Test 1 Flashcards
Memorize by Test 1 on 9/20
Environmental Science
The study of the natural and “built” worlds (i.e. the technological, social, and cultural world)
Biotic vs Abiotic
Living vs Nonliving
Ecosystem Services
Resources provided by the environment that benefit people
Ex: trees providing oxygen, thermoregulation, food, lumber
Ex 2: water providing hydration, transportation, habitats
Inherent vs Instrumental Value
Belief that something has intrinsic value and should therefore be protected vs belief that something has value based on its usefulness to people
Stewardship
How we take care of something, particularly our resources and land
Environmental Justice and issues relating to it
Combines civil rights and environmental justice
Issues relating to this: Hazardous waste landfills tend to be located in poor communities, increasing their exposure to toxic substances
Preservation vs Conservation
Leaving the land untouched and preserving its natural beauty vs protecting the land while sustainably getting resources from it
National parks vs National Forests
Established to enjoy the outdoors through camping or hiking without using the resources from the land vs protects the land but allows for more use of it through sustainable logging
John Muir
Preservationist that helped found various national parks, such as Yellowstone
Gifford Pinchot
First chief of the US Forest Service
Aldo Leopold
Wrote Sand County Almanac, which says that people should protect nature and be one with it rather than try to conquer it
Rachel Carson
Wrote Silent Spring, which was about the negative effects of chemicals such as DDT on the environment
Bill McKibbon
Created 350.org, which aims to get college students involved with the topic of climate change
Van Jones
Served as Obama’s advisor on green jobs, which are focused on energy efficiency such as solar panels
Wangari Maathi
Founded the green belt movement in Kenya in 2004, which focused on reforestation and employing women
Greta Thunberg
Focused on getting younger generations involved in environmental protection by having students strike in the name of climate change
Sustainable Development
Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs
Tragedy of the Commons
Concept created by Garrett Hardin that says that when there are no limitations to resource access, people will act in their own self-interest and use as much of said resource as they can
Proposed solution: state regulations and private property laws
Elinor Ostrom
Pushed back against Garrett Hardin’s ideas by saying that it’s possible to share our resources without the use of regulations, aka “managing the common”
What tends to happen as a country gets wealthier?
Water contamination goes down, urban air pollution goes up then back down, greenhouse gas emissions go up
Science
A way of knowing and discovering how nature works
Scientific Method
Question, Hypothesis, Experiment, Conclusion
Hypothesis
Testable explanation for an observation
Scientific Theory
Explanation supported by a lot of evidence
What are the different types of graphs?
Bar graphs (averages + differences b/w categories), Scatterplots (relationships across two variables), Line graphs (particular factor over time)
Standard Deviation
Tells you how much variability there is in the data
What is reliable science?
Peer Reviewed (peers makes sure that your methods are valid), scientific consensus, well documented methods (transparency)
Matter
Anything that has mass and takes up space
Element
A substance that cannot be broken down by chemical reactions
Atoms include:
Positive protons, neutral neutrons, and negative electrons
Atomic number vs Mass number
Shows the number of protons vs shows the number of protons and neutrons
Isotopes
Variations of elements caused by different numbers of neutrons, and therefore have different masses
Molecules
Two or more atoms chemically bonded together
Organic Molecules
Carbon-based molecules
Ions
Electrically charged atoms or molecules, caused by a gain or loss of electrons
What are the 4 different kinds of polymers?
Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, and Nucleic Acids
Carbohydrates
Sugars made up of monosaccharides that serve as the primary source of energy
Lipids
Hydrophobic fats that serve as a store of energy
Proteins
Made up of amino acids
Can provide structure to cells, transport oxygen, or break down other polymers (enzymes)
Nucleic Acids
Nucleotides that store genetic material in DNA and RNA, as well as contain information for how to built specific proteins
Energy
The ability to do work
Can be Kinetic (in motion) or Potential (stored)
Energy Efficiency
How much work results from each unit of energy
First law of thermodynamics
Energy cannot be created or destroyed
How does energy move through an ecosystem? What processes are involved?
Photosynthesis- light energy into chemical energy (performed by producers)
Cellular Respiration- chemical energy from plants into energy needed for life processes (releases heat)
Autotrophic vs Heterotrophic
producers vs eats other organisms
What percentage of energy is passed from one trophic level to the next?
10%
Evolution
The process by which organisms change genetically over time
Natural Selection
Individuals with certain traits are more likely to survive and reproduce under the specific environmental conditions that they live
Fitness
Ability to survive and reproduce
Population
Group of individuals of the same species living together in a particular place at a particular time
Gene Pool
Collection of alleles in a population
Allele
Variation or form of a gene
Genotype vs Phenotype
The genetic code or sequence of nucleotides vs the observable expression of a gene
Mutations
Random changes in genetic information, that often don’t affect fitness
Evolutionary/Phylogenetic Tree
Groups organisms based off of similar characteristics and common evolutionary ancestry
Adaptations
Traits that allows a species to survive in its environment
What are the different kinds of Selection?
Directional- favoring one extreme version of a gene over the other
Stabilizing- favoring the intermediate version of a gene
Disruptive- favoring both extremes of a gene based off the niches available
What are two examples of natural selection?
Peppered moths
Insects developing resistance to insecticides
Ecological Niche
How an organism interacts with its environment
Generalists vs Specialists
Organisms that can live in or tolerate a wide range of habitats and environmental conditions vs organisms that occupy a narrow ecological niche and can only live under very specific conditions
Endemic Species
Only found in one particular area
Ex: lemurs
Indicator Species
Organisms that are sensitive to changes in the environment, therefore their survival or loss can be an indicator of any potential problems with the area
Ex: lichens
Resource Partitioning
Species with similar ecological niches divide their resources
Ex: birds occupying different branches/areas on the same tree
Ecosystem
Includes abiotic and biotic factors
Community
Includes only the biotic factors in an area
Interspecies Interactions
Occur between different species
Competition
When two organisms use similar resources and have to fight for them, negatively affecting both species
Ex: hyenas + cultures fighting over dead animal
Herbivory
Consumption of plants by animals
Plants have developed thorns and poor taste/smell to counteract it
Predation
Predator vs prey
What are some examples of predator defenses?
Cryptic coloration, flashing coloration, chemical defenses, speed, armor/spikes, traveling in groups, mimicry
Cryptic Coloration vs Flashing Coloration
Camouflage patterns vs patterns that are meant to disorientate predators, such as “eyespots” on butterflies
Aposematism
Warning colorations that signal to other animals that they’re poisonous
Mimicry
When an edible species (the mimic) resembles another species that is inedible or poisonous (the model)
Batesian Mimicry
When the mimic isn’t poisonous, but the predator avoids them anyway cause they look like the inedible model
Mullerian Mimicry
When species have similar color patterns and are all poisonous (ex: tropical frogs)
Coevolution
When one or more species reciprocally influence each other’s evolution
Parasitism
When a parasite obtains nourishment from a host through a prolonged/close relationships
Exo. = outside (tick)
Endo. = inside (heartworm)
What do parasites do to their hosts that might lower their fitness?
Lead to stunted growth, negatively affect their ability to mate, weakens them and makes them more susceptible to diseases
What defenses have animals developed against parasites?
Inflammatory responses, scabs, cysts, and grooming
Mutualism
When species interact in a way that benefits both of them
Ex: bees and flowers/pollen
Commensalism
When species interact in a way that benefits one of them but has no effect on the other
What is an example of commensalism?
Epiphytes- plants that attach to the trunks or branches of other plants and grow on them, allowing them to get more sunlight and rainfall without affecting the fitness of the plant they’re growing on
Keystone Species
When a species play a key role in its ecosystem, sometimes in a way that is disproportionate to their population
Ex: gray wolf
What happened in Yellowstone when gray wolves were reintroduced?
Decreased elk population, increased vegetation, increased grizzly population (more berry-producing shrubs), more song bird species (more trees), more beavers (more trees) = more wetlands, less soil erosion in the river
Trophic Cascade
When a top predator has a significant effect on lower trophic levels
Ecosystem Engineers
When an organism or species causes important physical changes within its ecosystem
Ex: beavers building dams
Species Diversity
The number and abundance of the different kinds of species living in area, measured through richness (the number of species) and evenness (the abundance of each)
Ecological Succession
When species gradually change over time in response to environmental conditions
Primary vs Secondary Succession
Occurs in an area where no biotic community previously existed vs occurs in an area that was previously occupied by a biotic community, which was disrupted in some way
Pioneer Species
Modify the environment by breaking down rock, making them the first step to primary ecological succession by starting the soil formation process
Exponential vs Logistic Population growth
Accelerating growth of a population in a way that’s fast, abundant, and not sustainable vs booming growth that eventually levels off when the population reaches their carrying capacity
Carrying Capacity
The max number of individuals that an environment can support
Density Dependent Factors
Competition for food, water, and space; diseases; predation
Density Independent Factors
Changes in temperature or climate, destruction of habitat through natural disasters (droughts, fires, floods) or through human involvement (ex: spraying pesticides)
R-Strategists vs K-Strategists
Produce large numbers of offspring but provide few resources to support or raise them vs producing relatively few young but investing a lot of time and resources into raising them
Survivorship Curve types
Type 1- most individuals die late in life
Type 2- age doesn’t affect probability of death
Type 3- most individuals die at a young age
How do we calculate population change?
Immigration - Emigration and Births - Deaths
Genetic Diversity
When there’s a variety of genes within a population or a species, making them more adaptable to environmental changes
Genetic Drift
Gradual changes in gene frequencies over time due to random events
Bottleneck Effect
Drastic reduction in a population size due to diseases, hunting, habitat destruction, etc.
Gene Flow
The movement of genes between populations, occurring through corridors or migration routes that can be obstructed by border walls
Metapopulation
The collection of populations or geographically separate units that have occasional gene flow between them
Weather
temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind, cloudiness, etc. at a specific place and time
Climate
Long term averages or patterns of weather
Biomes
Large/broad eco regions with different climates and distinctive soil, precipitation, vegetation, wildlife, etc.
What factors influence climate?
Solar energy (surface temperature), Earth’s rotation (the seasons and cycles of day/night), global patterns of air and water movement, atmospheric gasses, Earth’s surface features (mountains, water, etc.)
Hadley cells
Large atmospheric circulations where air rises at the equator and sinks at medium latitudes (about 30 degrees north or south)
How do Hadley cells work?
Air is colder the further it is from the equator (due to less direct solar rays)
Colder air is denser, so it moves towards the equator and pushes the warm air upwards
Warm air, which holds more moisture, rises and cools, leading to rain
The air hits the stratosphere and moves back outwards until it sinks
What is the effect of Hadley cells?
Rainforests at the equator and deserts at about 30 degrees north and south
What are the three groupings of plant life?
Grasses- photosynthetic tissue (no stems or support)
Shrubs- plants with multiple, woody stems, but no central trunk; less than 4 meters in height
Trees- central trunk and support system; increased height
Tropical Rainforest
- Warm throughout the year
- Almost constant rainfall
Tropical seasonal forests
- Has dry and wet seasons
- Trees shed their leaves during the dry season
Tropical Savannas or Grasslands
- Mainly grass with sparse trees
- Warmer temperatures
- Overall low precipitation
- Larger herbivores
Deserts
- Rare or unpredictable rainfall
- Nocturnal animals
- Drought resistant plants
Temperate Grasslands
- Mild conditions or temps
- Nutrient-rich soil (generally where humans farm)
- Mainly grass
Temperate Shrublands
- AKA Chapparal
- Plants here are adapted to droughts and fire
Temperate Forests
- Fairly high rainfall
- Mild temperatures
Two types: - Deciduous: trees lose their leaves seasonally
- Coniferous: cone bearing
Boreal Forests
- Located in the high north
- Slow-growing trees
- Colder temps
Arctic Tundra
- High latitudes
- No trees
- Permafrost
- Season with 24-hour sunlight
Alpine Tundra
- Low latitudes, high elevation
- Extreme environment characterized by strong winds, snow, and fluctuating temps
- Vegetation is low to the ground
- Prone to climate change and air pollution
Primary productivity
Measures the rate of biomass production through photosynthesis (basically how much plant life there is)
Where is primary productivity the highest?
Swamps, marshes, tropical rainforests, temperate forests, and estuaries
Where is primary productivity the lowest?
Deserts and tundras
Environmental Health
External factors that cause disease, including elements of the natural, social, cultural, and technological worlds
Disease
Abnormal changes in the body’s condition that impairs its ability to perform important physical or psychological functions
Zoonotic Diseases
Infectious diseases that can be transmitted between animals and humans
Ex: bird flu, e-bola, covid
Antibiotic Resistance
Bacteria can become resistant to antibiotics is exposed to the same kind for a long period of time
Environmental Toxicology
The study of toxic substances and their effects on living organisms (how they interact and transform)
Exposure vs Response
How long you’re in the presence of something vs the symptoms that develop as a result of that presence
Acute vs Chronic Exposure
Short term/single event vs repeated exposures over the long term
Acute vs Chronic Responses
Temporary or manageable vs serious
Ex using alcohol: blacking out vs liver failure
Bioaccumulation
when a particular animal or individual has a build up or increased concentration of a contaminant
Biomagnification
States that those that are higher on the food chain with have higher levels of contaminants
How do we determine toxicity? What is LD 50?
Test the effects of the substance using rats
LD50 = Lethal Dose in 50% of your sample population (kills half the rats)
Risk
Possibility of suffering or harm
How do we perceive risks differently?
If risks are unknown, unpredictable, or undetectable, people are more cautious with them
If risks are voluntary, familiar, detectable, or immediate, they are feared less or seen as less risky (even if that’s not technically true)
Precautionary Principle
Placing stricter regulations on things that we perceive as posing a greater threat, though this can vary across countries
Ex: the EU banned neonicotinoids (a group of pesticides that has been shown to have a negative effect on bees) while the US didn’t
What are the current trends with population size vs population growth rate?
Increasing vs Decreasing
Environmental Impact Formula
Impact = Population x Affluence x Technology
Affluence
Resource use
Crude Birth Rate
The number of live births per 1,000 people in a given year
Crude Death Rate
The number of deaths per 1,000 people in a given year
Demographic Transition Model
As countries develop and industrialize, birth and death rates go from being very high to low
Total Fertility Rate
The average number of children born to women of childbearing age in a population
Life Expectancy
The average number of years someone born in a specific year is expected to live
Tends to increase as nations industrialize
Global = 72
US = 77
Age Structure Diagrams
The percentage of males and females in young, middle, and old age groups in a population
If a population is growing, there is more young people than old
If a population is declining, there are more middle aged people than young/old
Infant Mortality Rate
The number of babies out of every 1,000 births that die before their first birthday
What factors affect birth and fertility rates?
Importance of children in workforce, cost of raising/educating children, availability of pension systems, urbanization, educational/employment opportunities for women, availability of reliable birth control, religious beliefs, traditions, and cultural norms
What are some concerns associated with rapid population decline?
Decreased workforce leads to decreased government revenue, less public services, and a shrinking economy
Less contributions to social security and pension
What trends do we see with the US population?
Decrease in births during WW2 and Great Depression, followed by a Baby Boom, a gradual decrease, and an Echo Boom
What are some key takeaways from the correlation between reproductive choices and climate change?
People can see kids as future environmentalists, others see kids as taking away from time they could be spending engaging in social movements, others see it as a socio-political tool
