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Details Title: Environmental Biology Description: Environmental Biology test 1 Total Flash Cards: 56 Created: 10/18/2007 20:29:31	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 sprawl Definition unlimited, unplanned growth of urban areas that consumes open space and wastes resources. Term human ecological footprint Definition the amount of productive land and water surface required to support all the needs of a person. Term Definition Term isotopes Definition elements that differ in atomic mass Term I=PAT Formula Definition A country's Impact is not just from it's population, but also it's affluence and the technology it uses to provide the goods and services it consumes. Term total fertility rate Definition the # of children born to an average woman in a populationduring her entire reproductive life Term adaptation Definition species of organisms survive and breed based on genetic traits that give them an advantage Term polar-covalent bond Definition protons and electrons are notshared evenly Term crude death rate Definition the # of deaths per thousand people in any given year Term ecology Definition the study of how organisms affect and interact with each other and their environment Term crude birth rate Definition the number of births per year per thousand persons Term conservation of matter Definition matter is neither created nor destroyed. it does not disappear, it changes form Term chemical potential energy  Definition energy that can be released to do useful work, stored in chemical bonds of molecules. ex) food, gasoline Term zero population growth Definition births + immigration        = deaths + emmigration Term tertiary consumers Definition (carnivores) animals who eat the seconday consumers ex) owl, hawk Term secondary consumers Definition (carnivores) animal who eats the primary consumer ex) fox eat deer and cows Term primary consumers Definition (herbivores) an organism that eats producers ex) cows and deer eat plants Term covalent bond Definition sharing electrons Term dependency ratio Definition the # of non working compared with working individuals in a population  Term ionic bond Definition no electron sharing Term hydrogen bonds Definition weak bonds that are constantly broken (between water molecules) Term ecological niche Definition a species role and environment Term ecosystem Definition group of interacting species in a particular environment Term biosphere Definition all areas of the environment where living organisms are found Term potential energy Definition stored energy that is latent but available for use. ex) water behind the dam Term energy Definition the ability to do work Term atom Definition the smallest part of an element Term molecule Definition 2 or more atoms covalently bonded to each other Term photosynthesis equation Definition 6H2O+6CO2+solar energy>>>>C6H12O6+6O2 Term 2nd law of thermodynamics Definition with each energy transfer or transformation in a system, less energy is available to do work. (energy is lost as it is used) Term controlled experiment Definition study between two groups that are identical except for the factor being studied Term species Definition organisms that can breed together and produce fertile offspring Term What are decomposers and what do they eat Definition fungi and bacteria, they break down debris Term natural selection Definition individuals that have a specific genetic makeup to survive and adapt. (survival of the fittest) Term convergent evolution Definition species evolve from different origins but under similar environmentalconditions to have similar traits. (they start out different and end upbecoming more similar) Term divergent evolution Definition separation of a species into new types. (they get different) Term what do scavengers eat Definition eat dead carcasses of larger animals Term kinetic energy Definition the energy of motion Term 1st law of thermodynamics Definition energy is conserved; it is neither created nor destroyed under normal conditions. (the amount of energy does not change) Term biotic potential Definition the maximum reproductive rate of an organism, given unlimited resources and ideal environmental conditions Term abiotic Definition non-living Term limiting factors Definition something that limits the growth or existence of an organism. ex) food, oxygen Term ecocentrism philosophy Definition humans are part of the biological environment, not separate. Term biocentric philosophy Definition all forms of life on earth have equal values/ rights. Centered on nature rather than humans. Term anthropocentric philosophy Definition human issues are central to the approach and outweigh the environmental benefits. Term photosynthesis Definition green plants capture light energy and use it to produce chemical bonds. carbon dioxide and water are consumed while oxygen and simple sugars are produced. Term carbon cycle Definition the circulation and reutilization of carbon atoms, especially via the processes of photosynthesis and respiration. Term what is natality? mortality? Definition birth rates. death rates. Term the phosphorous cycle Definition the movement of phosphorous atoms from rocks through the biosphere and hydrosphere and back to rocks. Term the hydrologic cycle Definition the natural process by which water is purified and made fresh through evaporation and precipitation. this cycle provides all the freshwater available for bilogical life. Term the nitrogen cycle Definition the circulation and reutilization of nitrogen in both inorganic and organic phases. Term R strategists Definition many offspring, prey type organisms Term K strategists Definition fewer offspring, stable population, predator type organisms Term symbiosis Definition close physical interaction between 2 individuals of different species. Term name the 3 types of symbiosis and what they mean Definition parasitism- living on or in another organism and causes harm. commensalism- one organism may benefit, but no harm is caused. mutualism- both species benefit from the relationship. Term speciation Definition the development of a new species.