Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Environmental Studies > Final > Flashcards

Final Flashcards

(69 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

What are the levels of organization from smallest to largest (organism to biosphere)

A

Organism(one singular living thing), Population(a group of living things that are the same species), Community(a group of living things of different species), Ecosystem(a group of living and non-living things in an environment), Biome(a group of living and non-living things in a specific type of environment), Biosphere(All environments, living and non-living things on the planet)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
1
Q

What are the levels of organization largest to smallest (biosphere to organism)

A

Biosphere, Biome, Ecosystem, Community, Population, Organims

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is an ecological footprint

A

Measures the environmental impact of an individual, community, or organization by calculating the amount of biologically productive land and water area required to produce the resources consumed and to absorb the waste generated

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What factors are considered when calculating an individual’s footprint

A

-The earth’s biocapacity
-human activity and its ecological impact
- the carrying capacity of the planet
- the economic forces that influence our consumption patterns
- the management of natural resources
- the inequities between the developing and developing world
- the ethical implications of our choices
- the ecological assets that a given population or product requires to produce the natural resources it consumes and to absord its waste
- the total area of the planet required to provide the resources demand by humans, including food and fibers, forest products, lands for settlements and infrastructure, and the absorption of anthropogenic carbon emissions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is productivity in an ecosystem

A

refers to the rate at which biomass is generated, which can be measured in terms of energy or weight per unit area

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is the difference between NPP and GPP

A

NPP is the rate at which plants and other photosynthetic organisms convert CO2 into organic matter, considering the amount of organic matter consumed by respiration
GPP is the total amount of organic matter produced by photosynthesis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is a food web

A

A complex network of interconnecting food chains that illustrates the feeding relationships among organisms within an ecosystem

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is a food chain

A

is a visual representation that illustrated how energy and nutrients flow throuh different levels of an ecosystem

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What do the arrows show in a food web or chain

A

arrows indicate the direction of energt dlow from one organism to another, illustrating how energy is transferred through consumption

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What are the trophic levels within an ecosystem

A

Producers (autotrophs) - make energy through photosynthesis
Primary consumers (Herbivores) - feed on producers
Secondary consumers (Omnivores) - feed on consumers
Tertiary consumers (omnivores and carnivores) - feed on secondary consumers
Decomposers - organisms that break down dead organic material, return nutrients to the ecosystem

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What role do decomposers serve

A

Breakdown of waster, organims, and organic matter

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are the major types of symbiosis

A

Mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Two examples of mutualism and how do organisms interact

A

both organisms benefit
- clownfish and anenome
- bees and flowers

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Two examples of commensalism and how do organisms interact

A

one organism benefits and the other is unaffected
- tree frogs and plants
- orchid and tree-dwelling plants

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Two examples of parasitism and how do they interact

A

one organism is harmed and the other benefits
- fleas and host animals
- owls and mice

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is competition

A

the struggle between two or more organisms for resurces such as food, water, space, and light

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What are two types of competition

A

Intraspecific competition - where individuals of the same species vie for limited resources
Interspecific competition - where members of different species compete for the same prey

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Describe a predator and prey interaction and how it would be displayed on a graph

A

a biological relationship where one organism, the predator, kills and consumes another organism, the prey

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What are the major biomes of the world

A

Tundra (cold treeless ground permanently frozen low precipitation)
Tiaga(cold animals hibranate largest biome coniferous trees long winters and moderate to high annual precipitation)
Grasslands (large, rolling terrain many grasses few trees fire moderate to heavy rainfall and warm summers and colder winters)
Deciduous forests (four distinct seasons many trees camoflauge moderate to heavy rainfall hot summer and cold winters)
Savanna (grassland few trees little rainfall tropical climate)
Chaparral (hot and dry periods mild winters fire and drought are common)
Rainforest (year round warmth near equator rainy and dry seasons)
Deserts (cold or hot/dry little vegetation nocturnal animals little precipitation)
Alpine (mountainous cold small vegetation animals have insulation extreme low temperatures but can get just above freezing in summer months high elvation and low precipitation)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What abiotic factors determine the biome

A

climate and soil type

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What is succession

A

is the gradual process of change in the species composition of an ecosystem over time

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What are the two major types of succession

A

Primary succession - begins in areas where there is no soil ex. newly created volcanic island
Secondary succession - occurs when soil is still present occurs more quickly than primary succession ex. flood, fire

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What is the major process of the nitrogen cycle

A

Nitrogen fixation: Bacteria in the soil turns nitrogen gas into ammonium
Nitrification: Takes ammonium and turns it into nitrates eventually (nitrites than nitrates)
Assimilation: taking nitrates or ammonium into roots as a plant (another word for absorbtion)
Ammonification: decomposers take nitrogen from dead or waste to make ammonium
Denitrification: turning nitrates into nitrogen gas

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What is the major process of the water cycle

A

Evaporation: when bodies of water are heated by sun and turned into a gas
Transpitation: evaporation from plants out of tiny holes in leaves called stomata
Condensation: water vapor condenses when it is cooled and forming clouds
Precipitation: when water falls from the sky
Percolation: (infiltration) water moves through sooil layers, back to lakes and oceans or in aquifers. If the soil is too saturated it becomes runoff

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
What is the major process of the carbon cycle
Photosynthesis: plants and algae take in CO2 and convert it into sugars using sunlight and water Cellular Respiration: animals and plants use aerboic cellular respiration to release energy for biological processes. This also releases CO2 Decomposition: Fungi and bacteria decompose dead organimsa and organic waste, releasing compounds and CO2 Fossilization: under specific conditions, dead organisms can fossilize over thousands and millions of years and can form fossil fuels Combustion: the burning of fossil fuels is known as combustion. This releases vast amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere
25
What is the major process of the oxygen cycle
Photolysis: Ultraviolet radiation of the sun breaks down atmospheric water and nitrous oxide Photosynthesis: plants make food and release oxygen as a byproduct Weathering: Oxygen-containing minerals in rocks gradully breaks down
26
What is biodiversity
the variety of life on Earth, encompassing all living organisms, their genetic differences, and the ecosystems they form
27
How is biodiversity calculated
biodiversity index tells a scientist how many species exist in a certain environment (number of species in the area divided by the total number of individuals in the ares= biodiversity index)
28
What does HIPPCO stand for
H - habitat loss and degradation I - invasive species P - Poplation growth P - Pollution C - Climate change O - over-exploitation (poaching)
29
What is an endangered species
is in immediate jeopardy of extinction. A threatened species at a lower risk but likely to become endangered in the future
30
What laws protect endangered species
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (placed international trade restrictions on species that are threatened or endangered. Land necessary for the survival of a species is designated as a critical habitat and cannot be destroyed)
31
What is invasive species
non-native species that cause or are likely to cause harm to the environment, economy or human health
32
What are the major ways in which an invasive species gets into an area
Intentional introductions: for agricultural crops, landscaping, ornamental plants and the pet trade Rapid reproduction: allowing them to colonize new areas before native species can adapt High dispersal ability: enabling them to spread easily across vast distances
33
What is a specialist species
an organism that occupies a specific niche in its environment and has adapted to thrive on one or two types of food
34
What is a generalist species
a species that can thrive in a wide variety of environmental conditions and utilize a diverse range of resources
35
What is the difference between a K-strategist and R-strategist
K-strategist (Kare) - high carying capacity - stable environments - slow reproduction - strong/ well protected - long life expectancy - large - type 1 and 2 surviorship curve - high energy - high parental care R-strategists (reproductive) - reproduction - unstable environment - rapid reproduction - weak/ subject to predation - short life expectancy - small - type 3 surviorship curve - low energy - low parental care
36
What is carrying capacity
carrying capacity is the number of organisms an environment can support over an amount of time
37
What is an exponential growth curve (biotic potential)
or geometric growth shows a pattern increasing at a constant rate
38
What is a logistical growth curve
an S-shaped curve that models population growth in environments with limited resources, characterized by an intital exponential growth phase followed by a slowdown as the population approaches its carrying capacity
39
What is a survivorship curve
When the limiting factors LIMIT the population the J curve will not continue to increase and it levels off at the carrying capacity and it shows the probability of survival
40
What is the graph with the three survivorship curves
1. low fertility high parental care high mortality in old age 2. consistent mortality throughout lifetime 3. high fertility low parental care high mortality early in life
41
What is the demographic transition
the historical shift from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates as societies develop economically and socially
42
What is an age structure diagram
(Population pyramid) is a graphical representation that shows the distribution of various age groups within a population, typically divided by gender
43
What is an example of an age structure diagram for fast growing
a greater proportion of younger individuals who are at or close to reproductive age
44
What is an example of an age structure diagram for Slow growing
column-shaped shape with steeper sides, indicating that there are fewer young and reproductive-aged individuals, and a greater proportion of older individuals
45
What is an example of an age structure diagram for Zero growth
a column-shaped diagram with all age classes approximately equal
46
What is an example of an age structure diagram for Negative growth
Inverted pyramid or a triangle shape
47
How do you calculate doubling time
70/growth rate
48
What are the different fossil fuels
Coal (formed from plant remains subjected to high heat and pressure over millions of years) Oil (Dark, liquid fossil fuels made up mostly of hydrocarbons) Natural Gas (Primarily methan gas with small amounts of other gases mixed in)
49
How is a fossil fuel used to generate electricity
fossil fuel power plants burn coal or oil to create heat which is used to turn turbines that generate electricity
50
What are the benefits of fossils fuels
- reliable sources of electricity - generally cheap to build
51
What are the negative aspects of fossils fuels
- produce large amoutns of CO2 - Pollutants need to be transported over long distances
52
How does nuclear power generate electricity
Through a process called fission - Nuclear reactors contain and control nuclear chain reactions that produce heat through fission, the heat is used to make steam, the steam spins a turbine, the turbine turns the generator which produces electricity
53
What are some renewable energy sources
Solar, Wind, Water, Geothermal, Hydrogen
54
What are the major types of surface mining
Strip mining: involves removing a long strip of overburden to access mineral deposits Open-Pit mining: creates a large pit in the ground to extract minerals, often used for metals and minerals Mountaintop Removal: Involves removing the summit of a mountain to access coal seams Dredging: Utilizes water to remove minerals from underwater deposits High Wall Mining: a method that combines surface and underground mining techniques to extract minerals from steep walls
55
What is mountaintop removal
Involves removing the summit of a mountain to access coal seams
56
Why do we practice large-scale strip mining
It is an efficient and cost-effective method for accessing shallowly buried resources
57
What are some negative aspects of mining
erosion, sinkholes, loss of biodiversity, or the contamination of soil, groundwater, and surface water
58
What are the major components of soil
Mineral Matter, organic matter, soil water, soil air
59
What is a soil profile
a vertical cross-section of the soil that displays all its horizons, from the surface to the underlying parent material
60
What can be found at each horizon of a soil profile
O - Organic matter (litter layer, decaying material) A - Topsoil (organic matter mixed with minerals) E - Eluciation layer (dry barren because water has leached the nutrients and minerals in lower layer) B - Subsoil (higher levels of minerals and nutrients) C - Parent Rock (slightly weathered bedrock) R - Bedrock (soild parent material)
61
What do fertilizers do for crops
improve growth and productiveness of plants
62
What elements are present in fertilizers
nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium
63
What are the major types of irrigation for crops
Surface: water is applied and distributed over the soil surface by gravity Overhead: pumping water under pressure and then spraying it down onto the plants from flat spray nozzles Drip irrigation: delivers water directly to the roots, conserving water and promoting healthy growth
64
What is organic farming
Sustainable agricultural method that avoids synthetic chemicals and genetically modified organisms, focusing instead on natural processes to grow crops and raise livestock
65
How is organic farming different from conventional farming
Organic farming focuses on sustainable practices and natural inputs, while conventional farming relies on synthetic chemicals and intensive agricultural methods
66
What is a GMO
A genetically modified organism (GMO) is any plant, animal, or microorganism whose genetic material has been altered in a laboratory using genetic engineering techniques
67
How are GMOs used in agriculture
to improve crop traits like pest and disease resistance, herbicide tolerance, and nutritional value
68
Are GMOs beneficial or detrimental to farming
offer both benefits and potential drawbacks for farming. On the positive side, they can increase yields, reduce pesticide use, and improve nutritional content of crops. However, concerns exist about potential environmental impacts, including the development of superweeds and superpests, and the effects on biodiversity

Environmental Studies (2 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions