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Details Title: Environmental Science Description: first exam Total Flash Cards: 158 Created: 02/03/2008 18:42:41	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 what is environmental science? Definition concerned with: 1)rapidly increasing population 2)the use and abuse of resources 3)damage caused by pollution and disturbance 4)endangerment an extinction of species and natural ecosystems Term ecology Definition the study of relationships between organisms and environments Term The two main opposing world views/attitudes are: Definition ecocentric vs anthropocentric Term Anthropocentric environmental stressors: (3) Definition -harvesting biomass -toxicity from pollution -ecosystem conversion (intentional or unintentional) Term Three factors work together to create an anthropocentric environmental impact: Definition 1)number of people involved multiplied by 2)resource units used per person multiplied by 3)impact per resource unit equals environmental impact Term environmental stressor Definition a factor that constrains productivity of organisms, populations, communities, ecosystems, etc. Term disturbance Definition episode of destruction on an ecosystem Term succession Definition period of ecological recovery after a disturbance Term cultural evolution Definition process characterized by increasingly more sophisticated methods, tools, and social organizations for resource extraction Term different environmental values: (3) Definition utilitarian/ecological/intrinsic Term utilitarian values Definition a type of environmental value -it is of instrumental value -based on the known importance of something to the immediate welfare of humans Term ecological values Definition -a type of environmental value -somewhat broader utilitarian values -it is a long-term view Term intrinsic values Definition -a type of environmental value -based on the belief that components of the natural environment have inherent right to exist, regardless of relationship to humans Term Types of world view: (5) Definition -anthropocentric world view -biocentric world view -ecocentric world view -frontier world view -sustainability world view (spaceship world view/ecological sustainability Term anthropocentric world view Definition humans are at the centre of moral consideration Term biocentric world view Definition focuses on life and considers all species -rejects discrimination against another species Term ecocentric world view Definition -considers relationship between various species adn ecosystems to be invaluable -consideration for non-living entities Term frontier world view Definition -humans have the right to exploit nature by consuming in vast quantities -humans are superior Term sustainability world view Definition -humans have right to resources, but exploitation should be governed by intrinsic values -divided into 2 categories: 1)spaceship world view:humans can exert great deal of control 2)ecological sustainability:humans are within ecological context Term inductive logic Definition conclusions are objectively developped from the accumulating evidence of experience/experiments -logical conclusions from experiments *observations and hypothesis are inductive????(notes say this) Term deductive logic Definition involves making one or more initial assumptions and then drawing logical conclustions -draws logical conclusions from a set of assumptions **predictions and experiments and conclusions are deductive????? Term null hypothesis Definition something we seek to disprove, rather than prove Term paradigm Definition -a pattern or model; a collection of assumptions, concepts, practices and values that constitutes a way of viewing reality. Term accuracy Definition refers to degree to which a measurement or observation reflects the actual value of the subject Term precision Definition different rom accuracy and is related to degree of repeatability Term significant figures Definition related to how many decimal places should be used Term hectare Definition 10000 square meters 0.01 square kilometers Term subjective Definition information is based on opinions (vested interests) Term objective Definition -information is factual, based on patterns/mechanisms Term informed opinion Definition lies between subjective and objective information -base decision due to what has happened in the past Term technology Definition not science -it is applying scientific discoveries Term Graphs Definition -data can be discrete or contiunous -if they are discrete, then they can be nominal, ordinal, or interval a frequency distribution is when you have certain categories (% of students vs grades (50-59,60-69, etc) **independant variable goes on X-axis **dependant variable goes on Y-axis Term Our universe/earth/solar system (facts) Definition -universe is 15-20 billion years old -initiall was only hydrogen/helium -other elements formed due to tremendously high pressures -hydrogen/helium still make up 99.9% of universe -earth+solar system are approx 4.5 billion years old -scientists estimate that the universe contains 10^20 stars and 10^19 solar systems Term earth's diameter is ________ and it is composed of(4) : Definition diameter is about 12 000 km. composed of: -core-mostly hot/molten metals (iron and nickel) -mantle-less dense, composed of magma -lithosphere-only 80km thick, made of rigid, relatively light rocks -crust-outermost layer, thin beneath ocean, thick where terrestrial Term glaciation Definition refers to extensive advance of ice sheets due to global cooling Term weathering Definition physical/chemical proess by which rocks and minerals are broken down by environmental agents Term erosion Definition physical removal of rocks and soil through the actions of flowing water/ice/wind/gravity Term peneplain Definition flat and homogenous landscape created by weathering and erosion Term sedimentation Definition eroded minerals that are deposited/settled Term lithification Definition process during which sedimentation is compressed into sedimentary rock Term where is the world's water? Definition most in ocean then in ice caps (2%) less that one percent is available Term fluxes Definition the movement from water to one part of the Hydrological cycle to another (evap, rivers, etc) Term net movement of water in hydrological cycle Definition -more water is evaporated on ocean than it rains, and vice versa on land. -therefore there is net movement everyday rain clouds from oceans= +/- approx river drainage Term weather Definition short term conditions Term climate Definition long term weather average (30 + years) Term orographic precip causes: Definition a rain shadow Term Four main forces shaping our world: Definition -techtonic forces -meteorites -glaciation -weathering/erosion Term continental drift Definition -crust is made up of several large/moving plates -convection currents in the mantle move them -Pangea evidenced through fossils( by the time birds and mammals evolved, the continents were quite seperated) -topography is created by plates coming together Term volcanoes Definition -updwelling of magma, height attained by successive layers of lava/ash -Indonesian eruption changed global temps noticeably Term earthquakes Definition -occurs when 2 plates are moving past and rubbing each other -build up pressure over time and eventually release it -can see effects arially Term meteorites Definition most big ones miss us -shooting stars are meteorites burning up -people have created frequency vs impact charts (inverse relationship b/w energy/frequency) Term Relevance of Sudbury area Definition -140km wide meteorite crater Term glaciation Definition finger lakes are evidence, as are moraines -huge melt channels are also evidence -has transported huge rocks from mountains -glacial periods come and go Term moraines Definition evidence of glaciation -the are deposits of debris from glacier advance/retreat Term ice sheets in last ice age: Definition -ther ewere two major ones in North America Cordilloran - 2km thick Laurentide - 4 km thick there was also an interglacier channel in and around alberta Term weathering Definition -is the degredation of rocks and minerals -it is due to physical forces(rain/wind) or chemical forces (lichen acidifying rocks) -chemicals in rain -water entering cracks and freezing Term erosion Definition -removal of rock and soil, slow or fast -due to forces of wind, water, ice, and gravity -evidence is everywhere, (tilted gravestones, trees, etc) Term El Nino Effects on us Definition -decreased precip -increased temperature -increased chinooks -increased insolation (exp to sun) Term microclimate Definition cilmate along a tree, or even a stem of grass -slopes in coulees facing sun, and those away -different plants and animals adapt better to different sides of the slope Term energy Definition it is the capacity to do work (entropy is an exception)   entropy is a kind of energy without the capacity to do work   there are 3 forms: electromagnetic/kinetic/potential Term electromagnetic energy Definition a self propagating wave: 3x10^8 m/s -from (short) cosmic to gamma to Xrays to ultraviolet to visible to infrared to microwaves to TV to radio(long, low energy) - Term ionizing radiation Definition -form of electromagnetic energy -it is capable of interacting with biological tissue -everything from left of visible light -any object above absolute zero (everything) is radiating energy Term kinetic energy Definition mechanical energy, energy of movement -thermal energy (heat, vibration) is a form of this Term potential energy Definition -such as gravitational energy, chemical energy stored in bonds b/w atoms, electrical energy (more electrons in one place than another), nuclear potential energy Term laws of thermodynamics: Definition 1)energy can be transformed from one type to another, but is never created or destroyed -energy of a closed system is constant   2)energy transformations lead to increased entropy -useful energy decreases and disorder increases (i.e. mining uranium) (i.e lightbulbs only 5% efficient) (i.e humans only 20-25% efficient, the rest is wasted in heat) Term Does life follow the second law of thermodynamics? Definition Yes- we rely upon order, and use energy to achieve it -life takes energy from one place, and uses it to maintain order in another Term matter Definition -has mass and occupies space -if it is made of atoms, it is matter -matter has quality(based on order)(solid vs gas) Term energy __________ matter ________ Definition energy flows and degrades matter cycles Term society's relationship with energy and matter Definition -society takes in high quality energy and matter, and emits low quality energy(heat) and waste matter Term What happens to energy flowing into the earth? Definition 32% reflected by atmosphere, clouds, and surface 68% Absorbed by clouds, atmosphere and surface   ***only 0.02% of energy is captured by plants, which runs the entire system Term autotrophs Definition -use external energy and abiotic molecules Term heterotrophs Definition -use biotic energy and molecules Term photosynthesis Definition 6CO2+6H2O = C6H12O = 6O2 Term GPP Definition gross primary production -total amound of solar radiation fixed by plants within an ecosystem (transfered from solar to potential)   NPP = GPP - R(respiration) Term detritivores Definition -east dead organic material Term trophic level efficiency Definition -of the energy entering one level, most is used or lost, and only 10% is passed on and available for next level. ***the system is extremely inefficient Term ecological implications of trophic model Definition -ecosystems are limited  by NPP, as is length of food chain -the biggest organisms feed off of plants/tiny fish/etc -environmental impacts mostly affect top of the food chain ******energy does not cycle... it flows***** Term biogeochemical  cycles Definition "nutrient" cycles Term What is Soil composed of? How does it form? What role does it play? Definition look these up Term macronutrients Definition such as: C, O, H, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulphur, proteins, fats, carbohydrates, potassium, calcium, magnesium Term carbon cycle Definition 109 tonnes per year of flux -atmosphere is medium -goes from this back and forth between ocean and terrestrial organic compartment -geological campartment adds to atmosphere...(burning fossil fuels) Term human intervention on carbon cycle Definition -humans clear vegetation -humans burn wood and fossil fuels   -oceans are working against climate change in environment as it is taking up more carbon than giving it off ocean:-2 terr organic:+1 burning:+5   therefore, net carbon release into the atmosphere per year is 4x10^9 tonnes per year Term nitrogen cycle Definition -important in proteins and nucleic acids -N2 in atmosphere is 78%, though is unavailable -nitrogen fixation occurs in two ways:lightning and fixating bacteria   -use units of 10^6 as there is approx 1000 times less cycling Term rhizobium Definition -plant root bacterium that work for plants to convert nitrogen; mutualistic relationship   -legumes do this: beans, peas, alphalpha -genetic engineers are trying to get grains to do this so that we can use less fertilizer Term Human intervention in nitrogen cycle Definition -agriculture (N is lost from soil) -crops take it -we eat it -goes in sewer -irrigation, precipitation   -burning vegetation and fuel makes NOx effects: 1)generation of ground level ozone 2)acid precipitation 3)greenhouse gas   Industrial N2 fixation = fertilizer -pollution if overused -process requires energy   Human activities = 120x10^6 tonnes per year Term differences bw C/N cycle Definition -carbon cycle has huge reservoires in all compartments -nitrogen cycle does not, (there is lots in atmosphere, but not much in rock) Term How is phosphorous cycle different from carbon/nitrogen Definition !! must find out for exam !! Term Gulf of Mexico dead zone Definition -huge area void of life in gulf of mexico (22000 sq km) -too little dissolved oxygen (areas below critical point of 2mg/L) -could be cities, forests, industry -they think it is farms because everything else over the years has remained constant apart from fertilizer use Term Using salmon for nutrients Definition -fish who go to ocean, live there, and come back to die and decompose.... maybe they bring nutrients with them? -during studies, in every case the salmon had an effect on the ecosystem   Term implications of nutrient cycling Definition -anthropogenic implications(climate change, loss of soil fertility) -other molecule cycles such as toxins -industrial compounds Term gene Definition a length of DNA, made up of nucleotides, that has information to build a specific protein Term 3 basic requirements for evolution Definition -variation -inheritance -selection pressure Term allele Definition any of several forms of a gene, usually arising through mutation, that are responsible for hereditary variation Term what is needed for variation? Definition -random fertilization -gene recombination (assortment/crossing over) -mutation Term mutation rate Definition one/million Term selection pressure Definition -any environment in which some variants have an advantage over other variants (survive better/ reproduce better) Term directional selection Definition -over a generation, a certain type is selecter over another, and population shifts (remember graph) Term artificial selection Definition -all dogs stem from the wolf -have bred many different kinds -occurs also in agriculture Term ecology Definition the study of relationships bw organisms and environment -both biotic and abiotic factors -often interested in distribution and abundance Term population ecology (primary and secondary characteristics) Definition primary characteristics: size (N) or density (p [delta p thing]) -secondary characteristics: age distribution (post or pre-reproductive) sex distribution (unlikely to grow if biased) Term Size (N) Definition affected by : natality, mortality, immigration, emmigration   Change in N = B+I-D-E Term Population increase formulas Definition change in population over time = (birthrate-deathrate)(current population) =(r)(current population) Population at any time "t" =(current population)+(change in population) therefore =(current population)+(r)(N) ***this only works if change in time is realtivelly small; it is a crude estimate with great increments Term population doubling time Definition **find out!! detail 9.1 in text Term carrying capacity Definition -size of population that can be sustained indefinitely without degrading habitat Term Formula for population at any time "t" (considering K) Definition N(t+1)=N(t)+rN(t)*((K-N(t))/K) Term Density dependent population Definition -population is usually at or near its carrying capacity Term density independent population Definition -populations rarely near carrying capacity (weather/disasters) Term semelparous Definition -individual has only a single reproductive bout Term iteroparous Definition individual has many reproductive bouts(rats) Term K-selection Definition -whales, large bodied animals -equilibrial, max competitive ability -usually at carrying capacity -show delayed reproduction with few and large offspring -maybe extended parental care -very competitive -tend to show type one survivorship curves Term R selection Definition -Opportunistic, maximize reproductive rate -seldom at carrying capacity -reproduction occurs early -many small offspring (ie, cockroaches) -little or no parental care -invasive, colonizers, (type 3 survivorship curve) Term survivorship curves Definition Type 1) old members of the population are typically lost, death due to old age (humans, elephants) Type 2)Same proportions lost... an individual from this survivorship curve can expect to die with equal probability at any point in it's life (birds) Type 3)more young are lost than anything else... if you make it past that initial stage then you're set... (insects, fish) Term Plant survival categories Definition developped by Grime there are : Competitors, Ruderals, and stress tolerators Term Grime's Competitors Definition -low stress, rare disturbance(fire), stable communities -very close to K seletion in animals -large investment in roots -delayed reproduction -large parent and large seed -long lived seies -type one survivorship Term Grime's Ruderals Definition -low stress, frequent disturbance (weather) -similar to r-selection in animals -small investment in roots -early reproduction, small parent and seed, short lived -type 3 survivorship curve Term Grime's stress tolerators Definition -high stress and rare disturbance area/environment -marginal habitats/slow growth and reproduction -small parents/seeds... tolerant rather than competitive Term Peterson method Definition used for population estimation -method of marking a species and letting it go again Population size (N) = (marked sample 1)*(total sample 2) all divided by (marked sample 2) problems: trap shyness and trap happiness (bias) Term riparian Definition type of forest, such as that living along the river in the coulees Term how do we study communities? Definition -interactions bw species -large scale patterns in species distribution *to define a community we must measure associations Term H.S. Gleason Definition a pioneer in community study -said that a community was an assemblage of species in an area because of similar requirements -thie is individualistic/ does no consider inter-relationships -focuses on abiotic requirements only Term F.E. Clements Definition -pioneer in community study -said that a community was an assemblage of closely linked species -considered interaction, processes(competition/predation) -focused on biotic relationships Term Characteristics of a community (7) Definition 1)species richness - number of species 2)species equitability - relative abundance of species 3)species diversity - combination of first two 4)growth form(usually plants) - vertical structure 5)trophic structure - food webs/energy flow 6)dominance - control species 7)stability - ability to resist pertubation Term types of competition Definition 1)intraspecific - between members of a species.. tends to lead to evolutionary change 2)interspecific - between different species Term interspecific competition leads to: Definition -competitive exclusion (ecological time) -character displacement (evolutionary time) Term law of competitive exclusion principle Definition two species cannot coexist on the same limiting resource Term character displacement Definition -it is a result of interspecific competition -species A+B put together with resource overlap (not entirely) -the ones who overlap compete, and therefore those who dont are selected for -A and B grow apart, and no longer overlap ie = character of bill size for certain legumes/nuts Term two ways in which competitors compete Definition 1)interference - physical or chemical 2)exploitation - etter at acquiring the resource Term 3 important points for competition Definition 1)cantact is not necessary 2)many organisms an individual is near are not intense competitors (abundant/dif resources) 3)plants are not mobile, so competition is in spacing Term ecological responses to competition Definition -competitive exclusion -altered bahavior or growth Term evolutonal responses to competition Definition -character displacement -genetic change in population Term generalist organisms Definition -usually display species packing -don't specialise in given resource -highly competitive Term specialist organisms Definition -generally very little species packing -specialize in exploiting certain resource -less competition Term McArthur Definition -study of warblers... how do they all live in the same forest together? -discovered that each species makes use of a different parts of a given tree Term plant competition Definition -mostly occurs in a spatial manner -root systems are a main form of competition -very little overlap in roots in nature... trees are more evenly dispersed than arbitrariliy -there can be interference (ie, overshadowing) Term allelopathy Definition chemical warfare between plants (ie, sage with dead-zone around it) Term niche Definition a species' place in a community or ecosystem (place= litteral area or resources used) kinds: -fundamental niche- range or resource that species COULD use -realized niche- range of resources actually used niches are based on ecological time, not evolutionary (proven by removing competitors, if ecological time then range will encrease, if evolutional then range will remain the same, and realized niche is new fundamental niche) a niche is many dimensions (calcium, phosphorus, water, etc) Term How many species can coexist? Definition only one on a single resource -limited # if on resource continuum -large # if enough dimensions Term climax community Definition at the end of succession Term forms of predation Definition -carnivory -herbivory -cannibalism -parasitism Term population cycles Definition such as with lynx and hare Term density dependent regulation Definition such as with lynx and hare Term anti=predator adaptations Definition -crypsis(camouflage) - coloration for hiding -mimicry -poison Term commensalism Definition one organism benefits, another does not (ie, barnacles on whale) Term crypsis Definition camouflage Term biomes Definition major plant communities that are repeatable across the globe -species vary, ecological role does not Term demography Definition the science of vital and social statistics, as of the births, deaths, diseases, marriages, etc., of populations Term Why has population raised so drastically in recent years, as compared to human history? Definition We have somehow raised the carrying capacity. (agricultural revolution, elimination of competition, refuge, etc) Term How much of earth's net primary production do humans use? Definition between 35% and 40% Term -earth's population- -rate of increase- -doubling time- Definition 6.6 billion 1.3% 54 years   *population increase rate is currently slowing down Term demographic transition is due to: Definition -increase in modern medicine (death rate goes down, therefore r goes up) Term Canadian: -death rate -birth rate -fertility -life expectancy -population Definition 7/1000 11/1000 1.5 children/woman/lifetime -79 years -33 million Term what to we need for population control? what societal influences will facilitate this or make it difficult? Definition must align B with D -societal influences include: religion, access to birth control, costs fo children, children to care for parents, gov incentives, labour, urbaization, education, infant mortality, age at marriage/reprod Term Thailand pop inc/# child/fam (1960) same for (1990) Definition 1960 - 3.2% increase - 6.4 children/fam 1990 - 1.4% increase - 2.4 children/fam Term What is the estimated fertility replacemtent rate? what would happen if it was implemented Definition -fertility replacemement rate is 2.1 children/female -if this was implemented, population would continue to grow due to population biased for the young Term *more developped countries have stable growth rates, while lesser developped countries tend to have higher growth rates Definition Term stephen moore Definition -American writer, wrote a book suggesting that there is no population problem; said that world's population could fit inside texas -he neglected to consider resources Term earth's perceived K Definition 50 billion -if this was reached, we would be using all possible land, and living an extremely simple lifestyle (bread and water) Term energy use in developped vs undevelopped countries Definition -(1990) 22% of pop use 72% energy use