Introduction to Environmental Science Flashcards
(17 cards)
Science
Knowledge of the natural world based off of observations and experiments
Scientific Method
When facts are established through observations and experimentation.
(how facts are created)
How do you disprove the Scientific Method
Through field and laboratory experiments
Environmental System
The system in which the biotic and abiotic factors of the environment interact with one another
Environment
The area of which a person/animal lives/operates in
Systems
Components that work together to achieve a common function/purpose
Environmental Science
The study of the natural environment and how humans interact with it
Traditional Ecological Knowledge
The knowledge that indigenous/native people have
Population
A group of individuals/organisms that are capable of reproducing fertile offspring
Demography
The study of populations
Age structure
How people of different ages are distributed on a graph
Thomas Malthus’s observations
- Food production will only increase linearly
2. Population sizes will increase exponentially
Malthusian Trap/Theory
Population growth will always outrun the food supply
Are Thomas Malthus’s observations right?
No because he did not consider technological advancements in agriculture which lead to a greater food supply being produced
Overpopulation
Where people are unable to meet their basic needs as a result of the availability of resources and social factors. The environment has exceeded its carrying capacity (the number of individuals/species an environment can carry and sustain)
Overconsumption
When people want more than just meeting their basic needs
Ecological footprint
The impact that an individual/community has on the environment
