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1
Q

environmental science

A

a field of research that is used to understand the natural world and our relationship to it.

2
Q

environment

A

a biological (biotic) and physical (abiotic) surroundings in which any given living thing exists

3
Q

ecology

A

branch of environmental science focusing on the abundance and distribution of organisms in relation to their environment

4
Q

interdisciplinary science relys on

A
  • natural and applied sciences (i.e., ecology, geology, chemistry, and engineering)
  • Social sciences (i.e., anthropology psychology, economics)
  • Humanities (i.e., art, literature, and music)
5
Q

empirical science

A

at investigates the natural world through systematic observation and experimentation

6
Q

applied science

A

that uses its findings to inform our actions and bring about positive change

7
Q

Ecosystem

A

is a community of organisms and its physical and chemical environment. An ecosystem functions as an integrated ecological unit

8
Q

an integrated system-

A

inflow-sunlight and materials like carbon and nitrogen, and water
outflow-heat and materials like carbon, nitrogen and water

9
Q

information literacy

A

presentation of scientific information and source reliability

10
Q

primary source

A

peer-reviewed scientific journals (i.e., Nature, Science, PNAS, etc.)

11
Q

secondary source

A

present and interpret info solely from primary sources (i.e., NY Times, some books, EPA, WHO

12
Q

teritary source

A

present and interpret some info from secondary source (i.e., Wikipedia, blogs, websites, news shows)

13
Q

science is

A

observable, testable,repeatable,falsifiable - all based on inductive reasoning and empire evidence

14
Q

hypothesis

A
  • possible cause or mechanism that could explain observations and facts
  • Must be measurable and testable.
  • nondirectional
15
Q

two types of hypothesis

A
  • Null hypothesis (H0) = no significant relationship or difference between X and Y
  • Alternative/Research hypothesis (HA) = contrary to null
16
Q

prediction

A

educated speculation about outcome

  • Each hypothesis has directional predictions
  • Often has “If…, then…”formal
17
Q

Ways of testing a hypothesis

A

Ways of testing hypothesis: Controlled experiment = most common oTest or manipulation where all variables are the same (DVs) except for the one under investigation (IVs) •Control vs. experimental group
-Observations over time with zero manipulation

18
Q

step 1 of the process

A

Evaluate initial results

Reject or Fail to Reject ?

19
Q

step 2

A

Repeat the experiment to confirm results
-Replication è accumulation of evidence
increased validity , development of scientific facts, truths, and theories
-Also replicated by other scientists = peer reviewed

20
Q

proving a hypothesis

A

regardless of mounting evidence, hypotheses are never proven with absolute certainty

  • Proof of that caliber only happens in math
  • Provides proof until contradictory evidence arises
21
Q

science can lead to

A

Science can still however lead to valid conclusions

-Eventually supported results may be replaced with even more accurate ideas

22
Q

theories can

A

Provide a bigger picture of how some aspect of nature works

  • Broader in scope and explain a wider variety of events
  • Weaves together supporting evidence from multiple scientific fields
23
Q

darwins theory

A

repeatedly tested and provides solid generalizable explanation of how adaptations in all organisms evolved

24
Q

cause and effect

A

very event or outcome in nature has a source ØKey to hypothesis testing (i.e., “if…, then..

25
Q

Consistency

A

if same conditions (causes) are set up, same results (effects) will occur
-General rules exist in nature, and rules will operate in a similar manner over and over

26
Q

repeatability

A

regularly and reliably repeatable = more likely true -Makes science self-correcting

27
Q

materilism

A

affects in natural world all have natural causes rather than supernatural ones
-Required assumption for science to work

28
Q

Triple Bottom Line

A

the three P’s

-People, profit, and planet

29
Q

substainaiblty

A

meeting the needs of the present in an equitable and fair fashion w/o compromising the ability of future generation to meet their own need

30
Q

substainability means

A

ability to accommodate three important sources of change: Environmental changes ,
Our changing needs for ecosystem goods and services,
Our treatment of the environment and life

31
Q

every enviroment has a

A

carrying capacity and every organism has an ecological footprint

32
Q

the three undrlying problems in the enviroment

A

population growth , resource use, and pollution

33
Q

health affects of pollution

A

air pollution, water pollution, and soil contamination

34
Q

to create a more substainable future, we must avoid

A

socail traps

35
Q

tragedy of the commons, time delay (over fishing over time), sliding reenforce ( putting pesticides on the plants)

A

provide a short term resolution but cause a problem in the longer run

36
Q

wealth inequaity affects

A

sustainability

37
Q

intrisnic value

A

value or worth of an object, organism, or species based on its mere existence

38
Q

instrumental value

A

value or worth of an object, organism, or species based on its usefulness to humans

39
Q

peoples world views determine there

A

enviromental ethics

40
Q

biocentrism

A

life centered, humans and other species have a right to exist and are worthy of protection

41
Q

ecocentrism

A

system-centered, value is given to the importance of the ecosystem

42
Q

anthropocentrism

A

human centered, only humans have value

43
Q

china is

A

China is the most populous nation in 2017 with more than 1.3 billion people

44
Q

population density worldwide

A

7.6 billion people worldwide

45
Q

india is

A

India is expected to soon surpass China and is projected to have 1.5 billion people by 2030.

46
Q

compared to india, china has a

A

slower annual population growth rate

47
Q

for most of human history, there have been…..

A

for most of human history, there have been less than 1 billion people on the planet

48
Q

two time periods in human history where the global human population has hit a dramatic growth spurt…. which are

A

agriculture revolution and industrial revolution

49
Q

exponential growth

A

exponential growth is a fundamental property of all populations and involves the underlying principle of compounding!!!

50
Q

populations grow

A

exponentially

51
Q

growth rate

A

how fast populations grow

52
Q

linear growth

A

the projected size of the human population, if it proceeded at the same rate over time

53
Q

exponential growth

A

the actual size of the human population overtime

54
Q

J shaped curve is

A

exponential curve,growth that starts out slow but compounds quickly

55
Q

positive components

A
increase pop size 
Birth rate (BR) 
Immigration rate (IR)
56
Q

negative components

A
decrease pop size 
Death rate (DR) 
Emigration rate (ER)
57
Q

growth rate is the “balancing” among …..

A

negative and positive components

58
Q

growth rate

A

(BR – DR) + (IR – ER)

59
Q

if BR and IR equals DR and ER, then pop is at

A

equilibrium

60
Q

doubling time depends on

A

depends only on growth rate, not population size

61
Q

the more people of reproductive age =

A

the higher the growth rate

also influenced by income and women’s education level

62
Q

the number of women and their fertility have the biggest impact on population ______

A

growth rates

63
Q

= 48 out of 1000 infants die before age 1

A

developing countries

64
Q

6 out of 1000 infants die before age 1

A

developed countries

65
Q

as populations grow

A

amount of food and space available to each individual decreases
Waste products and pollution increases
Disease and parasitic transmission increases
Aggressive conflicts over resources increases

66
Q

density dependent

A

grow worse with density or crowding

  • harder to reproduce
  • lower survival rate
67
Q

food resources grow

A

linearly

68
Q

carrying capacity

A

maximum number of individual an environment can support

69
Q

logistic growth

A

population growth pattern that accounts for density dependant

70
Q

logistic growth

A

starts off exponentially and STOPS when pop reaches carrying capacity

71
Q

human carrying capacity

A

annual population growth is slowing down

72
Q

8-15 billion people

A

most human carrying capacity ranges

73
Q

ecological footprint

A

estimate of the area of land needed to supply human demands for resources

74
Q

biocapacity

A

measure of the area and quality of land available to supply a population w/ resources

75
Q

impact =

A

population x affluence x technology

76
Q

ecosystem

A

one or more communities and their interaction with the physical environment (energy flow and nutrient cycling) around them

77
Q

ecology

A

study of interactions among species and their physical environment (at the varying levels of complexity

78
Q

biodiversity

A

the variety of species living in an ecosystem

79
Q

species (population)

A

(localized) group of individuals that can actually or potentially interbreed to produce fertile offspring

80
Q

individual

A

a single member of the population

81
Q

population

A

a group of individuals of the same species living and interacting in the same region

82
Q

community

A

all the populations ( plants, animals) living and interacting in an area. communities represent the “living” portion of the ecosystem

83
Q

biome

A

a portion of the biosphere characterized by a distinct climate and a particular assemblage of plants and animals adapt to it

84
Q

biosphere

A

the total area on earth ( air, land, or water) where living things are found

85
Q

ecosystem

A

a specific portion of a biome consisting of the living ( biotic) and non-living (abiotic) environmental components that interact

86
Q

energy can enter and leave earth as:

A

Solar radiation
Heat (terrestrial radiation)
Life depends on a constant input of new energy b/c once used it quickly degrades and no longer is useful to organisms

87
Q

Matter stays in the biosphere cycling in and out of organisms (biomass) ….

A

environmental components

88
Q

Life depends on the constant cycling …

A

of matter resources

89
Q

biomes are specific portions of the

A

biosphere determined by climate and identified by predominant fauna and flora.

90
Q

three broad categories

A

terrestrial, marine, freshwater.

91
Q

limiting factors

A

critical resource whose supply determines the pop size of a given species in a given ecosystem

92
Q

range of tolerance

A

range of a limiting factor that allows a species to survive and reproduce

93
Q

more narrow the range of tolerance =

A

less genetically diverse the pop = less likely pop will survive a change in conditions

94
Q

main drivers of the carbon cycle are

A

photosynthesis and cellular respiration

95
Q

oxygen cycle

A

movement of oxygen throughout the ecosystem

96
Q

main drivers of the oxygen cycle

A

photosynthesis and cellular respiration

97
Q

Nitrogen comprises 79% of our atmosphere, yet

A

no plant or animals can use it.

98
Q

atmospheric N must undergo

A

nitrogen fixation

99
Q

Only some bacteria species living in the soil can break ….

A

nitrogen down

100
Q

Phosphorus poisoning can happen through

A

human activity can result in phosphorus poisoning

101
Q

Phosphorus cycle

A
  • not a gaseous cycle. Exists only in solid or liquid form, and depends on weathering of rocks to release PO4 into soil or water.
  • needed by all organisms to make DNA. Microbes can breakdown organic material and release PO4 into soil.
102
Q

atmosphere became inhospitable

A
  • Nitrous oxide too concentrated, which reduced vitamin B12 synthesis to brain damaging levels
  • Oxygen levels plummeted from 21% to 14% (barely enough to sustain life)
  • Had to pump in outside air
103
Q

more than 1/3 of fauna and flora went extinct

A

include most vertebrates and all pollinating insects

  • Cockroaches and ants thrived
  • Disease and morning glory vines killed other plants, including crops
  • Tree brittle due to lack of wind stress
104
Q

many organisms eat more than..

A

one trophic level

105
Q

matter and energy move throughout a community through the

A

food web

106
Q

Apex predators

A

are at the top of the pyramid and must be fewer in number

107
Q

energy flow in a food web

A

not 100% effiecent

108
Q

energy is lost every time one organism eats another….

A

On average, only about 10% is retained

Meaning 90% is lost as indigestible material and heat

109
Q

lost energy affects the entire food web……

A

energy available decreases significantly at higher trophic levels
Higher trophic levels therefore support fewer individuals (smaller populations)

110
Q

ecosystem services

A

naturally occurring ecological processes that support our agriculture, technology, culture, etc.
Provisioning = provide us w/ resources
Regulating = regulate and stabilize ecosystem
Cultural = relate to quality-of-life issues
Supporting = services others depend on

111
Q

human induced distributions to ecosystem services

A
  • soil erosion due to land development, agriculture, forestry -Exploitation of predators (i.e., deer overpopulation)
  • Altering biogeochemical cycles (i.e., global warming)
112
Q

community ecology

A

study of all the populations living and interacting in an area

113
Q

ecology

A

is the study of ones home or habitat

114
Q

Every organism is an evolutionary product of their ecology, which includes:

A

Abiotic factors = temperature, water, shelter, etc.
Biotic factors = population/species abundance, access to mates, resource competition, or other organisms living sympatrically or occupying similar niches

115
Q

sympatric

A

species living in the same geographic area

116
Q

niche

A

specific set of resources, including biological (i.e., food sources, mates, nesting) and physical factors (i.e., temperature), a species uses to survive
-only one species can occupy a niche

117
Q

ecological adaptations

A

Species adapt both their physiology and behavior to meet the challenges of their habitat

118
Q

physical conditions

A

desert living nocturnal Kangaroo rats
Sympatric bamboo-eating, lemur spp.
Inuit people

119
Q

limited shelter

A

Polygynous yellow-bellied marmots in Rocky Mountains White-fronted bee-eaters in Central Africa

120
Q

competition

A

occurs when two or more sympatric species attempt to use the same resource resulting in a negative affect on both species

121
Q

exploitation

A

occurs when one species benefits while the other is harmed

122
Q

mutualism

A

occurs when both species benefit (analogous to cooperation)

123
Q

benefit vs. harm measured by their effects on

A
  • abundance (population size)

- Distribution (where it can live) = territory/home range

124
Q

esources must be in limited supply for species to compete

A

“Struggle for existence” forces competition

125
Q

either species benefit, so try to avoid prolonged competition by:

A

niche species driving another to (local) extinction

-One or both species change so they no longer use the same resource or occupy the same niche

126
Q

competition is an unsustainable interaction so species adapt to reduce or eliminate it

A

both species benefit by avoiding competition

127
Q

competitive Exclusion Principle

A

Suggests that two competitors cannot coexist

  • Or two species cannot occupy the same niche
  • Holds up best under laboratory conditions where variables are tightly controlled
128
Q

Nature is more variable and dynamic both in time and space

A

lends more ecological “freedom” for species
-Reduced competition therefore relies heavily on niche separation and/or partitioning and can allow sympatric (closely related) species to coexist

129
Q

character displacement

A

when species evolve a change in physical or behavioral characters that allows them to reduce competition

130
Q

medium and small ground finch species – Is an example of…….

  • Generally have almost identical beak sizes, but live on two separate islands in Galapagos
  • Two species do live together on Santa Cruz island and their beak sizes no longer overlap, allowing them to access different seed resources within the same habitat and coexist
A

character displacement

131
Q

under what conditions does exploitation occur?

A

one species benefits at another’s expense

  • Includes predator-prey relationships, browsing and grazing feeding patterns, parasitism, and disease Best interests of both species differ: Exploited species benefits by avoiding the interaction
  • Exploiter depends on maintaining it
132
Q

two exploitation effects commonly observed in nature

A

Population cycles can be linked

Coevolutionary “arms race” may develop

133
Q

population cycles

A

linked population cycles means each population increases and decreases regularly over time

134
Q

predator-prey relationships p

A

provide a good example of population cycling (aka. boom and bust cycles)

ex:Canadian lynx vs. Snowshoe hare

135
Q

Coevolutionary “arms race”

A

Promotes the coevolution of species

136
Q

exploited species

A

develop defensive adaptations to prevent or avoid exploitation

137
Q

exploiter species

A

in turn develops offensive adaptations that allow the exploitation to continue

138
Q

plant-animal relationship

A

provides a good example of exploitation

-Ex: Monarchs and milkweed secondary compounds

139
Q

Nest parasitism

A

another good example

Also called brood parasites

140
Q

Cuckoo birds

A

are common nest parasites (40% of species)

  • Some species have a defensive adaptation and can recognize via discrimination the egg is not their own species
  • European cuckoo’s have evolved an offense adaptation to lay eggs that closely mimic, or resemble, another species egg
141
Q

brown-headed cowbird

A

is North America’s most common brood parasite

-Lay eggs in nests of 220+ species

142
Q

species are cooperating to benefit, and are not

A

altruistic (selflessness)

143
Q

er time, one species may become a “cheater,” keeping benefits but not providing any to the other species …Examples are

A

robber bees, orchids w/ bee-like pheromones

144
Q

animals as mobile agents for plants is a good example of

A

mutualism as animals provide a service and plant provides a renewable food resource

  • Honeybees pollinating angiosperms
  • Chimpanzees as seed dispersers
145
Q

fig wasp and fig tree mutualism

A

each fig species has its own species of fig wasp, which leads to obligatory mutualism

146
Q

our competition has driven many species to…..

A

complete or near extinction
-Ex: Neanderthals, orangutan

however, we open up new habitats for other species (i.e., cotton and boll weevil, grain silos and molds, mice, insects

147
Q

pests

A

species that compete w/ us successfully for food and other resources

148
Q

hunter-gather days, engaged directly in ______many species, driving several prey species to___

A

predator-prey relationships, extinction

Ex: Giant moa on New Zealand
Prey traditionally hunted for food, pelts, fur, and sport Now most food comes from domesticated plants and animals

149
Q

develop useful products and ideas as a result of exploitative interactions …..ex….

A
  • milkweed in cardiac medicine, caffeine in coffee beans, chemical defenses of most spices, hallucinogenic properties in plants
  • We have created an arms race w/ pesticides and antibiotics
150
Q

population dynamics

A

changes over time in population size and composition

151
Q

minimum viable population

A

smallest number of individuals required for pop to persist and grown, ensuring long-term survival oSmaller pops have lower genetic diversity (inbreeding) oImportant to consider in conservation of endangered species

152
Q

ecologically effective population

A

pop large enough to perform important ecosystem services to its community

153
Q

population density

A

number of individuals per unit are

154
Q

population distribution

A

location and spacing of individuals w/i their range

-Effected by species characteristics, topography, and habitat makeup

155
Q

clumped

A

groups or patches

-Common in animals

156
Q

random

A

spread out irregularly

  • Common in homogeneous environments
  • Wind (i.e., seeds) and water (i.e., coral larvae) dispersed species
157
Q

uniform

A

spaced evenly

-Rare in nature

158
Q

populations have different growth rates, which are effected by:

A
  • Growth factors Resistance factors
  • Density dependent factors
  • Biotic potential
  • Max rate a pop can grow due to births if each member survives and reproduces
159
Q

population size is determined by

A

growth and resistance factors

160
Q

density dependent

A

factors exert more of an effect as population size increases

161
Q

density independent

A

factors have the same effect regardless of population size

162
Q

science that deals with the repair of damaged or disturbed ecosystem

A

nature is NOT static and approaches must be adaptive to deal with changes

163
Q

ecological succesion

A

progressive replacement of plant (and then animal) species in a community over time due to the changing conditions that the plants themselves create

164
Q

primary succesion

A

ecological succession that occurs in an area where no ecosystem existed before (i.e., bare rock with no soil)

165
Q

pioneer species

A

plant species that move into an area during early stages of succession (i.e., lichens

166
Q

secondary succesion

A

ecological succession that occurs in an ecosystem that has been disturbed

  • occurs more quickly than primary succession because soil is present
  • Natural process that “repairs” a newly damaged ecosystem (i.e., fire, clear cutting, etc.)
  • More species-diverse ecosystems tend to be more resilient and are more likely to bounce back
167
Q

climax species

A

species that move into an area at later stages of ecological succession and persist if their environment remains unchanged

168
Q

forest ecological sucesion depends on

A

soil and light availability