity
The variation of life, including genetic & population variation, species variation, & ecosystem, variation
Conservation Biology
The mission is to protect & restore biodiversity, or the diversity of life on Earth. Quick action is critical & the consequences of failure are great.
Scientific Method
A planned, organized approach to solving a problem or answering a question
Scientific Method Steps
- Make Observations
- Ask a Question
- Form a Hypothesis
- Develop Research Questions
- Collect & Analyze Data
- Develop conclusions & Theories
Independent Variable
You can change it
Ex: Lid
Dependent Variable
A factor that can change or respond, if the independent variable has changed
Ex: Flies
Constants
Factors that do not change during an experiment
Ex: Jars and meat
Burden of Proof
The person who made the claim must prove their claim
Model
A simplified representation of some aspect of reality
Darwins Phrase for Evolution
Descent with modification
Charles Darwin Theory
Descent with modification
Ex: Short neck giraffe dies: only long neck giraffes
Natural Selection
- Differentials, or unequal, success in reproduction
- Individuals with higher reproductive success pass on more traits to the next-gen.
- Individual with lower reproductive success pass on fewer traits to the next gen.
Artificial Selection
Humans select desired characteristics
Ex: Dog breeding
Artificial v.s. Natural Selection
Natural selection selects “desired” characteristics
Artificial selection humans make the selection
Resilience
The ability of a species/ecosystem to withstand change
Habitat Loss
The number 1 cause of species loss
Value
Measures of importance
- Preserving the environment
- Paper waste management is good
- Clean streets are good
Ecosystems Services
Any positive benefit that wildlife/ecosystem provides
Ex: There were varmints, and they killed all the predator animals. Then there were mice everywhere. The ecosystem service was the pest-control.
Externality
The side effect of an activity that affects something else or services involved
Carrying Capacity
The population a given space can sustain
Impact
Population+Affluence+Technology
I=PAT
This is a simplification of reality to explain the impacts of the human population
Attitude
An expression or application or beliefs & values (good/bad) to a specific situation
*Littering is bad
Injunctive Norms
What should or ought to be done
* I don’t think I should litter
Descriptive Norm
What is
* People don’t litter
Environmental Justice
The group bears a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, municipal & commercial operations or the execution of fed., state, local & tribal programs
Fair treatment & meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, and national origin
Disproportionate Burden
- Exposed community did not generate problems
- Exposed community receives benefits
- Exposed community bears the environmental burden
Fair Treatment
No group of people should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, gov & economic operations or policies
Meaningful Involvement
- People have an opportunity to participate in decisions about activities that may affect their environment/health
- The public contribution can influence the eg. agencies decisions
- Community concerns will be considered in the decisions about making process
- Decision makers will seek out & facilitate the involvement of these potentially affected
Distributive notion of Justice
Equal distribution of good & bad things
Justice as Recognition
- Equal rights & ownership to environment & the recognition of connections between community & place
- Injustice based on a lack of recognition of identity or a lack of rec. of diff. in view, values, and interests
Justice of Participation (Procedural)
- Communities & persons ‘have a say in environment matter that concerns them
- Democratic procedures for precipitation & rep. in enviro. decisions
Moving Forward: Intersectional EJ
How are people’s experiences of enviro. injustice constrained by overlapping power structures
*Racism, classism, sexism, ableism, ageism, heternormativity
Policy
Assesses the impacts of federal projects BEFORE a decision is made about the project
Environmental Studies
Working on solutions to environmental issues that create a positive impact on the quality of life
Millennium Development Goals
- Eradicate extreme poverty & hunger
- Achieve universal primary education
- Reduce child mortality
- Promote gender quality & empower women
Myths and Reality
- Education changes behavior
* Tangible/personal influence - You have to change attitudes
* Have to understand their values
* Set expectation - People know what motivates them
* Investigate reality
* Seeing what actually works
Birth Dearth
Falling fertility rates
Ecology
The study of ecosystems
What is science
Natural philosophers
Environmental Science
A study of interactions
EJ Movement Hist.
Pass civil rights act
Enviro. laws passed
Was acknowledged it was a thing & had some laws passed
