Midterm

Question 1

Other than science, what considerations need to be made regarding environmental issues?

Answer 1

1. Creative thinking
2. Environmental Justice
3. Policy
4. Cultural Understanding
5. The Jesuit Mindset (finding God in all things)

Question 2

What are some environmental themes outlined by the UN

Answer 2

1. Human population growth
2. Global Food
3. Habitat Loss
4. Sustainability
5. Water Resources
6. Energy

Question 3

When thinking about ______________________ we need to consider what quality of life we want for ourselves and other organisms.

Answer 3

Sustainability

Question 4

Define carrying capacity

Answer 4

maximum of a population that can be maintained by an ecosystem without degrading the ability of that ecosystem to maintain the population in the future.

Question 5

What are 7 criteria to use when scrutinizing “scientific stories” presented to you?

Answer 5

1. clear
2. accurate
3. appropriately precise
4. relevant
5. logical
6. significant
7. fair

Question 6

Precautionary Principle

Answer 6

It is proactive instead of reactive; we should take precautionary measures towards climate change now instead of later when it may be too late to do anything

Question 7

Tangible vs Intangible Values

Answer 7

Tangible are things we can measure and put a price on (i.e. lumber, fish) and intangible things we can’t measure or price them in regard to the economy (flood control, biodiversity, aesthetics)

Question 8

Define Natural Capital

Answer 8

Nature naturally helping us out

Question 9

Over-Exploitation

Answer 9

Removing resources before they can be replaced (the fish in the commons experiment)

Question 10

Positive vs Negative Externalities

Answer 10

These are indirect values or downfalls of something, positive are good and negative are bad.

Question 11

What are the best kinds of policies to help the environment?

Answer 11

Triple Bottom Line policies : people, prosperity, planet

Question 12

Define System

Answer 12

A set of components work together as a whole.

Question 13

Difference between positive and negative feedback loops

Answer 13

Positive: input increases the original trigger
Negative: input decreases the original trigger (hungry, eat, hunger goes away)

Question 14

What ‘s the difference between an open and closed system?

Answer 14

In a closed system matter cannot enter or leave

Question 15

What concept does John Muir’s quote relate to?

Answer 15

Environmental Unity

Question 16

What is the Gaia hypothesis?

Answer 16

Life alters Earth’s environment to allow life to persist, kind of like the planet’s self-regualtion

Question 17

What are examples of changing states and changing forms?

Answer 17

States: water into ice
Form: Carbon dioxide into carbon and oxygen

Question 18

Are ions and polar molecules hydrophobic or hydrophilic?

Answer 18

Polar molecules are hydrophilic because they can dissolve in water.

Question 19

Define pH

Answer 19

The potential for hydrogen (14 is basic, 7 is neutral, 0 is acidic)

Question 20

Why is pH important in the environment?

Answer 20

Because everything has to be at a certain pH in order to function.

Question 21

What are the 4 major reservoirs of earth?

Answer 21

atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, biosphere

Question 22

Define biogeochemistry

Answer 22

the complete path a chemical takes through the four major components (or reservoirs) of planet Earth

Question 23

How can humans impact a biogeochemical cycle?

Answer 23

We release CO2 and ammonia into the atmosphere

Question 24

What 4 things need to happen for evolution to occur?

Answer 24

1. Populations separated
2. Organism has specific traits that help them
3. One trait increases frequency
4. Mutations benefit the individual

Question 25

What do the letters stand for in | I = P x A x T

Answer 25

``` i= environmental impact p= population a= affluence t= technology ```

Question 26

Define ecosystem

Answer 26

All organisms and their physical and chemical environments /the minimum system that includes and sustains life

Question 27

As an organism eats farther from the original source of energy, its tropic level increases. In what trophic level is an organism that eats a plant?

Answer 27

autotroph, next level is carnivores

Question 28

what percent of energy is passed on to each trophic level

Answer 28

10%, inefficient transfer