Chapters One Through Six: Exam One Flashcards
(173 cards)
1
Q
acute pollution effects
A
occur immediately upon or shortly after the introduction of a pollutant
2
Q
anthropogenic
A
human-induced ecosystem degradation
3
Q
bioaccumulation
A
storage of chemicals in an organism in higher concentrations than normally found in nature
4
Q
biodegradable
A
materials that can be broken down and rendered harmless by living systems
5
Q
biomagnification
A
accumulation of chemicals in organisms in increasingly higher concentrations at successive trophic levels
6
Q
chronic pollution effects
A
act in the long term
7
Q
cross-media pollutant
A
move from one medium to another
8
Q
deforestation
A
cutting down and clearing away of forests
9
Q
desertification
A
land degradation in arid, semi-arid, or dry subhumid regions resulting mainly from adverse human impact
10
Q
ecosystem damage
A
an adverse alteration of a natural system’s integrity, diversity, or productivity
11
Q
ecosystem destruction
A
the conversion of a natural system to a less complex human system
12
Q
ecosystem disruption
A
a rapid change in species composition of a community that can be traced directly to a specific human activity
13
Q
fragmentation
A
patchwork of cropland, logging roads, and smaller discrete forest areas
14
Q
frontier forests
A
expansive tracts of contiguous forests largely untouched by human activities
15
Q
non biodegradable
A
materials that enter a system in a form unusable by the organisms present
16
Q
nonpoint-source pollution
A
pollution that cannot be traced to a specific source but comes from many generalized sources
17
Q
persistent pollutant
A
pollutant that accumulates in natural systems over time
18
Q
phototoxicity
A
pollutants become more damaging in sunlight
19
Q
point-source pollution
A
emitted from an identifiable, specific source or point
20
Q
pollutant
A
substance or form of energy that adversly alters the physical, chemical, or biological quality of natural systems
21
Q
salinization
A
the build-up of salts in the soil
sign of desertification
22
Q
siltation
A
process by which soil erodes from land surfaces and accumulates in streams and lakes
23
Q
synergistic effect
A
pollutants whose combined effect is more harmful than the sum of their individual effects
24
Q
biotic potential
A
the maximum growth rate that a population could achieve, given unlimited resources and ideal environmental conditions
25
carrying capacity
when the population size can best be supported by the environment over time
26
climax community
the association of organisms best adapted to the physical conditions of a defined geographic area
27
commensalism
the association of two species in which one benefits and the other is neither helped or harmed
28
competitive exclusion principle
different species with similar requirements sometimes compete to the elimination of one of them
29
density-independent factor
abiotic and independent of population size, normally set limits on populations
30
density-dependent factor
biotic, their effect is greater when the population density is high
31
diversity-stability hypothesis
biodiversity promotes resistance to disturbance because species differ in their traits
32
dynamic equilibrium
the property of constant adjustment to change, maintaining an overall balance
33
ecological succession
the process by which an ecosystem matures; it is the gradual, sequential, and somewhat predictable change in the composition of the community
34
ecosystem development
takes into account the accompanying modifications in the physical environment brought about by the actions of living organisms
35
ecotone
zone of transition and intense competition
| edge communities
36
environmental resistance
limiting factors that exert controlling influence on population size
37
feedback
any factor that influences the same trend that produced it
38
inertia
the ability of an ecosystem to resist change
39
interspecific competition
competition between members of different species
40
intraspecific competition
competition between members of the same species
41
mutualism
an association of two species in which both benefit
42
negative feedback
any output that interferes with the trend which produced it
43
niche
the complete ecological description of an individual species, including all the physical, chemical, and biological factors that the species needs to survive
44
null hypothesis
ecosystem functions or processes are insensitive to the addition or deletion of species
45
parasitism
the association of two species in which one benefits and the other is harmed
46
pioneer species
hardy organisms such as lichens and microbes that are capable of becoming established on bare rock and beginning the soil-building process
47
positive feedback
an output that promotes a trend
48
predation
one species consumes another
49
primary succession
the development of a new ecosystem in an area previously devoid of organisms
50
redundancy hypothesis
there is considerable overlap in the roles that species play within an ecosystem
so some species can be lost without an adverse effect
51
resiliency
the capacity of an ecosystem to undergo change and return to a similar, but not exact, system configuration
52
rivet hypothesis
species are like rivets that hold together an airplane. some are redundant, but you don't want to take out too many or it might collapse
53
secondary succession
the regrowth that occurs after an ecosystem has been disturbed, often by human activity
54
symbiosis
the intimate association of two dissimilar species, regardless of the benefits or lack of them to both species
55
10 Percent Rule
only ten percent of the available energy is actually transferred in each step
56
aerobic respiration
a process requiring oxygen to release energy
57
anaerobic respiration
a process that does not require oxygen to release energy
58
biogeochemical cycles
materials recycle (h2o, O, C, Ph, N)
59
biomass
the sum of all living material in a given environment
60
detritus food web
a food web that includes several levels of consumers that derive energy from decomposing plant and animal material or animal waste products
61
ecosystem services
flow of energy and cycling of materials
62
estuary
semi-enclosed coastal body of fresh and saline water (example Chesapeake Bay)
63
food chain
successive steps within an ecosystem illustrating the energy transfers between organisms as a result of consumption
64
food web
interlocking food chains woven into complex associations that describe the feeding relationships among organisms in a community and the movements of energy and materials
65
gaseous cycle
circulation of air, mostly carbon and nitrogen
66
gross primary productivity
total energy changed by autotrophs
67
hydrologic cycle
circulation of h2o through water, air, and land
68
net primary productivity
the total amount of energy produced each year at the producer level minus what producers need for their own life processes, and thus available to other organisms in the community
69
nitrogen fixation
the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into a form of nitrogen usable by plants
70
pyramid of biomass
total amount of living material at each trophic level
71
pyramid of energy
production, use and transfer of energy from one trophic level to another
72
pyramid of numbers
conceptual tool used to illustrate the tendency toward large population on lower trophic levels and small population on higher trophic levels
73
respiration
the process by which organisms produce energy by capturing the chemical energy stored in food
74
sedimentary cycle
materials that move between land and oceans, mostly phosphorus and sulfur
75
trophic level
a group of organisms with the same relative position in the food chain
76
atom
the smallest unit of an element that retains the unique characteristics of that element
77
autotroph
self-nourishing organisms. form the basis of the food web
78
biome
a major ecological community of organisms usually characterized by the dominant vegetation type
79
biosphere
the thin layer of air, water, and soil and rock that surrounds the planet and contains the conditions to support life
80
carnivore
organisms that eat only animals
81
chemosynthesis
the synthesis of organic compounds within an organism, with the chemical reactions providing the energy source
82
chemotroph
producer organisms that use the energy found in inorganic chemical compounds for their energy needs.
83
community
all of the populations of organisms that interact in a given area at a given time
84
compound
molecules composed of two or more different elements
85
consumer/heterotrophs
organisms that cannot produce their own food and eat by engulfing or predigesting the fluids, cells, tissues, or waste products of other organisms
86
decomposer
heterotrophs that digest, outside of their cells and bodies, the tissues of dead organisms or waste products
87
detritus feeder/detrivore
organisms that consume dead or decaying tissues or organic wastes
88
ecosystem
a community of self-sustaining, self-regulating organisms interacting with the physical environment within a defined geographic area
89
element
substances that cannot be changed into simpler substances by chemical means
90
energy
the ability to do work
91
entrophy
a phenomenon where energy constantly flows from a high-quality, concentrated, and organized form to a low-quality, randomly dispersed and disorganized form
92
eutrophication
a process of nutrient enrichment of a lake, stream, or estuary by natural or human activities that set in motion a mix of physical, chemical, and biological changes that lead to the natural aging of a body of water
93
first law of thermodynamics
energy is neither created nor destroyed
94
habitat
the specific environment or geographic region in which a species is found
95
herbivore
organisms that eat green plants directly
96
indicator species
a species that indicates certain environmental conditions
97
keystone species
a species that has a significant role in community organization due to its impact on other species in the community
98
landscape
many ecosystems taken together
99
law of the conservation of matter
matter is neither created nor destroyed
100
law of tolerances
range of abiotic factors within which an organism can survive from the minimum amount of a limiting factor that the organism requires to the maximum amount it can withstand
101
limiting factor
abiotic and biotic regulators that determine the distribution and success of living organisms
102
macroconsumer
organisms that feed by ingesting or engulfing part or entire bodies of other organisms, living or dead
103
macronutrient
chemicals needed by all living organisms in large quantities for the contruction of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates
104
matter
that which constitutes the substance of physical forms, has mass, occupies space, and can by quatified
105
microconsumer
organisms that feed on waste products of living organisms. often called decomposers
106
micronutrient
substances needed in trace amounts for the construction of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates
107
molecule
the smallest physical unit of an element or compound, consisting of one or more like atoms in an element and two or more different atoms in a compound
108
omnivore
organisms that consume both plants and animals
109
organic compound
a compound that contains carbon
110
photosynthesis
the process of using the sun's light energy to convert CO2 and water into complex carbs like glucose
111
phototroph
organisms containing chlorophyll that produce complex chemical bonds through photosynthesis (producers)
112
phytoplankton
microschopic floating plants and algae that function as the major producer in aquatic systems
113
population
individuals of a particular species with definable group characteristics
114
predator
organisms that obtain their food by eating other living organisms
115
prey
living organisms that serve as food for other organisms
116
primary consumer
in a food chain, organisms that consume producers
117
second law of thermodynamics
with each change energy is converted into a less usable form
118
scavenger
heterotrophs that consume entire dead organisms
119
secondary consumer
in a food chain, organisms that consume primary consumers
120
species
a group of individuals or populations potentially able to interbreed and unable to produce fertile offspring by breeding with other sorts of animals or plants
121
tertiary consumer
in a food chain, organisms such as carnivores and omnivores that eat secondary consumers
122
anthropocentric worldview
the belief that humans are not part of nature and that nature is that part of the world devoid of human influence. humans are viewed as having dominion over all living things
123
biocentric worldview
the belief that humans are a part of nature and that humans are subject to all natural laws
124
common law
a system of law based on custom and past court decisions rather than government decisions
125
cost-benefit analysis
a technique used to compare the estimated costs of a proposed project with the estimated benefits gained
126
culture of consumption
a culture or society based on the premise that one can never have enough, a belief fueled by advertising
127
ecological economics
a trans-disciplinary field of study that addresses the relationshps between ecosystems and economic systems in the broadest sense
128
economic goods
products. also known as manufactured capital
129
economic growth
an increase in the capacity of the economy to produce goods and services
130
economics
the study of the production, consumption and distribution of goods and services
131
economy
a system of production, distribution, and consumption of economic goods or services
132
ecosystem services
functions or processes of a natural ecosystem that provide benefits to human societies
133
environmental education
information and training that awakens a person's intuitive value of the natural world
134
environmental ethic
principles of respect and care for the natural world
135
environmental law
a law system organized to use all of the laws in a nation's legal systems to minimize, prevent, punish, or remedy the consequences of actions that damage or threaten the environment
136
ethics
a system or code of morals that governs or shapes attitudes and behavior
137
external costs
the harmful social or environmental effects of the production and consumption of an economic good that are not included in the market price of the good
138
frontier ethic
belief by american settlers which is still popular today that natural resources are inexhaustible or will regenerate and that exploration will discover new, untapped resources
139
government
an established system of administration through which a nation, state or district is ruled
140
gross national product
total market value in current dollars of all goods and services produced by an economy during a year
141
human capital
skills and labor used to manufacture goods and products
142
human development index
for a given country a measure of the average quality of life based on three indicators: life expectancy at birth, literacy rates, and real GNP per capita
143
index of sustainable economic welfare
A measure of economic wellbeing that adjusts the per capita GNP according to inequalities in income distribution, resource depletion, loss of wetlands, loss of farmland and the cost of air and water pollution
144
internal costs
the direct cost of production
145
land ethic
cooperation between humans and other biospheric components
146
mixed economic system
an economic system that combines elements of market, command, and traditional systems
147
natural capital
natural resources used to manufacture products
148
negligence
failure to exercise normal care that causes damage
149
net national product
economic indicator that factors in the depletion and destruction of natural resources
150
nuisance
the most common cause of action in the field of environmental law
151
precedent
a legal case or decision that can serve as an example
152
pure command economy
an economic system in which the government makes all the decisions about what and how much to produce and how to distribute goods and services
153
pure market economy
laissez-faire
154
real GNP
GNP adjusted for any rise in the average price of final goods and services
155
real GNP per capita
gives an idea of how the average citizen is fairing economically
156
statutory law
body of acts passed by local legislative body
157
steady-state economy
an econmy characterized by a constant level of human population and a constant level of artifacts
158
stewardship ethic
belief that humans should be caretakers for the natural world
159
stewardship worldview
humans have a responsibility to care for the earth
160
sustainability
the goal of ecological economics where human activities stay within limits that nature can survive as well
161
sustainable development
managing the economy and renewable resources of an area for the common good of the entire community
162
sustainable resource use
the use of renewable resources at rates that allow for regrowth
163
throughput
the natural capital used to produce economic goals
164
traditional economy
self-sufficient economy where people grow and make their own goods
165
abiota
non living part of the physical environment
166
biota
the living part of the physical environment
167
ecology
the study of the structure, function, and behavior of the natural systems that comprise the biosphere
168
global environment
the sum of all living organisms, their relationships and their physical surroundings
169
mutation
a random change in genetic code that can be passed on to offspring
170
perpetual resource
resources that originate from a source that is virtually inexhaustible, like the sun
171
pollutant
a substance that adversely affects the physical, chemical, or biological quality of the earth's living systems
172
resource
something that serves a need and is useful
173
speciation
the separation of species of plants and animals that were originally able to interbreed
