Semester Exam Flashcards
Steps of the Scientific Method
- Observation
- Question
- Hypothesis
- Experiment
- Analyze
- Draw Conclusions
- Submit for peer review and Communicate results
Observation
Seeing, hearing smelling, tasting, feeling, be skeptical of new report until confirmed
Question
- clear and measurable
- can be tested
Hypothesis
An educated guess about the cause of an observation. Is tested through observation and experimentation
Experiment
A systematic test of a hypothesis. Factors are tested one at a time
Analyze
Apply the appropriate statistical tests to ensure the validity of the results
Draw Conclusions (Conclusions must be:)
- Must be objective
- Lack bias
- Accept or reject hypothesis
Submit for peer review and Communicate results
Rigorous peer review roots out junk science
Sustainability
the goal we should be working toward in our relationship with the natural world
Stewardship
Managing natural resources and human well-being for the common good
Sound science
- understanding how the world works and how humans interact with it
- uses the scientific method
Junk science
- doesn’t conform to the rigorous methods and practices of legitimate science
- information presented as scientifically valid, but does not conform to the rigors of true science
Environmental racism
waste sites and other industries occur in poor, nonwhite areas
Control
the set-up that is the norm that you compare to the experimental results (doesn’t have the variable)
Variable
Independent: variable that’s manipulated
Dependent: variable depends on independent
Biodiversity
variability among living organisms and the ecological complexes of which they are part
Importance of biodiversity
it helps maintain the stability of natural systems (enabling them to recover after a disturbance)
Causes of biodiversity loss
- COnversion of natural lands to crops and cities (habitat loss/fragmentation)
- Pollution and global warming
- Expoliation for commercial value (overharvesting)
- Species hunted, killed, and marketed illegally
Environmental science is a multidisciplinary academic field field that integrates…
physical, biological, and information sciences
Environmental science
the study of the environment and the solution to environmental problems
Environmental science provides an…
integrated, quantitative, and interdisciplinary approach to the study of environmental systems
Silent Spring
successful because of the meticulous documentation of thorough reseach
Rachel Carson
initiated environmental awareness that led to the modern environmental movement
3 Most Important Sectors for Jobs
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
Global warming trends and causes
carbon dioxide in atmosphere contributes to global warming by absorbing infrared radiation (greenhouse effect) -leads to loss of biodiversity
Global population size
There are more than 7.2 billion people growing at a rate of 1.2%/year
- 80 million people are added each year
Population
individuals in the same area that make up an interbreeding, reproducing group
Landscape
a cluster of interacting ecosystems
Ecosystem
an interactive complex of communities and the abiotic factors affecting them
Ecotone
a transitional region between ecosystems that shares species and characteristics of both
Habitat
the place where a species is adapted to live
Niche
the sum of all conditions and resources under which a species can live
Zones of stress
Between the optimal range and high or low limit of tolerance
Biome
A large area with the same climate and vegetation
Two determining factors:
1. rainfall
2. temperature
Limiting factor
any factor that limits growth
All levels of classification
Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species
Scientific names
Genus is capitalized, both genus and species are italicized
Photosynthesis
turning carbon dioxide, water, and light energy into sugar (glucose)
6 CO2 + 6 H2O —> C6H12O6 + 6 O2
Cellular respiration
Organic molecules are broked down inside each cell (reverse of photosynthesis)
Biosphere
All living things (interacts with and depends on other three spheres)
Hydrosphere
- all water on earth
- source of hydrogen
- essential for living things (liquid form)
Lithosphere
Minerals (naturally occuring solids) and rocks (made of minerals)
Atmosphere
the thin layer of gases separating Earth from outer space
Sublimation
water goes from solid directly into the air
Organic Compounds
chemical compounds making up tissues of living organisms (CARBON, hydrogen, and oxygen)
Inorganic Compounds
molecules or compounds with neither carbon-carbon nor carbon-hydrogen bonds
Elements making up organic compounds
Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Sulfur
Community
Populations of different species living together in an area
Exponential growth
growth at a constant rate of increase (increases at an increasing rate), J-curve
Logistic growth
some process (limited resources, mates, disease, etc) slows growth so it levels off near carrying capacity, S-curve
Biotic potential
the number of offspring (births, eggs, seeds, spores) produced under ideal conditions
- measured by the rate at which organisms reproduce
Environmental resistance
the biotic and abiotic factors that limit a population’s increase
R strategists
produce lots of young, but leave their survival to nature
- low recruitment, high reproductive potential
- rapid reproduction, rapid movement, short life span
K strategists (equilibrial species)
lower biotic potential
- care for and protect young
- stable environment
- larger, longer lived, well-adapted to normal fluctuations
- luctuate around carrying capacity
Critical number
The minimum population base allowing the survival and recovery of a population (extincion is almost inevitable)
Threatened
populations are declining rapidly
Endangered
populations are near the critical number
Interspecific competition
between different species
Intraspecific competition
between the same species
Resource partitioning
the division of a resource and specialization in different parts of it
Character dislacement
competition can lead to changes in traits so a species uses only a part of its potential niche
Biological evolution
modification of the gene pool of a species by natural selection over generations (supported by genetic evidence)
Reproductive isolation
the original populations separate into two populations
Competitive exclusion
species cannot survive if they comete directly in many respects
Food chains
describes where energy and nutrients go as they move from one organism to another
Food webs
Interconnection of food chains to form complex feeding relationships
Heterotroph
must consume organic material to obtain energy (consumers and decomposers)
Autotroph
produce organic material from inorganic matter by using an external energy source (producers)
Producer
Autotroph
Decomposer
feed on detritus
Facilitation
Either both species benefit or one benefits and the other isn’t harmed
Resilience mechanism
includes the processes of : 1. replenishment of nutrients 2. dispersion by plants and animals 3. regrowth of plants and succession (helps maintain the stability of ecosystems)
Tipping point
a situation or disturbance that can move an ecosystem in one direction or another
Ecosystems can be restored if:
- Abiotic factors remain unchanged
- Viable populations of previous species inhabiting ecosystem still exist
- Alien species have not been introduced that will preclude the survival of the natives reintroduced
Primary consumers
eat producers
Secondary consumers
feed on rimary consumers
Carnivores
secondary or higher-order meat eaters
Omnivores
feed on both plants and animals
Primary succession
the process of initial invasion and progression from one community to another, lacks soil
Secondary succession
occurs in an area cleared by a disturbance, starts with pre-existing soil, happens faster
have broad-leaved evergreens that cannot tolerate freezing, heavy rainfall, year-round, >95”, soils thin and poor in nutrients, 28 degrees celcius, dense canopy, vines
Tropical rain forests
< 10” rain per year, dry, hot days, cold nights, thin soils, scattered shrubs, cacti, rodents, lizards, raptors
Desert
seasonal rainfall, 10-60”, frequent fires, rich deep soils, center of continents, grass species dominant, large grazing mammals, insects, rodents hawks
Grasslands and prairies
Temps below freexing in winter, summers warm and humid, well developed soils, broad-leafed deciduous trees, some conifers, undergrowth, many mammals, birds and amphibians
Temperate forest
Long, cold winters, precip. light in winter, conifers, large herbivores, mice, hares, lynx, bird nesting area
Coniferous forest
short growing season, small plant life, low precipitation, thin soils, ermafrost, shrubs, lichens, mosses, grasses, lemmings, hares, arctic foxes, caribou, insect life, migrant shorebirds
Tundra
Ecosystem management
aims to conserve ecological services and restore natural resources as well as meeting the needs of current and future generations
Ecosystem capital
all goods and services provided to humans by natural systems
Biological wealth
- Biota plus their ecosystems
- = biodiversity
- represents a major part of a country’s total wealth
- sustains human life and economic activity
Instrumental value
a species’ or organism’s existence or use benefits some other entity (anthropocentric)
Intrinsic value
something has value for its own sake
Endemic species
are found only in one habitat
Fragmentation
support only small numbers and populations of species, increases edge habitats
Causes of decline in biodiversity
Habitat destruction Invasive species Pollution Population Overexploitation
Taxonomy
the cataloging and naming of species
Lacey Act
forbids interstate commerce in illegally killed wildlife
CITES
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
- banned trade on ivory, some aly to CITES to resume ivory sales, each time a sale is permitted, poaching resumes
Endangered Species Act
protects endangered species in danger of becoming extinct if not protected
How are species listed for protection (ESA)
Listing
Critical habitat
Recovery plans
Invasive species
thrive, spread, and may eliminate native species by predation or competition
Bioprospecting
using plant and animal species for medicinal drugs and other commercially valuable compounds
Ethnobotany
the scientific study of traditional knowledge and customs of a people concerning plants and their medical, religious, and other uses
Biodiversity is declining because of:
- Endemic species
- Habitat change
- Fragmentation
- Simplification of habitats
- Intrusion of humans
- Invasive species
- Pollution
- Overexploitation
