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Environmental Biology
Environmental Biology test 1
56
Environmental Studies
Not Applicable
10/18/2007

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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
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.
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