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ENST 210 > TEST 1 > Flashcards

TEST 1 Flashcards

1
Q

What is ecological sustainability?

A

The capacity of the earth’s natural systems that support life and human economic systems to survive or adapt to changing environmental conditions indefinitely

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2
Q

Define sustainable development

A

Meeting the current and future basic needs of its people in a just and equitable manner without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their basic needs

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3
Q

List the three ecological principles of sustainability

A

Rely on solar energy
Protect biodiversity
Protect chemical cycles

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4
Q

Natural Capital. List the 3 types

A
  1. Inexhaustible
  2. Renewable
  3. Non renewable
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5
Q

Define sustainable living

A

Living off the earth’s natural income without depleting or degrading the natural capital that supplies it

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6
Q

Human Footprint and IPAT(define this)

A

Impact= Population + Affluence +Technology

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7
Q

Scientific Method

A
  1. Make an observation and identify a question
  2. Propose a hypothesis
  3. Test your hypothesis
  4. Gather data from your test
  5. Interpret your results
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8
Q

Type 1 error in interpretation

A

False positive

Assume a result when it didn’t

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9
Q

Type 2 error in interpretation

A

False Negative

Assume a result didn’t happen when in fact it did

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10
Q

What is a system? (2 definitions)

A

A system is a set of components that function and interact in some regular ways

A system is an interconnected set of elements that is coherently organized in a way that achieves something

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11
Q

What are the 4 Earth Systems

A
  1. Atmosphere
  2. Biosphere
  3. Hydrosphere
  4. Lithosphere
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12
Q

What is a biosphere?

A

Parts of the earth’s air, water, and soil where life is found

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13
Q

Ecosystem

A

A community of different species interacting with one another and with their non living environment of matter and energy

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14
Q

Community

A

Populations of different species living in a particular place, and potentially interacting with each other

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15
Q

Population

A

A group of individuals of the same species living in a particular place

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16
Q

What sustains life in an ecosystem?

A

Flows of matter and energy

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17
Q

Order of trophic levels

A

Producers, Primary Consumers (Herbivores), Secondary Consumers (Carnivores), Tertiary Consumers (Top carnivores)

All lead to decomposers

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18
Q

What is NPP (Net Primary Productivity)?

A

The rate at which producers use photosynthesis to produce and store chemical energy minus the rate which they use some of this stored chemical energy through aerobic respiration

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19
Q

Define niche

A

The specific ecological role played by each species

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20
Q

List the four important roles of species in an ecosystem

A

Native, nonnative, indicator or keystone

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21
Q

4 Types of Biodiversity

A
  1. Functional Diversity
  2. Ecological Diversity
  3. Genetic Diversity
  4. Species Diversity
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22
Q

Define Functional Diversity

A

The biological and chemical processes such as energy flow and matter recycling needed for the survival of species, communities, and ecosystems

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23
Q

Define Ecological Diversity

A

The variety of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems found in an area or on the earth

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24
Q

Define Genetic Diversity

A

The variety of genetic material within a species or a population

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25
Q

Define Species Diversity

A

The number and abundance of species present in different communities

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26
Q

Define Biome

A

Large regions with distinct climates and certain species

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27
Q

What is a specialist species?

A

Species with a narrow niche

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28
Q

What is a generalist species?

A

Species with a broad niche

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29
Q

Describe Evolution by Natural Selection

A

Genes mutate, individuals are selected, and the resulting populations are better adapted to survive and reproduce under existing environmental conditions

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30
Q

List the process of evolution by natural selection

A
  1. Genetic diversity and mutations
  2. Natural selection and adaptation (some die)
  3. Differential reproduction rates (survivors reproduce)
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31
Q

List the two main causes of speciation

A
  1. Geographic isolation

2. Reproductive isolation

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32
Q

Define Speciation

A

One species evolving into two or more species

33
Q

Define extinction and extirpation

A

Species lost from a specific area

Species lost but not from its full geographical range

34
Q

What is an endemic species?

A

Only found in specific areas

35
Q

What is an ecological niche?

A

A range of conditions required for a specific species to survive in an environment

36
Q

What is a keystone/ foundation species?

A

They have a large influence on the ecosystem and its sustenance

37
Q

What is an indicator species?

A

Species that provide early warnings of environment change in a community or an ecosystem

38
Q

Give an example of interspecific competiton in species interactions

A

Resource partitioning

39
Q

List the 5 types of species interactions

A
  1. Interspecific competition
  2. Predation
  3. Parasitism…doesn’t kill host
  4. Mutualism
  5. Commensalism… benefits only one but barely any benefit to the other species
40
Q

What is population change? (List formula)

A

(Births+ Immigration) - (Deaths+ Emigration)

41
Q

What is an r selected species?

A

High levels of reproduction but low parental care and so higher mortality and shorte life span

42
Q

What is a k-selected species?

A

Reproduce later in life and have less offspring but invest heavily in them. So low mortality rates

43
Q

What are the two types of ecological succession and define them

A
  1. Primary Succession- start from exposed rocks

2. Secondary Succession- start from annual weeds

44
Q

Define ecosystem inertia

A

The ability of an ecosystem to survive moderate disturbances

45
Q

What is ecosystem resilience?

A

The capacity of a system to tolerate disturbances while retaining its structure and function

46
Q

Define weather

A

A set of physical conditions of the lower atmosphere such as temperature, precipitation, humidity, wind speed, cloud cover

47
Q

Define climate

A

Average weather, minimum 3 decades

48
Q

What are the 3 key factors that determine climate

A
  1. Uneven distribution of solar energy
  2. Rotation of the earth on its axis
  3. Properties of air, water, and land
49
Q

What factors affect a terrestrial biome

A

Precipitation and temperature

50
Q

What factors determine a marine biome?

A

Light, temperature, and nutrients

51
Q

What factors determine a freshwater biomes?

A

Light, temperature and nutrients

52
Q

4 types of terrestrial biomes and subtypes

A
  1. Deserts
  2. Grasslands
  3. Forests
  4. Mountains

Subtypes

  1. Tropical
  2. Temperate
  3. Cold
53
Q

What is an oligotrophic lake?

A

Relatively low in plant nutrients but have a lot of O2 in deeper regions. Usually deep and clear

54
Q

What is an eutrophic lake?

A

High in plant nutrients but lost a lot of O2 so organisms begin to die out. Usually green on surface.
Too much phosphorus

55
Q

Biodiversity

A

Variety of the earth’s species, the genes they contain, the ecosystems in which they live, and the ecosystem processes of energy flow and nutrient cycling that sustain all life

56
Q

Endangered species

A

In danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of their range

57
Q

Threatened Species

A

Likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range

58
Q

Threats to Biodiversity (HIPPCO)

A 
Habitat Destruction 
Invasive Species
Population and Resource Use Growth
Pollution 
Climate Change
Over exploitation
59
Q

Nonnative Species

A

Any species that is not native to an ecosystem

60
Q

Invasive Species

A

An alien or non-native species whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health

61
Q

Traits of Species Vulnerable to Extinction

A 
Low reproductive rate (k strategist)
Specialized niche
Narrow distribution 
Feeds at high trophies level
Fixed migratory patterns
Rare
Commercially valuable 
Require large territories
62
Q

Species Protection Laws

A

The Endangered Species Act of 1973

The Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora of 1973 (CITIES)

63
Q

Mechanisms of Endangered Species Act of 1973

A
  1. Listing Species as threatened or endangered
  2. Designating critical habitat
  3. Prohibiting federal agencies from harming listed species
  4. Prohibiting anyone from “taking” a listed species
  5. Funding
  6. Cooperation
64
Q

System

A

An interconnected set of elements that is coherently organized in a way that achieves something

65
Q

Albedo

A

The proportion of light reflected by a surface

66
Q

Feedback loops for global warming
(Apart from CO2 and methane radiative forcing)
The one dealing with albedo

A

Further global warming leads to
Higher temperatures which leads to
Less sea ice and less sunlight reflected and leads to
More open water and more sunlight absorbed which leads to top

67
Q

The Greenhouse Effect

A
  1. Solar energy (light) passes through the atmosphere
  2. Earth’s surface absorbs some of that energy and reradiates it as heat
  3. Greenhouse gases absorb heat (infrared)
68
Q

Aquifer

A

Filled with groundwater/ underground body that absorbs/holds water

69
Q

Pros of dams

A
  1. Provides irrigation water above and below the dam
  2. Provides drinking water
  3. Reservoir useful for recreation and fishing
  4. Can produce cheap electricity (hydropower)
  5. Reduces downstream flooding
70
Q

Cons of dams

A
  1. Flooded land destroys forests or crop land and displaced people
  2. Large losses of water to through evaporation
  3. Deprives downstream crop land and estuaries of nutrient-rich silt
  4. Risk of failure and devastating downstream flooding
  5. Disrupts migration and spawning of some fish
71
Q

Water recycling or “toilet to tap”

A

Tech exists to clean water sufficiently to mix it back into municipal drinking water supplies

72
Q

Water Quality

A

The suitability of water for a particular use based on biological,chemical and physical characteristics

73
Q

Biological characteristics that affect water quality

A

Micro organisms and nutrients

74
Q

Chemical characteristics that affect water quality

A

Acidity, Hardness, Dissolved Oxygen

75
Q

Physical characteristics that affect water quality

A
  1. Color
  2. Turbidity
  3. Taste/Odor
  4. Temperature
76
Q

Water Pollution

A

Any physical, biological, or chemical change in water quality that adversely affects living organizations or makes water unsuitable for desired uses

77
Q

Water Pollutants

A
  1. Biological pathogens
  2. Increased BOD (Biological Oxygen Demand)
  3. Other Chemical Pollution
  4. Thermal Pollution(eg. dumping warm water from factories into rivers that have fish accustomed to lower temperatures)
78
Q

Types of Sources of Water Pollution

A
  1. Point Sources

2. Non-point sources

ENST 210 (1 decks)

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