Ch. 1 E-Sci Flashcards
(16 cards)
Ecology
the study of how living things interact with each other and their environment
Agriculture
The practice of growing, breeding, and caring for plants and animals that are used for food, clothing, housing, transportation, etc.
Spaceship Earth
the only thing that enters in large amounts is energy from the sun and the only thing that leaves is heat- closed system
Natural Resource
any material that is used by humans
renewable resource
a resoource that can be replaced relatively quickly by natural means
Nonrenewable resource
A resource that forms at a slower rate than it’s consumed
pollution
an undesired change in air, water, or soil that adversely affects the health, survival, or activities of humans or other organisms.
Biodegradable pollutants
can be broken down by natural process
non-biodegradable pollutants
cannot be broken down by natural process
biodiversity
the number and variety of species that live in an area.
The tragedy of the commons
if nobody takes responsibility for a resource it will be overused and depleted.
Law of Supply and Demand
the greater the demand for a limited supply of something, the more it’s worth.
Ecological footprint
Shows the productive area of Earth needed to support on person in a particular community.
Sustainability
The condition in which humans needs are et in such a way that a human population can survive indefinitely at a standard of living similar to the current one.
Major fields of study
Ecology, chemistry, geology, botany, paleontology
Environmental Science
The study of the environment that includes the physical, biological, and social sciences.
