Flashcards in Ch 1 Deck (37)
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1
What is ecology?
The study of species and their interconnection in the environment
2
What is environmental science?
The study of the earth and our interactions with it to deal with our problems
3
How do beavers severely interfere with the environment?
Dams
4
How do we live off of interest in the envirpent?
As we take resources, the yields decrease
5
What is carrying capacity?
The amount of people the earth can hold. The number one issue is food. We've exceeded the capacity of earth
6
When did we exceed the carrying capacity?
The agricultural revolution
7
Why did we used to travel in tribes of 30-40?
It was the only feasible way because of the carrying capacity
8
How long would we last if we went back to a hunting/gathering system?
1 week
9
Why is population growth expected to slow?
More people are having less kids because of the empowerment of women
10
How did the industrial revolution raise population?
The growth of technology raised the life expectancy and boosted the population
11
What is GNP?
Gross nation product
12
What is GDP?
Gross domestic product.. Our inside value of all goods and services
13
What is the GWP?
Gross word product.. GDP for the world
14
What is per capita GNP?
The average gnp
15
What is good about developed nations?
Less pollution, more goods/less resources, more food, higher life expectancy
16
What is bad about less developed nations!
Life expectancy and pollution lag, unsustainable resource use, the population competes with wildlife, self inflicted climate change
17
How does economics influence everything?
It is interconnected in the world
18
How has the Internet influenced interconnection?
Communication is easier and there is nowhere left to wxplore
19
How has interconnection influenced the environment?
Species and their diseases are being transported
20
What is perpetual energy?
Constant renewable like solar and wind
21
What is renewable energy?
Stuff that is replenished somewhat rapidly like trees, soil, and fresh air
22
What are nonrenewable resources?
Fossil fuels, metals, and minerals
23
What is a sustainable yield?
The highest rate at which a resource can be used without reducing its available supply
24
What is environmental degradation?
Exceeding the sustainable yeild
25
What is the idea behind the tragedy of the commons?
If I don't use it, somebody else will
26
What is succession?
The growth process from rocks to moss to soil to shrubs and so on
27
What is the debate with free access resources?
Should we sell the land or lease it? We go with sell because they take better care of it
28
What are the 2 types of pollution?
Anthropogenic and natural
29
What are the pollution sources?
Point and nonpoint. Nonpoint is more of an issue today because of regulations
30
What did the 1972 clean water act do?
Banned point source pollution and no more DDT/dioxine
31
What is input control?
Preventing pollution by banning pollutant production. This is the best meghod
32
What is cleanup/output control?
Diluting pollution
33
What impact do organic pollutants have?
More of an immediate impact but they go away faster
34
What are the environmental and resource problems?
Rapid population growth, unsustainable resource use, poverty, not including environmental costs in goods, simplifying things with too knowledge
35
What is environmental wisdom?
Nature is in charge, resources are limited, development is bad, we need to learn how the earth interacts with nature
36
What is planetary management?
We are in charge, there is always more of something, benefit the economy, we manage earth for our benefit
37