Semester 1 Flashcards
Get some of dat extra credit nig
what is the difference between positive and negative feedback?
Positive keeps going, while negative is a cycle
What is the equation of doubling time?
70/r r= rate of growth
Out of all the cycles, which one does not have an atmospheric component.
The phosphorous cycle.
What is a linear, exponential, and logistic growth graphs?
Linear= constant going up Exponential= does not have a limiting capacity Logistic= stops at the carrying capacity and sometimes wavers a bit until it settles down in equilibrium.
What is macro and micro evolution?
Macro= when evolution is at a large scale Micro= when evolution only happens to a small group
How are coral reefs being threatened?
Pollution Overfishing Coral bleaching
List the Soil horizons from top to bottom
O, A, B, C
What is boimagnification and bioaccumulation
Bio-magnification is having to do with unnatural substances, or chemicals that do not exist in nature. Accumulation deals with the increased concentration of things that already available in nature.
Most of the freshwater available on Earth is located in….
Glaciers
What can overgrazing do to biomes?
Desertification
What is the difference between nonpoint and point sources?
Nonpoint are too broad and can’t be located while point sources can be tracked down like smokestacks from companies/factories
What are some nutrients that have an end effect of eutrophication?
Nitrates and phosphates
Tell me about Earth’s Core
Inner core= made out of molten lava, liquidy Outer= solidified part of the core
What is the difference between a mineral and a rock?
A rock is made out of more than one mineral
Which form of rock is created by enormous amount of pressure
Metamorphic
What are 3 predation defenses
Chemical Camouflage Behavior
What is replacement level fertility
It is the amount of kids that replace the elderly
What is intercropping and monoculture?
Intercroping= growing several crops at the same time Monoculture= growing the same crop in a large field
What is synergy and what makes it different from 2+2=4?
Occurs when two or more processes interact so that the combined effect is greater than the original
What is the formula of Growth rate?
(Births+ immigration)- (deaths + emigration)
What is the deepest Lake annd Ocean zones
Lake= Benthic
Ocean= Abyss
What is el nino
an irregularly occurring and complex series of climatic changes affecting the equatorial Pacific region and beyond every few years, characterized by the appearance of unusually warm, nutrient-poor water off northern Peru and Ecuador, typically in late December.
Why are mountain ecosystems ecologically important to the environment
They hold many forests and stop much eriosion. they block wind from reaching the other sides.
Environmental science is the study of
Interdisiplinary humans interract and nuliving thiger
Define homeostasis
The proses humanbody goes trough to maintain body temperature
Define synergy
occurs when two or mare proceses interact so that the conbined effect is grater than the original
Define and give two examples of renewable resource
is a replenished on a human time scale for example fresh air and fertile soil
During cultural revolutions (like the agricultural and industrial revolutions
The food supply increase
life expectancy increased
living standards increased
death rates decreased
If the growth rate od a country is 2%, how long would it take the population to double?
70 is the constand 70/2 =35 years
Growth rate is equal
births + imigration -deaths - emigration
what 2 countries have the largest populations?
China and India
What type of countries represent a higher percentage of the world’s population?
Developing countries
What type of countries have the higher percentage of the world’s resource use?
Developed countries
What type of countries have a pyramid-shaped histogram?
Developing countries
What type of countries have the higher percent of the world’s pollution waste?
Developing countries
What type of countries have a higher percent of population growth?
Developing countries
What type of countries the higher percent of the world’s wealth and income?
Developed countries
What type of countries are India and Kenia?
Developing countries
What type of countries have a higher percentage of elderly people/
Developed countries
What type of countries have higher status for women?
Developed countries
Subsistence agriculture is common in what type of countries?
Developing countries
What 2 countries have the largest populations?
China and India (over 35% of the world’s population)
Describe the first agricultural communities
The first agricultural communities, until approximately 12000 years ago, were composed of hunter-gather system. Men would hunt for most and animals by products
Define and give and example of kinetic energy
Is moving energy for example wind and water (waterfall)
Define and give and example of potential energy
stored and potentially available for use for example
rack held in a hand
unlit match
Define the 1 st law of Thermodynamics
Law od conservation energy the energy can either be created not destroyed for example force in space
Define the 2nd law of thermodynamics
when energy changes from ane form to another.end up with lower quality of energy for example light gives of head
Energy flows in one direction
Matter cycles
Which nutrient cycle has no atmospheric component?
Phosphorous cycle
Define the term of precipitation
Forms of water falling back to earth
Define the term of runoff
After precipitation. flows into rivers/steams and other major bodies of water
Define the term of transpiration
When water form trees evaporates
Define the term of evaporation
when water form places such as rivers, lakes is turned into water vapor
Define the term of water table
Upper surface of the zone of saturation in which all available pores in the rock absorbs in it
Define the steps of the nitrogen cycle of nutrification
A two step process in which specialized soil bacteria convert NH3 and NH2t into nitrate ions No3 which can be taken by plants. they use it for multiple purposes
Define the steps of the nitrogen cycle of ammonification
Vast armies of speciallzed decomposer bacteria converts detritus into simpler nitrogen compounds
Define the steps of the nitrogen cycle of denitrification
Specialized bacteria in waterlogged soil and in the bottom sediments of lakes, oceans and swamps. It turns it back into nitrite and nitride ions.
Competition
Defitinion: Two or more individual organisms of a single specie or two or more individuals of different species, attempting to use some resources.
Example: Tree growing
Example: Wolves and rabbits competing for water resources
Predation
Definition: An interaction between organisms of different species in which one type of organism benefit from the others
Example: Ephiphyte
Example: Silverfish and army ants
Example: Wolves and sheep
Mutualism
Definition: Both species benefit from each other
Example: Bees and flowers
Example: Clownfish and sea anemone
Example: Sharks and remora
Parasitism
Definition: A symbiotic relationship where only one party benefits from the other
Example: Tapeworm
Example: Mosquitoes
Commensalism
Definition: An interaction between species in which one obtains food or other benefits from the other without either harming or benefiting the latter.
Example: Silverfish
Example: Epiphytes
Example: Remoras
Autotroph
Definition: Produces own nutrients
Example: Plants
Heterotroph
Definition: Organisms that feed to consume nutrients
Example: Lion
Producer
Definition: Organism which is capable of producing complex organic compounds from simple inorganic molecules
Example: Algae
Primary consumer
Definition: Plant eater, eat producers
Example: Rabbit
Secondary consumer
Definition: Organism that feeds on smaller plant-eating animals in a food chain.
Example: Hyena
Herbivore
Definition: Organism that eats only plants
Example: Grasshopper
Carnivore
Definition: Organism that eats only meat
Example: Lion
Omnivore
Definition: Organism that eats meat and plants
Example: Humans
Scavenger
Definition: Organism that feeds on the remaining scraps of food
Example: Vulture
Decomposer
Definition: Bacteria that releases nutrients
Example: Fungi
Detritus feeder
Definition: Feeds on waste and dead animals
Example: Crabs, termites
Explain what food chains are rarely longer than five organisms?
This is because a lot of energy is lost at each step. After about three steps, very little energy is still available for use by living organisms. This also explains why there are few organisms at the top of food chains, compared with those lower down.
Name two ecosystems with high net primary productivity per unit area
Estuaries
Rainforest
Name two ecosystems with low net primary productivity per unit area
Ocean
Desert
Macroevolution
When evolution is on the larger scale
Microevolution
When evolution has a smaller change in population
Coevolution
When two species interact with each other for a long time cause each other to evolve
Gene pool
Sum total of all genes founf in the infibiduals for a long time
Geographic isolation
When a physical boundary insolades species
Natural selection
Theory that says the best adapted species will survive
Niche
Role of an organism wthin its ecosystem that allows that ecosystem to survive and function efficiently
Convergent evolution
Is the process whereby organisms not closely related (not monophyletic), independently evolve similar traits as a result of having to adapt to similar environments or ecological niches.
Cities are warmer than the forest at the same latitude
Microclimate
The leeward side of a mountain is drier than the windward side of the mountain
Rainshadow effect
Ecosystem located near lage bodies of water tend to be warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer when compared to a similar ecosystems
That are located near lage bodies of water
The two most important factors in determining climate are temperature and
Precipitation
During El Nino the atlantic ocean current near the equator stops or reverses and flows to the
East when this occurs the upwellings of cold /warm nutrient rich are suppressed
List 3 threat to coral reefs
Pollution
Overfishing
Coral bleaching
Explain why mountain ecosystem are ecologically important
They help many forest and stop much erosion , they black wind from reaching
Eutrophic lake are high in nutrientes and low in
dissolved oxygen
Eutrophic lake are
Cloudy
oligotrophic lakes are loe in nutientes and high in
Dissolved oxygen
Oligotrophic lakes are
Clear
Where are the lake limnetic life zone are?
Location: open sunlit surface layers of lake
Where are the lake littoral life zone are?
shallow shore cans
Where are the profundal lake life zone are?
Deep open water
Where are the benthic lake life zone are?
Is the ecological region at the lowest level of a body of water such as a lake, including the sediment surface
Where are Euphotic ocean life zone are?
Location: Open sea, sunlight
Where are Coastal ocean life zone are?
Location: Near coast sunlight
Where are Bathyl ocean life zone are?
Location: Deep ocean little sunlight
Where are abyssal ocean life zone are?
Location: Botton of the ocean
Poor soil because the nutrients are rapidly absorbed
Tropical rain forest
Succulent plants
Desert
Boreal forest
Taiga
Fire adopted community near coast
Chaparral
leaves change colors and falls off the trees
Taiga
Permafrost
Tundra
large herds of grazing animals and their predators;threatened by desertification
Savana
High copetition resulted in the evolution od many specialized species
Tropical rain forest
Much od this biome has been converted for agricultural use because of its exellent soil
Temperate grassland
Needle like evergreen leaves
Taiga
Cold temperatures and loe rainfall
Tundra
Most biodiverse terrestrial ecosystem
Tropical rain forest
Endemic
Definition: species that are only found in one aren. vulnerable to extintion
example:Konla
Exotic
Species that migrate into an ecosistem or are deliberathor accidently introduced
example:Kudau vine
Keystone
Definition:Species that plant roles affecting many others organisms in a ecossistem
Generalist
Definition: Species whit a broad ecological niche , they can live in many different paces eat a variet of foods and tolerate a wide range of enviromental conditions
exemplo: cockroach
Specialist
Definition:marrow ecolgical niche. live only kind of habitad
Example:Humans
R-strategist
Definition:Reproduce early in life when that do it is large number or to increase the change of survival
Example: Rabbits
K-Strategist
Definition: Species that produce few on long periods of time. These usually reach reproductive age.
Example: Whales
Characteristics of vegetation found in EARLY successional stage ecosystems
In the early stage vegetation is made of large amounts of mosses and lichen. Lend to richer soils and larger variety of vegetation
Characteristics of vegetation found in LATE successional stage ecosystems
In the late stage, an ecosystem vegetation largerly consists of scrubs and grasses which eventually led to trees
O-horizon
Leaf litter
A-Horizon
Top soil
B-Horizon
Subsoil
C-Horizon
Parent material
What are the 2 properties of substances taht biomagnify and bioaccumulate
Fat
Slowly degrades
Name 2 substances that biomagnify and bioaccumulate
DDT
PCB
What is the difference between biomagnification and bioaccumulation?
Biomagnification having to do with unnatural substances or chemicals that do not exist in nature.
Bioaccumulation deals with the increased concentration of things that are already in nature.
List 3 properties of water
High specific heat index
High surface tension
Common solvent
List the top 3 uses of water, starting with the greatest
Agriculture
Industrial
Parasitic
What are the environmental effects of excessive ground water withdrawal
Excessive ground water withdrawal is detrimental because it can cause:
drying up of wells
reduction of water in streams and lakes
deterioration of water quality
increased pumping costs
land subsidence
Most fresh water is ….
Frozen in glaciers in the two poles
What is the most important cause of dessertification
Overgrazing
First generation botanical
Definition: Nature chemicals borrowed from the plants
Example: Nicotine sulfate
Second generation synthetic
Definition: Insecticides and such potions created** **in laboratories
Example: DDT
Chlorinated hydrocarbon
Definition: Chlorine containing pesticides
Examples: DDE
Organophosphate
Definition: Pesticides containing phosphates
Carbamate
Definition: Compounds derived from carbonic acid
Example: Carboryl
List four qualities of an ideal pesticide
Biodegradable
Selective in its effects
Easy, cheap to use
Not toxic to humans
Genetic variability is LOWER in crop monocultures
Genetic variability makes crop monocultures MORE susceptible to disease and pest infestation
What is integrated pest management?
It is a program that the crops and insects are looked in as part of the ecological system
Name 3 methods that might be used in IPM to control pests
Use many fields for crop usage that stops pests
Introduce nocturnal predators
Use little insecticides
Point source (water pollution)
Definition: Single identifiable source, easy to find
Example: Smakestick
Nonpoint source (water pollution)
Definition: Broad areas that make the source hard to pinpoint
Example: Runoff
What nutrients cause eutrophication?
Nitrates and phosphates
Primary (sewage treatment)
Physical process that uses screens and grit tank to remove large objects
Secondary (sewage treatment
A biological process in which arabic bacteria removes 90% of disolved biodegradable
Advanced (sewage treatment)
A combination of chemical and physical processes to remove specialized pollutants
Disinfection (sewage treatment)
Kill disease - carrying bacteria and viruses
Crust (Earth’s zones)
Outermost zone, underlines continents and oceanic zones
Lithosphere (Earth’s zones)
Outershell of Earth. Crust + Riggid mantle
Asthenosphere (Earth’s zones)
Hot melted rock
Mantle (Earth’s zones)
Solid rock, surrounding core (hot)
Outer core (Earth’s zones)
Hot: Solid part of the core
Inner core (Earth’s zones)
Liquid core out of molten lava
Mineral
Definition: Inorganic compound, occurs naturally
Example: Gold, copper
Rock
Definition: Combination of more than one mineral
Example: Sedimentary, metamorphic
Igneous
Form from magma cooling into rock at or below the surface of the earth
Sedimentaryac
Form from the lithification of sediments at the surface of earth
Metamorphic
Formed when any rocks are exposed to high temperatures and pressures below the earth’s surface
Metamorphic (Examples)
Marble and gneiss
Sedimentary (Examples)
Limestone and shale
Igneous (Examples)
Granite and obsidian
Strip mining is an example of…
Surface mining
Subsurface mining
Disturbs less than surface mining
Will get out less of the resource than surface mining
Produces less waste materials than surface mining
It is MORE dangerous than surface mining
What can be done to extend the depletion time of a non renewable resource?
Takes a non renewable resource to deplode
Recycling resources and reusing the to reduce consumption
What is the US Mining Law of 1812 and why don’t environmentalists like it?
The law says that anyone can buy a piece of land but has to renew another
Limiting factor principle
Too much or too little of any factor that limits population growth
Estuaries
Enclosed coastal area of the mouth of river
Fresh water, fertile soil
Predation defense
Chemical: skunks
Behavior: Blowfish
Camouflage: Gecko
Succession
1st - Pioneer species have no soil
2nd - Climax community have thick rich soil
Carrying Capacity
The number of organisms allowed to live in a place
Density Dependent Population controls:
Disease
Predation
Food shortage
Density Independent Population controls:
Unusual weather
Natural disasters
Seasonal cycles
Certain human activities—such as damming rivers and clear-cutting forests
Food chains
Shows energy flow: cricket, frog, eagle
Replacement level fertility
Amount of kids that replace the elderly
Human population momentum/growth
Developed
Developing
Demographic transition
A model that shows how population changes
Environmental impact of Livestock
Livestock can help fertilize the ground or from overgrazing
Aquaculture
Raising marine and freshwater fish
Soil salinatization
A process where soils degrades. Salinization occurs when dissolved salts in water tables rise to the soil surface and accumulate as water evaporates.
Soil erosion
Caused by movements of soil from one place to another
Types of agriculture
Intercropping: Growing several crops at the same time
Monoculture: Growing a crop in a large vast field
Clean Water Act
EQA must set up standards for clean water
Types of scientific research
Must current research done by using computer based analysis
Qualitative and quantitative
