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Details Title: Ecology and Design Description: Final Exam Total Flash Cards: 83 Created: 05/07/2007 18:51:53	To study from this set of flash cards, or to create your own your own study flash cards, register HERE. If you are already a registered user, CLICK HERE.
Cards Term Ways to control noxious weeds Definition Pull Mow Spray with hot water Spray with soapy water Cover (sterilizes) Brurning Goats Herbicides Term Problems with Wildlife Definition Doesn't stay where you put it Breed Term Types of organisms Definition Invasive species: takes over native plants. Ex: Russian Thistle, tumble weed Introduced species: Beneficial. Ex: Corn, rice Noxious species: Live stock won't/can't eat. Ex: Kochia Adaptive species: Can live in wide variety of conditions (best for design). Ex: Miner's Candle, Milkweed Natvie species: Occur naturally in area Weed: Any plant anywherer you don't want it Term Brownfield Definition Piece of property someone knows or suspects has contaminants (Doesn't have to be industrial) Term Biophilia Definition Attraction to the living world Term Biophobia Definition Fear of the living world Term 3 Considerations when designing nature for children Definition Exploration Change Wildlife Term Why plant natives? Definition Conserve water Survive without much maintenance Give "sense of place" Not invasive Required by law sometimes Provide food and shelter for wildlife Increase biodiversity Term Challenges to growing native plants Definition Lack availability Don't thrive under traditional gardening practices Not appreciated Lack of knowledgeable people Term Increase in nature: Definition Higher short-term and mid-term memory abilities Less ADD+ADHD Drop in bad behavior in school Kids played outside Term Water laws Definition 1. First in time, first in right 2. Use it or lose it 3. Private property Term Resource Strategy Definition Conserve --> Reuse --> Supply Term New supply of water: How? Definition Enlarge Gross Reservoir Build new reservoir Increase useage of reusable water Agricultural water Some combination Term Problem with treating wastewater Definition Too many nutrients and too much salinity for watering trees Term Communities Definition Populations interacting withing an ecosystem Term Life Zones Definition Subalpine Upper Montane Lower Montane Grassland Streamside Term Scale (as hierarchy) Definition Ecosystem Landscape Region Biosphere Term Coriolis effect Definition Clockwise northern hemisphere Counterclockwise southern hemishpere Term Artic tundra Definition Cold year-round temps Permafrost Low light Term Alpine Tundra Definition No permafrost Greater sunlight Dry conditions Soil very thin Term South-facing slope Definition Warmer, dryer Term North-facing slope Definition Cooler, moister Term Carrying capacity Definition What can environment actually support without degrading Point that birth rates balance death rates Term Disturbance types Definition Abiotic: Stomrs, flooding, volcanoes Biotic: Insects, pathogens Combination: Fire, pollution Term Riparian Habitat Definition Typically vegetated are along waterways Term Trees provide: Definition Shade to cool Habitat Absorb water and material including contaminants Visually pleasing Term Factors influencing erosion Definition Vegetation (cover density) Soil type (texture) Slope size (Steepness and length) Frequency and intensity of rainfall (Rainfall erosion indices) Term Desertification Definition Loss of productive land due to drought and human activities Term Causes of desertification Definition Poor agricultural practices Poor government management Drought conditions Highly variable nature of climate and environmental conditions on semi-arid environments Term Soil components Definition Clay Silt Sand Humus-organic +Loam = equal parts of above four Term Soil horizons Definition O Horizon: Organic layer A Horizon: Humus and mineral - Topsoil/primary root layer B Horizon: Sub-soil - Deep roots, mostly mineral soil C Horizon: Parent Material Bedrock Term Warm front Definition Warm air collides with cool air and rises. As it rises, it cools and clouds then rain can form. Term Cold front Definition Pushes under the existing warm air and can cause thunderheads Term Properties of Populations Definition • Age structure • Density (and dispersion): crude v. ecological • Distribution (spatial / temporal) • Reponses to competition and predation Term Flow velocity factors Definition Dimensions Slope Roughness Term State improvement plans (SIPs) Definition Stationary sources (siting and permitting emissions) Mobile sources (Maintenance and inspection programs) Term Ground level ozone Definition Hot, sunny weather pollutant Term 6 Criteria Pollutants Definition -Ozone -Carbon Monoxide -Particulate matter -Sulfer dioxide -Nitrogen dioxide -Lead Term Water quality parameters Definition pH Temp Turbidity Dissolved Oxygen Biological Oxygen Nitrogen Phosphorus Fecal Coliform Term Transportation related air pollutants Definition Photochemical smog (NOx+VOCs=Ozone) Particulate matter (2.5 + 10) Carbon monoxide (CO) Global warming (CO2) Term What raises water temp? Definition Turbidity Pollution Cutting trees along riverbanks Vegetation in summer Term Temperature controls: Definition Rates of growth and photosynthesis Dissolved oxygen levels Term Factors affecting runoffs Definition Slope of land Type of soil Vegetative cover Impervious cover Term PM10 Boulder plan Definition Remove gas program Street sweeping Woodburning program Stationary source limits Term Sources of air pollution Definition Natural sources Mobile sources Stationary sources Indoor air sources Term Types of air pollution Definition Nitrogen oxides (NOx) Sulfur dioxide (SO2) Carbon Monoxide (CO) Particulate matter (PM-10) Ground level ozone (O3) produced from NOx+VOCs (Summer time smog) Toxic chemicals Carbon dioxide (CO2) Term Nitrogen Definition Most common element in world Found in all living organisms Acts as nutrient in water system = excessive plant growth Source: Fertilizer, animal waste, faulty septic system Term Fecal Coliform Definition Bacteria found in gut of warm-blooded animals Higher counts = raw sewage present E. Coli Source: Untreated sewage, poorly maintained septics, pet waste, wild animals, livestock Term Effects of Turbidity Definition Blocks sunshine and reduces productivity Interferes with animal repiration and reproduction Term Source of turbidity Definition Erosion Algal Blooms Term Dissolved oxygen Definition Added through water movement Clean water has higher DO Low temp holds higher DO Term Recharge of aquifers depends on: Definition Texture and composition of soil Underlying strata of soil Septh of water table Amount of vegetation cover Impervious layer Term 3 Ways of discharge Definition Pumping Springs Artesian wells Term Factors affecting watershed water supply Definition Location Size Annual precipitation Variations of microclimates Term Total phosphorus Definition Naturally occuring mineral in plants and animals Used as plant nutrition/supplement Excess = Plant (esp. Algae) go up. When they die, it kills all fish and insects Source: Poorly treated sewage, industrial waste, fertilizers Term Lose DO: Definition Warming Pollution Waste products =High levels of decomposers Term 4 sources of streamflow Definition Channel precipitation Ground water Inter flow Over flow Term Sources of PM-2.5 Definition Motor vehicles Power plants Wood burning Term Red tides Definition Harmful Algal Blooms Term Indoor air concerns Definition Radon Bldg materials Pesticides Term Transportation related design sollutions Definition Reduce auto travel, mixed use, lot size, density Interconnected pedestrian and bicycle paths Urban boundaries Parking controls Term Landscape design sollutions Definition Ped and Bike paths Parks, open space, and rec. facilities to encourage non-auto travel Term Turbidity Definition Clarity of water due to floating particles in water collumn Term Point source Definition Sewage treatment plants and industrial plants Term Non-point source Definition Runoff of fertilizer Animal waste Term Dead Zone Definition Oxygen depleted areas From excess nutrients dying and decomposers using oxygen Term High BOD = Definition High decomposer activity (direct measure of health of stream) Term Where on pH scale do most organisms occur? Definition 9.6-4.5 Term Gray water Definition Already used in washing, sinks, etc. Term 2 nutrients kill ocean: Definition Phosphorus and nitrates Term PM-10 Definition 70% street sand, soil, road dust 15% woodburning emissions 6-7% non-identified The rest: Amonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate, modile source tailpipe emissions Term Environmental Problems in China Definition Water Land Desertification Urban Environment Term Building design sollutions Definition Transit and pedestian oriented Mixed use Minimize Parking Term Indoor air sollutions Definition Ventilation Radon system Low emissions building materials Education in schools and homes EPA tools for schools Term Current challenges in China Definition Lack of public participation Limited enforcement Conflicts of interest of regulatory agencies Term Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) Definition The amount of oxygen consumed by microorganisms decomposing organic matter Term Indoor air pollutant sources Definition Building materials and furnishings Maintenance products Office equipment Microbiological contamination Outdoor air pollution Soil gases (radon) Occupants Term Radon 222 Definition Odorless, colorless gas produced from breakdown of uranium 238 in soil and rocks Term Oligotrophic Lake Definition Little shore vegetation Steeply sloping shorelines Sparce fish population (profundal zone) Narrow littoral zone Low nutrients and plankton Term Eutrophic lake Definition Much shore vegetation Gently sloping shorelines Dense fish population (Limnetic zone) High concentration of nutrients and plankton Wide littoral zone Term Eutrophic lake Definition Much shore vegetation Gently sloping shorelines Dense fish population (Limnetic zone) High concentration of nutrients and plankton Wide littoral zone Term Watershed Definition Area where water from rain concentrates Term Indoor air quality (definition) Definition Temperature, humidity, ventilation and chemical or biological contaminants of the air inside a building