Final Exam Flashcards
(213 cards)
What is the Ecological environmental viewpoint?
Ecological viewpoint: The environment should be approached in a sustainable manner because it provides functions necessary for human life.
What is the ecological worldview (i.e. it’s three core beliefs)?
The ecological worldview believes that:
- nature has intrinsic value (inherent worth)
- human life and nature are a single entity, not separated.
- the natural environment should be protected
What are the two types of conservation?
In-situ Conservation and Ex-situ Conservation
What is culmination age, in relation to forestry?
Culmination age is the point to which trees are grown in managed forests. It is the age where average volume of timber is the greatest.
Trees are considered mature.
Define Preservation.
Preservation is the attempt to maintain areas of the earth untouched by humans. ensures protection from any kind of damage or destruction
What is the Gaia Hypothesis and who came up with it?
James Lovelock: The earth and it’s living organisms are part of a single, self-regulating process.
This is part of the ecological worldview.
What is Over-fishing?
Over-fishing is a circumstance in which the catch is too high and is unsustainable; more fish are being caught then were fish reaching maturity to reproduce.
What is the biological value of biodiversity?
Biological Value: It supports vital ecological processes such as oxygen production, water purification and climate moderation.
All species are interdependent and removing any element can change the function of the ecosystem. Ex. Surgeon fish feed on algae growth on a turtle’s shell.
How is the world’s increasing population related to the depletion of fish species?
Rising populations have increased the scale of fisheries leading to intensification and increased depletion.
Storm water run off is an example of ____________ pollution.
Non- point source pollution.
What were the three cultural and environmental repercussions of the James Bay Hydro Electric Project?
Affected territories of northern Cree and Inuit people.
Disrupted hunting grounds and traditional ways of life.
Cause mercury contamination of fish stocks.
List an example of ex-situ conservation for plants and animals.
Plants: Svalbard Global Seed Vault (Norway); Botanical Gardens
Animals: Zoos
What characterizes the Pacific Ocean?
- shortest coastline (27,000 km)
- narrowest continental shelf (16 -32 km)
- warmest marine environment (starting to cause problems for fishing)
- very diverse fish populations
- important to marine mammals for habitat/ migration route
- important economically for commercial fishing and aquaculture.
Why does Canada have so many accessible freashwater reserves (i.e. lakes)? List 2 reasons.
- Climate: high precipitation
2. Groundwater/ Aquifers of impermeable rock that stores water.
What is ecological maturity, in relation to forestry?
The age at which wood has developed maximum fibre length.
Define species evenness.
Evenness: the relative abundance of those species counted (i.e. are some more common than others).
What is the value of sustainable development?
Sustainable development could mediate the tension between ecological values (conservation of nature) and expansionist values (using nature to make a profit).
What percent of the world’s water is fresh?
2.5% of the worlds water is fresh.
Most of that is housed in glaciers.
What characterized the first environmental movement of the 1960s and 1970s?
The environmental movement of the 60s and 70s focused mostly on pollution and litter.
How can we reduce the impacts of fragmentation?
Build wildlife crossing structures. ex. Banff
What was the historical significance of forests? List four.
- Basic means of survival for the First Nations people.
- Cleared for agriculture between the 17th and 19th centuries
- Used for ship building in the 19th century
- Used for pulp and paper in the 20th century.
What were the three major causes of the environmental movement of the 1960s and 1970s?
- “Pollution” a piece of art by Norman Rockwell which displayed trash drifting into a river.
- Silent Spring by Rachel Carson which displayed scientific evidence about how pollution was damaging the planet.
- When the Cuyahoga River in Ohio was so polluted that it started on fire.
List three sources of agricultural related water contamination.
- Crop production
- Livestock production
- Irrigation effects.
What group of organisms makes up the majority of life on earth?
Insects (72%)