Chapter 1-5 (Unit1) Flashcards
(166 cards)
0
Q
And interdisciplinary field of research that draws on the natural and social sciences and humanities in order to understand the natural world and our relationship to it
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Environmental science
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The biological and physical surroundings in which a given living organism exists.
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Environment
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A scientific approach that investigates the natural world through systematic observation and experimentation
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Empirical science
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Research who’s findings are used to help solve practical problems
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Applied science
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A basic understanding of how ecosystems function and impact of our choices on the environment
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Environmental literacy
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Trade-offs
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The imperfect and sometimes problematic responses that we must at times choose between when addressing complex problems
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Triple bottom-line
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The combination of the environmental social and economic impacts of our choices
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Sustainable development
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Development that meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to do the same
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Carrying capacity
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The population size that a particular environment can support indefinitely
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Ecological footprint
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The land needed to provide the resources and assimilate the waste of a person or population
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Anthropogenic
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Caused by or related to human action
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A method of using resources in such a way that we can continue to use them indefinitely
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Sustainable
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Renewable energy
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Energy that comes from an infinitely available or easily replenished source
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Biodiversity
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The variety of species on earth
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Nonrenewable resources
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Resources who’s supply is finite or not replenished in a timely fashion
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Social traps
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Decisions by individuals or groups that seem good at the time and produce a short-term benefit, but that hurt society in the long run.
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Tragedy of the commons
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The tendency of an individual to abuse commonly held resources in order to maximize his or her own personal interest.
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Time delay
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Actions that produce a benefit today set into motion events that cause problems later on
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Actions that are beneficial at first but that changed conditions such that their benefit declines overtime
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Sliding reinforcer
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Q
The personal philosophy that influences how a person interacts with his or her natural environment and thus affects how one responds to environmental problems
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Environmental ethic
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Q
A human centered view that assigns intrinsic value only to humans
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Anthropocentric worldview
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The value or worth of objects, organism, or species is based on its usefulness to humans
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Instrumental value
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A life centered approach that views all life as having intrinsic value regardless of it’s usefulness to humans
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Biocentric worldview
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The value or worth of an object, organism, or species is based on it’s mere existence
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Intrinsic value
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A system centered view that values intact ecosystems not just the individual parts
Ecocentric worldview
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Replication within a study is a hallmark of...
Good science
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Observations
Information detected with the senses or with equipment that extends our senses
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Inferences
Conclusions we draw based on observations
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Atmosphere
Blanket of gases that surrounds the earth and other planets
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Region of the atmosphere that starts at ground level and extends upward about 7 miles
Troposphere
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Stratosphere
Region of the atmosphere that starts at the top of the troposphere extends up to about 31 miles; contains the ozone layer
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Three types of ultraviolet (UV) radiation
UVC, UVB, UVA
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Science
A body of knowledge (facts and explanations) about the natural world, and the process used to get that knowledge
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Empirical evidence
Information gathered via observation of physical phenomena
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Correlation
Two things occur together, but it doesn't necessarily mean that one caused the other
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Cause and effect relationship
An association between two variables that identifies one, the effect, occurring as a result of or in response to the other, the cause
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Limits of science
Limited to asking questions about the natural world. Using data that could be collected by anyone in the same place using the same equipment
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Scientific method
Procedure scientists use to empirically test a hypothesis
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Hypothesis
A possible explanation for what we have observed that is based on some previous knowledge
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Testable
A possible explanation that generates predictions for which empirical evidence can be collected to verify or received the hypotheses
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Prediction
A statement that identifies what is expected to happen in a given situation
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Falsifiable
An idea or prediction that can be proven wrong by evidence
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Observational study
Research that gathers data in a real-world setting without intentionally manipulating a very
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Experimental study
Research that manipulates variable and a test group and compares the response to that of a control group that was not exposed to the same variable
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Control group
The group in an experimental study that the test groups results are compared to
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Test group
The group in an experimental study that is manipulated somehow such that it differs from the control group in only one way
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The variable in an experiment that the researcher manipulates or changes to see if it produces an effect
Independent variable
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The variable in an experiment that is evaluated to see if it changes due to the conditions of the experiment
Dependent variable
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Theory
A widely accepted explanation of a natural phenomenon that has been extensively and rigorously tested scientifically
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Scientists often represent their data on a graph on which the X axis (horizontal axis) displays the _______ variable and the y-axis (vertical axis) shows the response or ________ variable.
Independent, dependent
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Both observational and experimental studies gather data___________ to produce scientifically valid evidence
Systematically
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Statistical analysis of the data allows us to quantitatively assign a level of certainty to our conclusions. in statistics this probability is expressed as a _______, that represents the likelihood our conclusions are wrong
P value (p
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Scientist generally require a high probability that their conclusions are correct, at least _______%.
95
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Statistics
The mathematical evaluation of experimental data to determine how likely it is that any difference observed is due to the variable being tested
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Montreal protocol
International treaty that laid out plans to phase out ozone-depleting chemicals like CFC
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Precautionary principle
Acting in a way that leaves a safety margin when the data is uncertain or severe consequences are possible
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Adaptive management
A plan that allows room for altering strategies as new information comes in or the situation itself changes
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Policy has been described as translating our values into _______.
Action
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Toxins
Chemicals that cause direct damage upon exposure
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Persistent chemicals
Chemicals that don't readily degrade over time
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Environmental Protection Agency EPA
The federal agency responsible for setting policy and enforcing U.S. Environmental laws
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Risk assessment
Weighing the risks and benefits of a particular action in order to decide how to proceed
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Information literacy
The ability to find and evaluate the quality of information
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Primary sources
Sources that present new and original data or information, including novel scientific experiments or observations and first-hand accounts of any given event.
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Secondary sources
Sources that present and interpret information from primary sources. Secondary sources include newspapers, magazines, books, and important information from the Internet.
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Tertiary sources
Sources that present interpret information from secondary sources
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Persistence
The length of time it takes a substance to break down in the environment
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Solubility
The ability of a substance to dissolve in a liquid or gas
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Bioaccumulation
The buildup of fat soluble substances in the tissue of an organism over the course of it's lifetime
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Biomagnification
The increased levels of fat soluble substances in the tissue of predatory animals that have consumed organisms that have bioaccumulated toxins
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Epidemiologist
A scientist who studies the causes and patterns of disease in human populations
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Toxicologist
A scientist to studies the cause and patterns of disease in human populations
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In vivo study
Research that studies the effects of an experimental treatment in intact organisms
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In Vitro study
Research that studies the effects of experimental treatment cells in culture dishes rather than in intact organism
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Additive effects
Exposure to two or more chemicals has an effect equivalent to the sum of their individual affects
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Antagonistic effects
Exposure to two or more chemicals has a lesser effect than the sum of their individual effects would predict
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Synergistic effects
Exposure to two or more chemicals has a greater effect than the sum of their individual effects would predict
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Endocrine disruptor
A molecule that interferes with the endocrine system. Typically by mimicking the hormone or preventing a hormone from having an effect
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Hormone
A molecule released by the body that directs cellular activity and produces change in how the body functions
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Receptor
A structure on or inside of a cell that binds a hormone, thus allowing the hormone to affect the cell
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Dose response curve
A graph of the effects of a substance at different concentrations or levels of exposure
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LD50 (Lethal dose 50%)
The dose of a substance that would kill 50% of the test population
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Critical thinking
Skills that enable individuals to logically assess the information they find, reflect on that information, and reach their own conclusions
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Logical fallacies
Arguments which attempt to sway the reader without using actual evidence
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The percent increase of population size over time, affected by births deaths and the number of people moving in or out of a regional population
Growth rate
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The number of deaths per 1000 individuals per year
Crude death rate
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The number of offspring per 1000 individuals.
Crude birth rate
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The number of people per-unit area
Population density
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The tendency of a young population to continue to grow even after birth rates drop to replacement rates - two children per couple
Population momentum
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More people living in an area than its natural and human resources can support
Overpopulation
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The number of infants to die in their first year of life per every thousand live births in that year
Infant mortality rate
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The number of children average woman has in her lifetime
Total fertility rate TFR
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Population characteristics such as birth rate or life expectancy that influence how population changes in size and composition
Demographic factor
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A country that has a moderate to high standard of living on average and an established market economy
Developed country
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A country that has a lower standard of living in a developed country and has a weak economy, may have high poverty
Developing country
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Cultural and economic forces that encourage women to have more children
Pronatalist pressures
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Theoretical model that describes the expected drop in once high population growth rates as economic conditions improve the quality-of-life in a population
Demographic transition
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The absence of population growth, occurs when birthrates equal death rates
Zero population growth
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The rate at which children must be born to replace those dying in the population
Replacement fertility rates
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The systematic killing of a specific gender male or female
Gendercide
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The movement of people into a given population
Immigration
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The movement of people out of a given population
Emigration
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The population size that an area can support for the long-term, it depends on resource availability and the rate of per capita resource use by the population
Carrying capacity
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The ability of the ecosystems living components to produce and recycle resources, and assimilate wastes
Biocapacity
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Water purification, pollination, climate regulation, and nutrient cycling are essential ________.
Ecosystem services
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Capable of being continued without degrading the environment
Sustainable
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The social science that deals with how we allocate scarce resources
Economics
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Essential ecological processes that make life on earth possible
Ecosystem services
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Natural resources we consume such as oxygen, trees, and fish as well as the natural systems, Forest, wetlands and oceans, that produce some of these resources
Natural capital
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Produced from natural capital overtime, more trees and oxygen for example
Natural interest
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The land needed to provide the resources for and assimilate the wastes of a person or population
Ecological footprint
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The wealth of resources on earth
Natural capital
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Readily produced resources that we could use and still leave enough natural capital behind to replace what we thought
Natural interest
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An equation (I = PxAxT) that identifies three factors that increase human impact (I)directly : population size (p), affluence (a) and technology (t)
IPAT model
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Those costs such as manufacturing cost, labor, taxes, utilities, insurance, and rent that are accounted for when a product or service is evaluated for pricing
Internal costs
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Costs that are not taking into account when a price is assigned to a product or service
External costs
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Considering the environmental, social, and economic impacts of our choices
Triple bottom-line
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Including both internal and external costs when setting a price for a good or service
True cost
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A production system in which the product is folded back into the resource stream when consumers are finished with it, or is disposed of in such a way that nature can decompose it
Close loop system
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Management of a resource that considers the impact of its use at every stage of the process
Cradle to cradle
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To give more weight to short-term benefits and costs than to long-term ones
Discount future value
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Economic and social development that meets present needs without preventing future generations from meeting their needs
Sustainable development
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Doing business in a way that is good for people and the environment
Green business
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A business model whose focus is on leasing and caring for a product in the customers possession rather than on selling the product itself. (Selling the service that the product provides)
Service economy
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Providing information about how a product is made and where it comes from. Allows consumers to make more sustainable choices and support sustainable products and the businesses that produce them
Eco-labeling
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Claiming environmental benefits for a product when they are minor or nonexistent
Greenwashing
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Information detected with the senses or with equipment that extends our senses
Observations
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Explanations of what else might be true or what might have caused the observed phenomenon
Inferences
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Both the body of knowledge, facrs and explanations, and the process used to get that knowledge
Science
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Information gathered via observation of physical phenomenon
Empirical evidence
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It would be possible to produce evidence that shows the prediction is wrong
Falsifiable
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A possible explanation that generates predictions for which empirical evidence can be collected to verify or refute the hypothesis
Testable
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A statement that identifies what is expected to happen in a given situation
Prediction
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Procedure scientists use to empirically test a hypothesis
Scientific method
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Collecting data in the real world without manipulating the subject of a study
Observation study
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An experiment in a controlled lab environment which allows us to manipulate variables in a test group and test cause-and-effect hypothesis.
Experimental study
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Journals that before results are published, they are reviewed by a group of outside experts
Peer-reviewed journals
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Acting in the face of uncertainty when there is a chance that serious consequences might occur
Precautionary principle
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Plan that allows room for altering strategies as new information becomes available or the situation itself changes
Adaptive management
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The mathematical evaluation of experimental data to determine how likely it is a difference observed in the experiment is due to the variable being tested
Statistics
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The length of time it takes a substance to break down in the environment
Persistence
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The ability of a substance to dissolve in a liquid or gas
Solubility
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The build up of fat soluble substances in the tissues of an organism over the course of it's lifetime
Bioaccumulation
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The increased levels of fat soluble substances in the tissue of predatory animals that had consumed organisms that have bioaccumulated toxins
Biomagnification
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Resources studies the effects of an experimental treatment and intact organism
In vivo study
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Research that studies the effects of experimental treatment cells in culture dishes rather than in intact organisms
In vitro study
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Exposure of two or more chemicals that has an effect equivalent to the sum of individual effects
Additive effects
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Exposure to two or more chemicals has a lesser of fact than the sum of their individual effects would predict
Antagonistic effects
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Exposure to two or more chemicals that has a greater effect than the sum of their individual effects would predict
Synergistic effects
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A molecule that interferes with the endocrine system, typically by mimicking the hormone or preventing hormone from having an effect
Endocrine disruptor
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A molecule released by the body that directs cellular activity and produces change and how the body functions
Hormone
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A structure on or inside a cell but find the hormone, thus allowing the hormone to affect the cell
Receptor
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The dose of a substance that would kill 50% of the test population
LD50
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A graph of the effects of a substance at different concentration or levels of exposure
Dose – response curve
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Drawing a broad conclusion on too little evidence
Hasty generalization
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Presents extra information that does not directly support the claim but that might confuse the reader or listener
Red herring
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Attacks the person or group presenting the opposite view rather than addressing the evidence
Ad Hominem attack
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Does not present evidence directly but instead makes the case that "experts" agree with the position or can
Appeal to authority
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A statement or implication that the issue is too complex and we are not capable of understanding
Appeal to ignorance
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Be skeptical. evaluate the evidence. Be open-minded. Watch out for biases. These are all examples of what?
Critical thinking
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Anthropocentrism
Human centered: Only humans have intrinsic value and resources are here to meet human needs and wants
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Biocentrism
Life centered: humans and other species have a right to exist and are worthy of protection
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Ecocentrism
System centered: value is given to the importance of the ecosystem as a whole, including interactions such as those between wind and soil and between species (predators and their prey) As well as natural processes (water cycle)
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Anthropocentrism, biocentrism, eco-centrism
Types of world views and environmental ethics
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Arguments which attempt to sway the reader without using actual evidence
Logical fallacies
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The argument sets up an "either or" choice that is not valid. Issues and environmental science are rarely black and white, so easy answers such as it is this or that are rarely accurate
False dichotomy
