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TEST 1 Flashcards

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1
Q

What is ecological sustainability?

A

The capacity of the earth’s natural systems that support life and human economic systems to survive or adapt to changing environmental conditions indefinitely

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2
Q

Define sustainable development

A

Meeting the current and future basic needs of its people in a just and equitable manner without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their basic needs

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3
Q

List the three ecological principles of sustainability

A

Rely on solar energy
Protect biodiversity
Protect chemical cycles

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4
Q

Natural Capital. List the 3 types

A
  1. Inexhaustible
  2. Renewable
  3. Non renewable
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5
Q

Define sustainable living

A

Living off the earth’s natural income without depleting or degrading the natural capital that supplies it

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6
Q

Human Footprint and IPAT(define this)

A

Impact= Population + Affluence +Technology

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7
Q

Scientific Method

A
  1. Make an observation and identify a question
  2. Propose a hypothesis
  3. Test your hypothesis
  4. Gather data from your test
  5. Interpret your results
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8
Q

Type 1 error in interpretation

A

False positive

Assume a result when it didn’t

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9
Q

Type 2 error in interpretation

A

False Negative

Assume a result didn’t happen when in fact it did

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10
Q

What is a system? (2 definitions)

A

A system is a set of components that function and interact in some regular ways

A system is an interconnected set of elements that is coherently organized in a way that achieves something

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11
Q

What are the 4 Earth Systems

A
  1. Atmosphere
  2. Biosphere
  3. Hydrosphere
  4. Lithosphere
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12
Q

What is a biosphere?

A

Parts of the earth’s air, water, and soil where life is found

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13
Q

Ecosystem

A

A community of different species interacting with one another and with their non living environment of matter and energy

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14
Q

Community

A

Populations of different species living in a particular place, and potentially interacting with each other

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15
Q

Population

A

A group of individuals of the same species living in a particular place

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16
Q

What sustains life in an ecosystem?

A

Flows of matter and energy

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17
Q

Order of trophic levels

A

Producers, Primary Consumers (Herbivores), Secondary Consumers (Carnivores), Tertiary Consumers (Top carnivores)

All lead to decomposers

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18
Q

What is NPP (Net Primary Productivity)?

A

The rate at which producers use photosynthesis to produce and store chemical energy minus the rate which they use some of this stored chemical energy through aerobic respiration

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19
Q

Define niche

A

The specific ecological role played by each species

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20
Q

List the four important roles of species in an ecosystem

A

Native, nonnative, indicator or keystone

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21
Q

4 Types of Biodiversity

A
  1. Functional Diversity
  2. Ecological Diversity
  3. Genetic Diversity
  4. Species Diversity
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22
Q

Define Functional Diversity

A

The biological and chemical processes such as energy flow and matter recycling needed for the survival of species, communities, and ecosystems

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23
Q

Define Ecological Diversity

A

The variety of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems found in an area or on the earth

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24
Q

Define Genetic Diversity

A

The variety of genetic material within a species or a population

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25
Define Species Diversity
The number and abundance of species present in different communities
26
Define Biome
Large regions with distinct climates and certain species
27
What is a specialist species?
Species with a narrow niche
28
What is a generalist species?
Species with a broad niche
29
Describe Evolution by Natural Selection
Genes mutate, individuals are selected, and the resulting populations are better adapted to survive and reproduce under existing environmental conditions
30
List the process of evolution by natural selection
1. Genetic diversity and mutations 2. Natural selection and adaptation (some die) 3. Differential reproduction rates (survivors reproduce)
31
List the two main causes of speciation
1. Geographic isolation | 2. Reproductive isolation
32
Define Speciation
One species evolving into two or more species
33
Define extinction and extirpation
Species lost from a specific area | Species lost but not from its full geographical range
34
What is an endemic species?
Only found in specific areas
35
What is an ecological niche?
A range of conditions required for a specific species to survive in an environment
36
What is a keystone/ foundation species?
They have a large influence on the ecosystem and its sustenance
37
What is an indicator species?
Species that provide early warnings of environment change in a community or an ecosystem
38
Give an example of interspecific competiton in species interactions
Resource partitioning
39
List the 5 types of species interactions
1. Interspecific competition 2. Predation 3. Parasitism…doesn’t kill host 4. Mutualism 5. Commensalism… benefits only one but barely any benefit to the other species
40
What is population change? (List formula)
(Births+ Immigration) - (Deaths+ Emigration)
41
What is an r selected species?
High levels of reproduction but low parental care and so higher mortality and shorte life span
42
What is a k-selected species?
Reproduce later in life and have less offspring but invest heavily in them. So low mortality rates
43
What are the two types of ecological succession and define them
1. Primary Succession- start from exposed rocks | 2. Secondary Succession- start from annual weeds
44
Define ecosystem inertia
The ability of an ecosystem to survive moderate disturbances
45
What is ecosystem resilience?
The capacity of a system to tolerate disturbances while retaining its structure and function
46
Define weather
A set of physical conditions of the lower atmosphere such as temperature, precipitation, humidity, wind speed, cloud cover
47
Define climate
Average weather, minimum 3 decades
48
What are the 3 key factors that determine climate
1. Uneven distribution of solar energy 2. Rotation of the earth on its axis 3. Properties of air, water, and land
49
What factors affect a terrestrial biome
Precipitation and temperature
50
What factors determine a marine biome?
Light, temperature, and nutrients
51
What factors determine a freshwater biomes?
Light, temperature and nutrients
52
4 types of terrestrial biomes and subtypes
1. Deserts 2. Grasslands 3. Forests 4. Mountains Subtypes 1. Tropical 2. Temperate 3. Cold
53
What is an oligotrophic lake?
Relatively low in plant nutrients but have a lot of O2 in deeper regions. Usually deep and clear
54
What is an eutrophic lake?
High in plant nutrients but lost a lot of O2 so organisms begin to die out. Usually green on surface. Too much phosphorus
55
Biodiversity
Variety of the earth’s species, the genes they contain, the ecosystems in which they live, and the ecosystem processes of energy flow and nutrient cycling that sustain all life
56
Endangered species
In danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of their range
57
Threatened Species
Likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range
58
Threats to Biodiversity (HIPPCO)
``` Habitat Destruction Invasive Species Population and Resource Use Growth Pollution Climate Change Over exploitation ```
59
Nonnative Species
Any species that is not native to an ecosystem
60
Invasive Species
An alien or non-native species whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health
61
Traits of Species Vulnerable to Extinction
``` Low reproductive rate (k strategist) Specialized niche Narrow distribution Feeds at high trophies level Fixed migratory patterns Rare Commercially valuable Require large territories ```
62
Species Protection Laws
The Endangered Species Act of 1973 | The Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora of 1973 (CITIES)
63
Mechanisms of Endangered Species Act of 1973
1. Listing Species as threatened or endangered 2. Designating critical habitat 3. Prohibiting federal agencies from harming listed species 4. Prohibiting anyone from “taking” a listed species 5. Funding 6. Cooperation
64
System
An interconnected set of elements that is coherently organized in a way that achieves something
65
Albedo
The proportion of light reflected by a surface
66
Feedback loops for global warming (Apart from CO2 and methane radiative forcing) The one dealing with albedo
Further global warming leads to Higher temperatures which leads to Less sea ice and less sunlight reflected and leads to More open water and more sunlight absorbed which leads to top
67
The Greenhouse Effect
1. Solar energy (light) passes through the atmosphere 2. Earth’s surface absorbs some of that energy and reradiates it as heat 3. Greenhouse gases absorb heat (infrared)
68
Aquifer
Filled with groundwater/ underground body that absorbs/holds water
69
Pros of dams
1. Provides irrigation water above and below the dam 2. Provides drinking water 3. Reservoir useful for recreation and fishing 4. Can produce cheap electricity (hydropower) 5. Reduces downstream flooding
70
Cons of dams
1. Flooded land destroys forests or crop land and displaced people 2. Large losses of water to through evaporation 3. Deprives downstream crop land and estuaries of nutrient-rich silt 4. Risk of failure and devastating downstream flooding 5. Disrupts migration and spawning of some fish
71
Water recycling or “toilet to tap”
Tech exists to clean water sufficiently to mix it back into municipal drinking water supplies
72
Water Quality
The suitability of water for a particular use based on biological,chemical and physical characteristics
73
Biological characteristics that affect water quality
Micro organisms and nutrients
74
Chemical characteristics that affect water quality
Acidity, Hardness, Dissolved Oxygen
75
Physical characteristics that affect water quality
1. Color 2. Turbidity 3. Taste/Odor 4. Temperature
76
Water Pollution
Any physical, biological, or chemical change in water quality that adversely affects living organizations or makes water unsuitable for desired uses
77
Water Pollutants
1. Biological pathogens 2. Increased BOD (Biological Oxygen Demand) 3. Other Chemical Pollution 4. Thermal Pollution(eg. dumping warm water from factories into rivers that have fish accustomed to lower temperatures)
78
Types of Sources of Water Pollution
1. Point Sources | 2. Non-point sources

ENST 210 (1 decks)

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