Term
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Definition
| a principal, standard or quality considered worthwhile or desirable |
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Term
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Definition
| Intense use of resource. Rare today but there are still examples. Some land developers. Commercial logging in the 19th and early 20th centuries. |
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Term
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Definition
| “Hands off” approach. Necessary for preventing extinction of some species requiring rare and/or fragile habitats (spotted owl in old Growth Forests). Viewpoint held by some Environmental Extremists. |
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Term
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Definition
| Most good for the most people. Do not use resources beyond Maximum Sustained Yield. Protect resources for future generation by harvesting at rates that can be sustained. |
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Term
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Definition
| Calls on society to think in terms of whole ecosystems, not just the isolated parts that produce the economic product. Recognition, that economically valuable species are inexorably linked to complex ecosystems. Effects of harvest are considered for all interconnected parts and done in a way to minimize harm. |
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Definition
| The controlled and wise use of natural resources. |
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Term
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Definition
| an ecosystem can produce many valuable goods while improving the quality of life: E.G. Forests – Timber, flood control, wildlife habitat, recreational area |
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Term
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Definition
| The ability of an ecosystem to maintain its dynamic natural state despite human or natural perturbation. Succession is natural, but slow. Fire and other natural disaster are part of the dynamic state. |
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Definition
| Flexible management that continuously monitors the environment and adjusts management actions to maintain |
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Definition
| the study of the interrelationships of organisms and their environment |
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Definition
| Non living components of an ecosystem. Sun, water, fertility |
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Definition
| the community plus the environment with which it interacts. |
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Term
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Definition
| Living components of an ecosystem. Predators, prey, competitors |
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Term
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Definition
| Sunlight + 6H2O + 6CO2 Chlorophyll C6H12O6 + 6O2 (glucose) |
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Term
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Definition
C6H12O6 + 6O2 6CO2 + 6H2O + Energy
(glucose) |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| Feeds on detritus, the wastes of dead plants and animals |
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Term
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Definition
| The process by which N2 gas is converted to a biologically available form, usually NO3 (soluble) or NH3 (soluble and volatile) |
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Term
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Definition
| 2N2 + 6O2 Electric Spark 4NO3 |
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Term
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Definition
| Cyano Bacteria combine N + H to form Ammonia. Many plants can use NH3 in the production of amino acids (proteins) |
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Term
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Definition
| Produces NH3 salts that are used as fertilizers. Expensive and requires much energy, but is a key requirement of modern farming – Much food from little space |
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Term
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Definition
| The breakdown of organic N (proteins) to NO3 (nitrates) which is biologically available for plants |
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Term
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Definition
| Anaerobic bacteria in soil and water convert Soluble N to N2 gas which then re-enters the Atmosphere |
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Term
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Definition
The most limiting nutrient in most freshwater ecosystems
essential component of: DNA and cell membranes |
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Term
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Definition
| High energy molecule, produced in the cells of all living organisms, that stores chemical energy required for cellular maintenance, growth, and reproduction. If a cell was an engine, ATP would be the gasoline. |
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Term
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Definition
Phosphate containing rocks on the earth’s surface
-released by weathering
-absorbed by plants as an important nutrient
-eaten by animals where it may be incorporated into body mass or excreted |
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Term
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Definition
| any factor in the environment of an organism, such as light, water, cover, or nutrients that limit the population growth |
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Term
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Definition
| the replacement of one community of organisms by another in an orderly and predictable manner. |
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Term
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Definition
| colonization and subsequent development of a community in a new environment |
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Term
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Definition
| succession in an area already occupied by a community |
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Term
Competitive
Exclusion
Principle |
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Definition
| Gause’s Law: each species in a community must be specialized in some way so as to occupy a unique niche |
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Term
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Definition
| Refers to the complexity of ecosystem structure, including the number of species (species richness) habitats, and life stages that increase complexity and consequently, the number of redundant pathways for the cycling of energy and nutrients. |
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Term
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Definition
| Symbiosis in which in which one organism gains fitness at no expense of the other |
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Term
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Definition
| Symbiosis in which in which both individuals gain fitness |
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Term
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Definition
| optimum productive rates that do not threaten the health of our ecosystems (do not diminish the lands capacity for replenishment) |
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Term
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Definition
| The difference between birth rate and death rate (negative or positive) |
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Term
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Definition
| refers to a multi-stage transitional period whereby a population shifts from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates. |
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Term
| Demographic Transition STAGE 1: “Preindustrial” |
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Definition
| high births because of a need for many children to work on farms and provide for post senility parents. Low Tech, poor medical care and sanitation, high death rate = low population growth. |
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Term
| Demographic Transition STAGE 2: “Transitional” – |
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Definition
| high birth rate continues, but now, technology begins to improve social and economic conditions so that death rates drop sharply and the population begins to grow rapidly.(India, Africa) |
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Term
| Demographic Transition STAGE 3: “Industrial” |
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Definition
| Natural Resources are rapidly exploited to support massive economic growth and the economy is converted from ag based to Industrial (manufacturing) based. Signaled by declining birth rates because large families are no longer needed, higher standard of living is available for smaller families, and social constraints limit numbers of children. Education and emancipation of woman put additional limitations on the number of children that can be produced (delayed marriage |
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Term
| Demographic Transition STAGE 4: “Postindustrial” |
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Definition
| Economy is base on established, growing industry. Standard of living is high, birth and death rates are low. Environmentalism (and consequently, conservation) becomes an important social issue. |
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Term
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Definition
Occurs at stage 2 when death rates drop because of improved medical technology and sanitation, but are unable to “industrialize” because :
1) inadequately trained workforce
2) inadequate natural resources to sustain industrial growth
3) Population grows faster than industrialization can improve economy
4) Inadequate financial capital |
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Term
| Malthusian Overpopulation |
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Definition
| population increases faster than food resources resulting in widespread starvation |
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Term
| Technological Overpopulation |
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Definition
| people do not starve, but die from the pollution generated by their technology. Per capita energy use. |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
an adverse after-effect of irrigating land that has poor drainage
properties. Evaporation of water containing small amounts of salts causes a gradual salt accumulation which eventually renders the soil unsuitable for crop production. |
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Term
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Definition
| source of different strains used for genetic engineering. Can come from strains currently under cultivation or from remote regions of the world (e.g. Tropical Rainforests) |
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Term
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Definition
| Provided a method for farmers to withdraw 18 million hectares of farmland out of production. Most of this was Marginal land where agricultural practices were causing severe environmental damage (mostly erosion but also pollution of water) |
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Term
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Definition
| positively charged ions, including many soil nutrients such as Calcium (Ca+), Magnesium (Mg+), Potassium (K+), and Iron (Fe+). Also includes metal ions like Aluminum (Al+) |
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Term
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Definition
| The small negatively charged clay particles in soil. Site of Cation exchange between plants and soil |
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Term
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Definition
| the attraction of cations to the surface of clay particles in the soil. |
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Term
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Definition
| the arrangement or grouping of soil particles into clusters or aggregates. |
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Term
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Definition
| dark colored material consisting of decayed organic mater. Formation is best in moist cool climates (opposite of desserts). Grasslands are better than forests but cultivated lands tend to be the worst |
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Term
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Definition
| A measure of how acidic or basic the soil. Calculated by measuring the concentration H+ in the soil. |
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Term
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Definition
| the ability of a soil to supply nutrients in amounts and forms required for maximum plant growth |
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Term
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Definition
| a chemical element required for the normal growth of plants. |
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Term
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Definition
| essential nutrients needed in large amounts – Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, oxygen, potassium, sulfur, calcium, and magnesium. |
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Term
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Definition
| essential nutrients needed only in small quatities – Mangeanese, copper, chlorine, molybdenum, zinc, iron, and boron. 70 grams of Molybdenum in 2.5 acres of farmland |
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Term
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Definition
| is a grass or legume that is plowed into the soil or surface-mulched at the end of the growing season to enhance soil productivity and texture. |
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Term
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Definition
| A cycle created by an over-reliance on chemical pesticides that leads to a spiraling increase in pest resistance and pesticide use |
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Term
| Integrated Pest Management |
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Definition
An attempt to control pests, rather than eradicating them, by combining several techniques including:
Biological Pest Control
Genetic engineered, pest resistant varieties Farm practices that help prevent pest outbreaks (crop rotation, conservation tillage, planting times, etc) |
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Term
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Definition
| A chemical that kills rodents |
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Term
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Definition
| a chemical that kills fish |
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Term
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Definition
| A chemical that kills birds |
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Term
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Definition
| a chemical that kills vertebrate predators |
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Term
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Definition
| (e.g., DDT, endrin, dieldrin, mirex, heptachlor, chlordane. Contains chlorine atoms (usually C, H, and Cl). Efective at killing human and crop pests. Alter nervous system function; many sub-lethal effects |
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Term
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Definition
| (e.g., malathion, parathion) Contain P group more water soluble and easily broken down (low persistence and bioaccumulation) Neurotoxin that can adversely affect human health |
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Term
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Definition
| (e.g., sevin [carbaryl]) Biodegrad even more quickly (days to weeks). Lower mammalian toxicity |
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Term
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Definition
| A cycle created by an over-reliance on chemical pesticides that leads to a spiraling increase in pest resistance and pesticide use |
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Term
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Definition
| concentrate in organisms (especially fat), hydrophobic |
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Term
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Definition
| concentrations increase of chemicals with each trophic level |
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Term
| Integrated Pest Management |
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Definition
An attempt to control pests, rather than eradicating them, by combining several techniques including: Biological Pest Control Genetic engineered, pest resistant varieties
Farm practices that help prevent pest outbreaks (crop rotation, conservation tillage, planting times, etc) |
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Term
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Definition
| the process of defining wetland boundaries for legal purposes. |
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Term
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Definition
| water loving plants found in freshwater marshes such as grasses, reeds, cattails, sedges, rushes, floating and submergent species |
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Term
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Definition
| the evaporation of water from the breathing pores on plant leaves (transpiration) plus normal evaporation of water the Earth’s surface |
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Term
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Definition
| a stream that flows into a larger river or lake |
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Term
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Definition
| the entire area drained by a single river system (including all the branching tributaries) |
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Term
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Definition
| organic soil consisting of layers of partially decomposed plant material that form under anaerobic soil conditions resulting from standing water or poor drainage |
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Term
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Definition
| a corridor of land on either side of a stream or river that constitutes a transitional zone between terrestrial and wetland ecosystems |
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Term
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Definition
| freshwater ecosystems dominated by standing water (e.g. lakes) |
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Term
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Definition
| freshwater ecosystems dominated by flowing water (e.g. streams) |
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Term
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Definition
| the shallow, near-shore margin of a lake. Characterized by rooted vegetation which provides habitat for many fish, particularly juveniles. |
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Term
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Definition
| plants that are rooted beneath the water but extend above the water: Cattails, bull rushes, reeds… |
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Term
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Definition
| may be rooted (or completely floating) but the leaves of the plant float on the water surface: Water lilies, duckweed… |
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Term
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Definition
| plants that are completely underwater, such as pond weed, milfoil |
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Term
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Definition
| Tiny plants and animals (phytoplankton + zooplankton) that live suspended in the water column and form the base of the food chain in most aquatic ecosystems |
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Term
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Definition
| Tiny green plants (algae) that live suspended in the water column and provide the most important source of primary productivity of aquatic ecosystems |
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Term
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Definition
| Tiny crustaceans, also suspended in the water column, that graze on the phytoplankton are zooplankton (Copepods, daphnia, and rotifers) |
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Term
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Definition
| the region of open water beyond the littoral zone that extends from the surface to the maximum depth of sunlight penetration |
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Term
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Definition
| the depth in a lake at which photosynthesis balances respiration. It marks the boundary between the limnetic zone and the profundal zone |
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Term
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Definition
| the bottom zone of a lake that extends from the lake bottom upward to the limnetic zone. Too dark for photosynthesis |
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Term
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Definition
| the upper layer of a lake characterized by a temperature gradient <1 C per meter of depth |
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Term
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Definition
| the relatively narrow middle layer of water in a lake that form in summer, characterized by a temperature gradient >1 C per meter of depth. Separates the epilimnion from the hypolimnion |
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Term
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Definition
| The cold bottom layer of a lake located below the thermocline that has a temperature gradient <1 C per meter of depth |
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Term
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Definition
| A like that turns over twice each year (Northern Latitudes) |
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Term
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Definition
| the study of how water flows through the landscape |
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Term
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Definition
| the upper level of water-saturated ground |
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Term
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Definition
| the various fluctuations in the duration and depth of flooding events throughout the year in an inland freshwater marsh |
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Term
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Definition
| a graphical representation of the hydroperiod |
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Term
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Definition
| the evaporation of water from the breathing pores of a plant leaf |
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Term
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Definition
| the combined processes by which liquid water is converted to gas from either direct evaporation or through transpiration |
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Term
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Definition
| any contamination of water (chemical, physical, nutrient, or biological) that lessens its value to humans and/or nature |
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Term
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Definition
| sources are dispersed over large areas such as farmlands, grazing lands, roadsides, cities, etc. Lots of small inputs that add up within a watershed. |
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Term
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Definition
| source is in a well-defined location such as coal fired power plants, coal mines, chemical manufacturing plants, etc. Usually easy (but expensive) to prevent with modern pollution control technology (e.g. smoke stack scrubbers) |
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Term
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Definition
| First stage of sewage treatment that removes settleable solids from sewage and reduces BOD or wastewater by about 90 %. |
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Term
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Definition
| Second stage of sewage treatment that uses mechanical and biological methods (bacteria) to remove phosphates and nitrates. |
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Term
| Second stage of sewage treatment that uses mechanical and biological methods (bacteria) to remove phosphates and nitrates. |
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Definition
| Most advanced type of sewage treatment that removes nearly all organic and inorganic nutrients prior to discharge |
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Term
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Definition
| A measure of the organic matter in water samples based on oxygen depletion resulting from bacterial decomposition |
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Term
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Definition
| The enrichment of an aquatic ecosystem with nutrients (phosphates and nitrates), that promote biological productivity (growth of algae and aquatic weeds) |
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Term
| IFQ: Individual Fishery Quota: |
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Definition
| distributed among fishermen with a history in the Fishery. New fishermen must purchase existing IFQ from other fishermen already in the fishery. |
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Term
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Definition
| The number of fish that escape harvest to reproduce and replenish the population |
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Term
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Definition
| I.E. a closed fishery. Limits the number of fishermen allowed to enter the fishery. |
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Term
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Definition
| Created when seasonal closures are used to limit harvest in an open access fishery. Fishermen harvest fish at a frenzied pace before the season is closed. |
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Term
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Definition
| Marine life that is caught incidentally in a commercial fishery. Usually discarded dead |
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Term
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Definition
| the deposition of water born sediment in streams and lakes that leads to the degradation of fish spawning habitat resulting by covering spawning substrate |
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Term
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Definition
| a measure of the suspended sediment in water (water clarity). |
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Term
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Definition
| the deepening and straighten of a river channel to facilitate ship navigation, flood control, or water diversion. |
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Term
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Definition
| the ruin of a shared, public resource (a commons) because of unrestricted accesscoupled with economic necessity. (If I don't, my competitor will) |
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Term
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Definition
| Managing an area to meet many different human needs |
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Term
| Multiple Use Sustained Yield Act 1960 |
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Definition
| Mandated that the U.S. Forest to make the greatest number of forest resources available to the greatest number of people |
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Term
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Definition
| Tree species that require direct sunlight for germination and growth (e.g. red oak, Douglas fir, Redwoods,(and many other pines), aspen, cherry, black walnut, |
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Term
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Definition
| Tree species that can grow in the shade of the forest understory. In the absence of disturbance, these trees eventually outgrow the shade intolerant and become the climax species (forest succession) |
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Term
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Definition
| method of timber harvest that harvests all trees within a given area at once. (Best for shade intolerant) |
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Term
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Definition
| harvest of only the highest quality mature trees from a forest using while leaving less valuable trees in tact. |
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Term
| Controlled burn (4 reasons) |
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Definition
(1) improve wildlife habitat (herbaceous plant growth)
(2) timber quality (removes dead and diseased trees)
(3) livestock forage (promotes herbaceous plant growth),
(4) and to reduce future wild fire hazards by reducing fuel |
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Term
|
Definition
| The natural climax community of a forest that is frequently disturbed by fire |
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Term
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Definition
| is a sustainable method of harvesting trees that employs a cycle of planting and cutting to balance harvest and regrowth over a period of many years |
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Term
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Definition
| a recognized protected area where the earth and its community of life are completely free of human interference |
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Term
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Definition
| The breaking up of contiguous areas of wildlife habitat often by home building, farming, or other human activities. |
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Term
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Definition
| Tiny patches of natural habitat that have become isolated by habitat fragmentation. |
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Term
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Definition
| an ecological approach to resource management that embraces the notion of multiple use but also requires actions that restrict or limit human activities as needed to protect natural ecosystem processes. |
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Term
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Definition
Federal act passed in 1973, which requires the US Fish and
Wildlife Service to identify species that are endangered or threatened based on population size and rate of decline. |
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Term
| Habitat Conservation Plan |
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Definition
| documents that outline what parties will do to ensure that their activities won’t affect the survival or recovery of an endangered or threatened species |
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Term
| CITES- Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species: |
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Definition
| International treaty endorsed by 150 nations that bans the hunting, capture or sale of endangered and threatened species. |
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Term
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Definition
| Scientific management of natural resources in which management strategies may be modified as the results of the assessment of management tools become known. |
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Term
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Definition
| A species which if lost, results in the loss of many other species. (E.G. wolves, beavers, cougars, gopher tortoise) |
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Term
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Definition
| Theoretical maximum rate of population growth given unlimited resources. |
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Term
| Environmental Resistance: |
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Definition
| all factors that reduce rates of reproduction, growth, and survival. (e.g.: weather, predation, disease, competition for food, cover, reproductive habitat) |
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Term
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Definition
| any factor that limits population irrespective of the population size within a given habitat (E.G. weather related factors like, drought, unusually hot or cold spells, storm events) |
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Term
| Density-Dependent Factors |
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Definition
| any factor whose influence in controlling population size increases or decreases depending on the density of a population |
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Term
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Definition
| the region where 2 or more ecosystems come together (also known as edge) |
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Term
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Definition
| Rates of Growth, Reproduction, and Survival (mortality) within a population |
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Term
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Definition
| an excavation or hollow in the ground lined with an impermeable clay or plastic liner into which garbage is dumped, compacted and covered daily with a fresh layer of dirt |
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Term
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Definition
| chemical substances that adversely affect a wide array of organisms by causing birth defects, debilitating illness, or death. |
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Term
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Definition
| A clear, colorless, odorless, gas produced by the incomplete combustion of organic substances such as coal or oil. |
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Term
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Definition
| A chemical produced by the combustion of organic materials including oil, coal, natural gas and wood. |
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Term
|
Definition
| Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards |
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Term
|
Definition
| A device that produces electricity from oxygen and hydrogen |
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Term
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Definition
| Air pollutant produced during combustion of any organic material. Nitrogen Dioxide, combines with water vapor to form nitric acid. |
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Term
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Definition
| A gaseous component of the outer atmosphere (stratosphere) with shields life on earth from harmful UltraViolet radiation from the sun. |
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Term
|
Definition
| Ozone that is produced in the lower atmosphere when chemical from car and power plants react in the presence of sunlight to produce photochemical smog. |
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Term
|
Definition
| the type of smog that has plagues LA and other major cities worldwide. Forms as a result of the action of sunlight on the hydrocarbon and nitrogen oxide emissions from automobiles and other industrial sources. |
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Term
|
Definition
| Refers to measures like smokestack scrubbers that reduce pollution emitted by a pollution source. In many cases, pollution control devices merely capture pollutants, which them must be disposed of elsewhere |
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Term
| Electrostatic Precipitator |
|
Definition
| A device used to remove particulates from smokestack gasses |
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