Test 2 SES Envrio - Sheet1 Flashcards
Total Fertility Rate (TFR)
The average number of children a woman will have during her reproductive years.
Life Expectancy
The average number of years a person is expected to live based on current mortality rates.
Infant Mortality Rate
The number of infant deaths per 1,000 live births in a year.
Migration
The movement of people into (immigration) or out of (emigration) a specific area.
Age Structure
Determines the potential for future population growth based on the proportion of people in different age groups.
American Baby Boom
A rapid increase in population growth post-World War II.
Educating Women
Improves family planning and reduces birth rates as educated women tend to have fewer children.
Urban Sprawl
The uncontrolled expansion of urban areas into surrounding rural areas.
Urbanization
The increase in the proportion of people living in urban areas compared to rural areas.
Eco-city
A city designed for sustainability, focusing on reducing environmental impact.
Smart Growth
Planned urban development that aims to curb sprawl and improve environmental and economic health.
Mexico City
A case study for challenges in urban sprawl, pollution, and population density.
Weather
The short-term atmospheric conditions.
Climate
The average atmospheric conditions over a long period.
Ocean Currents
Distribute heat and nutrients across the planet, influencing weather patterns and ecosystems. Mass movements of surface water produced by prevailing winds blowing over the oceans.
Rain Shadow Effect
The process where mountains block rain, creating dry areas on their leeward side.
Biomes
Large ecological areas with distinct climate, plants, and animals.
Coral Reefs
Support biodiversity, protect coastlines, and provide resources for humans.
Cultural Eutrophication
Over-enrichment of water bodies with nutrients due to human activities, causing excessive algae growth. Physical, chemical, and biological changes that take place after a lake
Wetlands
Ecosystems saturated with water, crucial for biodiversity, water filtration, and flood control.
Food Security
Having reliable access to sufficient, affordable, and nutritious food.
GMOs
Genetically Modified Organisms created by altering their DNA for specific traits.
Green Revolution
A period of agricultural innovation that increased food production through technology and high-yield crops.
Polyculture
Growing multiple types of crops together, often mimicking natural ecosystems.
Soil
Supports plant growth, stores nutrients, and helps regulate the Earth’s water cycle.
Soil Erosion
The removal of the topsoil layer by wind, water, or human activity.
Desertification
The degradation of land in arid areas into desert-like conditions due to human activity or climate change. . It usually is caused by a combination of overgrazing, soil erosion, prolonged drought, and climate change.
Salinization
The accumulation of salts in soil, often due to improper irrigation practices.
Soil Conservation
a set of practices that protect soil from degradation and erosion, and maintain its fertility
Methods include contour plowing, strip cropping, terracing, and maintaining ground cover.
What factors determine climate and biodiversity?
Average precipitation and temperature, along with latitude and elevation, determine where organisms can live and influence biome characteristics(Ch 7biomes posted323).
What are biomes?
Large regions characterized by specific climates and dominant plant life. Biomes are not uniform and consist of a mosaic of patches(Ch 7biomes posted323).
What are the three major types of deserts?
Tropical: Hot, dry, few plants; Temperate: Sparse vegetation, temperature extremes;
Cold: Sparse vegetation, cold summers, low precipitation(Ch 7biomes posted323).
What are the three major types of grasslands?
Tropical (Savanna): Warm, scattered trees, alternating wet/dry seasons; Temperate: Hot summers, cold winters;
Cold (Arctic Tundra): Treeless, permafrost(Ch 7biomes posted323).
What are the three major types of forests?
Tropical: Warm, wet, high biodiversity;
Temperate Deciduous: Cool, thick leaf litter;
Cold (Boreal): Long winters, slow decomposition(Ch 7biomes posted323).
What ecological roles do mountains play?
Contain the majority of the world’s trees, provide habitats for endemic species, and act as sanctuaries for species adapting to climate changes(Ch 7biomes posted323).
What are the key human impacts on terrestrial ecosystems?
About 60% of major terrestrial ecosystems are degraded or used unsustainably through deforestation, habitat destruction, and urbanization(Ch 7biomes posted323).
What are freshwater ecosystems?
Ecosystems including standing water (lakes, ponds) and flowing water (streams, rivers). Key resources for biodiversity and human needs(Freshwaterch7).
How are lakes classified based on nutrients and NPP?
Oligotrophic: Low nutrients and NPP; Eutrophic: High nutrients and NPP; Cultural eutrophication accelerates nutrient accumulation(Freshwaterch7).
What is a watershed or drainage basin?
A land area delivering runoff, sediments, and dissolved substances to a stream or lake(Freshwaterch7).
What are inland wetlands, and why are they important?
Lands covered with freshwater part of the time, providing ecological services like filtering pollutants, reducing flooding, and recharging aquifers(Freshwaterch7).
What are the main human disruptions to freshwater systems?
Dams, canals, pollution, and draining of wetlands alter habitats, disrupt ecosystems, and reduce biodiversity(Freshwaterch7).
What does Whittaker’s diagram illustrate?
The relationship between climate (temperature and precipitation) and terrestrial biomes(Whittaker’s Diagram bio…).
Global air circulation
The large-scale movement of air that distributes heat and moisture around the planet, driven by differences in solar heating and Earth’s rotation.
Latitude/longitude
Latitude measures the distance north or south of the equator, while longitude measures the distance east or west of the Prime Meridian.
El Niño
A climate phenomenon characterized by the warming of the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, causing global weather pattern disruptions.
Edge effect
The changes in population or community structures that occur at the boundary of two habitats.
Importance of Marine Ecosystems
Marine ecosystems provide oxygen, regulate climate, offer food, and support biodiversity and global economies.
Global Ocean
A single, interconnected body of saltwater covering about 71% of Earth’s surface, divided into major oceans like the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian.
Coastal zones
Areas where the land meets the ocean, including estuaries, wetlands, and coral reefs, crucial for biodiversity and human activities.
Coral reefs (polyp/zooxanthellae)
Coral reefs are ecosystems formed by coral polyps and their symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae, which provide energy through photosynthesis.
Human Activities and Marine Ecosystems
Activities like overfishing, pollution, and habitat destruction that negatively impact marine biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Open sea
The part of the ocean beyond the continental shelf, characterized by low nutrient availability and dispersed marine life.
Surface water
Water that collects on the surface of the ground, including rivers, lakes, and reservoirs.
Runoff
Water from rain or snowmelt that flows over the ground surface, often carrying pollutants into water bodies.
Human Activities and Freshwater Ecosystems
Activities such as dam construction, pollution, and water extraction that disrupt freshwater ecosystems and their biodiversity.
Floodplains
Flat areas of land adjacent to rivers that are subject to periodic flooding, providing fertile soil and biodiversity.
Food insecurity
A lack of consistent access to enough nutritious food for an active, healthy life.
Undernutrition
A condition caused by insufficient intake of calories or nutrients, leading to poor health and development.
Malnutrition/Overnutrition
Malnutrition refers to imbalances in nutrient intake, while overnutrition involves excessive consumption of calories and nutrients.
Irrigation
The artificial application of water to land to support agriculture, often essential in arid regions.
Types of agriculture
Agriculture types include industrialized (high-input), subsistence (small-scale), and sustainable (eco-friendly) practices.
Organic food/agriculture
Food produced without synthetic chemicals, focusing on environmentally sustainable and animal-friendly practices.
Crossbreeding
The process of breeding animals or plants of different varieties or species to produce hybrids with desirable traits.
Food production’s harmful effects
Includes deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution, and soil degradation caused by agricultural practices.
Aquaculture
The farming of aquatic organisms like fish, crustaceans, and plants, often seen as a solution to overfishing.
Waterlogging
A condition where soil becomes saturated with water, reducing oxygen availability for plants.
Animal feedlots
Confined spaces where livestock are fed high-energy diets to promote rapid growth, often associated with environmental concerns.
Synthetic pesticides
Man-made chemicals used to kill or manage pests, often criticized for environmental and health impacts.
