ENVIRON 201- Midterm Exam

the process where, over time, characteristics(traits) lead to better reproductive success- then these traits become more prevalent in the population gene pool

Adaptation

a trait that promotes reproductive success

Adaptive trait (adaptation)

___________ (wealth) increases human consumption, therefore increasing our ecological footprint.

Affluence

This is defined as species formation due to physical separation of populations.

Allopatric speciation

Which strategy of Env. Management is the idea that "wilderness is the preservation of our world" (emphasizes the fundamental right of nature's organisms to exist and pursue their own interests)? Give an example.

Altruistic Preservation i.e. National Parks

the process of selection conducted under human direction

Artificial Selection

What are the basic steps of fracking and some of the public concerns over this extraction method?

Basic steps: -fluid pumped into rock at high pressures -rock is fractured -gas/oil is released public concerns: methane leaking into water sources and well. but, it lowers prices of gas and is cleaner than coal which is more toxic.

a particular tendency or inclination, especially one that prevents unprejudiced consideration of a question

Bias

The idea that theories become validated as more and more evidence is gather that supports the theory and little evidence to contradict the theory. (Evidence that contradicts a well-established theory needs to be highly validated, and forms paradigm shift)

Burden of evidence

Process where two species evolve over time in response to one another (has been called an evolutionary arms race).

Coevolution

This concept relates to the fact that selective pressures influence adaptation, and is when unrelated species may acquire similar traits because they live in similar environments.

Convergent evolution

Which department manages the National Forests?

Department of Agriculture (uses conservation)

Which department manages the National Parks?

Department of Interior (uses preservation)

Which strategy of Env. Management is the idea that we need to control nature to improve human conditions? typically leads to deforestation, over-hunting, over-fishing, resource depletion. "nature needs to be tamed; exists solely for our benefit" give example

Domination of Nature i.e. "tragedy of the commons"

What is the ESA and what are its 2 main goals?

ESA= Endangered Species Act -goal is to prevent extinction by stabilizing declining populations and enabling populations to recover.

the environmental impact of a person or population

Ecological footprint

the study of the relationships between organisms and their environment, both living and nonliving.

Ecology

species that are considered in imminent danger of extinction

Endangered species

Why would a species endemic to a single mountain range be more at risk of extinction than an organism that is a generalist and can live many different places?

Endemic species are extra vulnerable to extinction because they are restricted to certain areas that are very small in size. If any env. change occurs they could be wiped out completely.

What does the concept, "energy flows, matter cycles" mean?

Energy is released as heat in one-way flow through system, matter is conserved and cycles within system.

circumstances or conditions that surround an organism

Environment

the systematic study of the environment and our place in it

Environmental Science

The application of ethical standards to relationships between human and nonhuman entities.

Environmental ethics

A system of moral principles (criteria that help differentiate right from wrong)

Ethics

what is the idea of "mean changes over time," and more specifically, what is "genetic change in populations over time"?

Evolution Biological Evolution

What is defined as "readily observable evidence"?

Fact

How many trophic levels? Which kind of organisms are on each level?

First level= Producers (i.e. plant) Second level= Primary consumers (i.e. rat) Third level= Secondary consumers (i.e. snake) Fourth level= Tertiary consumers(i.e. eagle)

Compare and contrast food chains and food webs; which is a more accurate representation of the natural world?

Food webs are more accurate bc they consist of many interconnected food chains. evaluate many consumption relationships

What kind of species have broad niches? hint: They use a wide array of habits and resources and can live in many different places.

Generalists

definition of GPI

Genuine Progress Indicator (how happy we are)

definition of GDP

Gross Domestic Product (how much we make)

What is the general theory of climate change?

Humans have emitted large quantities of CO2 and other GHGs, which has increased atmospheric GHG concentrations, which has led to an increase in average global temperature. (increased GHG has led to an increase in global temperature)

What is IPAT equation and what does it help us understand?

Impact= Population*Affluence*environmental effect of Technology*Sensitivity of area impacted. helps us gauge an understanding of our environmental impact by using this equation.

What is the IPCC and what do they do? what is their main goal?

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (a scientific body under the United Nations) -don't carry out their own research but engages with the global scientific community. VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS -main goal: to achieve scientific consensus

Competition between individuals in 2 different species to fight for the same resource in an ecosystem is called _____________ competition.

Interspecific

Competition between individuals in a population to fight for the same resource in an ecosystem is called _____________ competition.

Intraspecific

Which competition is more aggressive, intraspecific or interspecific? Why?

Intraspecific is more aggressive because individuals in the same population are more likely to cross over shared resources than individuals of 2 diff. species.

This relates to the idea that living things/biodiversity are not distributed evenly on earth; this concept is the fact that species richness increases toward the equator.

Latitudinal gradient of species diversity

What is defined as "Indisputable principles that govern the universe"? Hints: -Very few, must be 'sound proofs' or mathematical equations -may have once been theories

Law

An individual or society's distinction between right and wrong

Morals

accidental changes in DNA that may be passed on to the next generation

Mutations

traits that enhance survival and reproduction are passed on more frequently to future generations than those that do not

Natural Selection

an organism's use of resources, along with its functional role in a community. This includes habitat use, food selection, role in energy and nutrient flow, interactions with other individuals.

Niche

Is Environmental Science the same thing as Environmentalism?

No

Controversial ecological issues usually lead to ecological and societal conflicts. Are these conflicts easy to solve? Why or why not?

No, there is no easy/single right answer. the benefit to one is often the detriment to the other.

Are theories proven?

No. They will never be definitely proven.

Is all coal the same quality? If not, how do they differ?

Not all coal is the same. If coal has high sulfur (S) content, sulfur dioxide (SO2) will be released when burned, which could lead to acid rain or respiratory issues.

A personal belief or judgement (what you think we "should" do)

Opinion

dramatic upheaval in thought that changes the dominant viewpoint

Paradigm shift

a group of individuals of a species that live in the same area

Population

What are R-selected species? give an example

Produce many young, little or no parental care, young are density independent, matures fast, reproduces quickly, dies quickly. example= dandelions

Why is there a movement to protect ecosystems instead of individual species?

Protecting entire ecosystems may help save many more species and will maintain ecosystems functions

Which strategy of Env. Management involves the use of resources for the greatest good of the largest number over the longest time ("Multiple Use Management")? give example

Resource (utilitarian) Conservation i.e. US Forest Service

What is defined as "a systematic process for learning about the world and testing our understanding of it"?

Science

What kinds of species have narrow niches and specific needs? hint: They are extremely good at what they do, but are vulnerable when conditions change.

Specialists

what is 'a population or group of populations (aka Biological Species Concept)'? hint: their members share characteristics; they can breed with one another to produce FERTILE offspring

Species

What is defined as "Probable cause-and-effect relationships of the evidence that has been observed"? Hint: they must be repeatedly tested through variety of hypotheses

Theory

species that are likely to become endangered, at least locally, within the foreseeable future.

Threatened species

Which 2 countries have larger ecological footprints compared to the rest of the world?

United States and Canada

species that are naturally rare or have been locally depleted by human activities to a level that puts them at risk.

Vulnerable species

What is the concept of species coexistence? Provide an example.

When coexisting species' niche differ from each other in some way (a result of competition). i.e. example of natural selection

What is competitive exclusion? Provide an example.

When one species excludes another from using the resource (a result of competition). i.e. Zebra mussels in the Great Lakes

what do you call a biogeographic region with significant levels of biodiversity that is threatened with destruction?

a Biodiversity hotspot

What is the tragedy of the commons on a shared-resource?

a situation in a shared-resource system where individual users act independently according to their own self-interests; behave contrary to the common good of all users by depleting or spoiling that resource through their collective action.

How common are harmful algal blooms and what do they do?

about 2% of phytoplankton produce HABs. they emit neurotoxins and other toxins that can make shellfish/other organisms become toxic themselves if the organisms uptake the phytoplankton.

Why is mitigation more difficult to fund than adaptation efforts? Which is more costly and why?

adaptation is more costly because -mitigation is more difficult to fund because preventative economics are more difficult to sell politically.

How do algal blooms lead to dead zones?

algal blooms-> increased production of organic matter that dies and sinks-> decomposition and loss of dissolved oxygen-> fish and aquatic bacteria cannot survive w/o oxygen-> leads to dead zones/anoxia/eutrophication

what is carbon sequestration?

an artificial process that removes carbon from the atmosphere and turns it into a liquid or solid form

Why is coal used so commonly used for electricity generation in the world?

because it's the world's most abundant fossil fuel, also cheaper than natural gas; requires an easy process.

Why are there only 3 or 4 consumers in a typical food chain?

because organisms in each trophic level passes on less and less energy to the next trophic levels, than they receive.

What do genetic changes/biological evolution lead to?

changes in appearance, functioning or behavior over generations

How will coral reefs be impacted by climate change?

co2 rises which will lower pH levels, which increases acidity of water, which kills exoskeletons/shells like coral & shellfish.

Which is more toxic an extraction method, fracking from coal, or shale gas?

coal by a landslide. also has a ton more accidental release than shale gas.

What condition does coal form from versus what condition does oil form from?

coal- forms from woody terrestrial vegetation dying in an ancient swamp oil- forms from phytoplankton, zooplankton, and other marine organisms dying on ancient ocean floor

study of the factors behind the loss, protection, and restoration of biodiversity

conservation biology (conservation biologists integrate evolution, extinction, ecology, and environmental systems to develop solutions to habitat degradation and species loss)

What would happen to matter if detritivores and decomposers were absent in a community?

dead material would accumulate and other important nutrients (i.e. carbon) would not be released back into the atmosphere. producers would not have enough nutrients, which would hurt the whole system.

Humans are not separate from nature. With this in mind fill in the blanks: Nearly everything that occurs in human society ____________ on the natural world. Nearly everything that occurs in human society ___________ the natural world.

depends and affects the natural world

examples of Theories:

evolution, climate change, relativity, big bang

What happens to resource use as countries become more developed?

expanding wealth leads to increased consumption of resources.

people who are biased may fail to truly consider all ____________.

facts

The Scientific Method guards against ______________ research.

faulty (includes peer review, publication, competition for funding) -still need to look critically . at published papers and especially media reports

How/why does empowerment to people (especially women) reduce fertility rates?

fertility rates fall where women are freer to decide whether and when to have children. Also children are better cared for, healthier, and better educated in these situations.

Adaptation focuses on:

focuses on learning to live with the environmental changes and societal consequences brought about by global climate change.

mitigation focuses on:

focuses on limiting greenhouse gas emissions to moderate global climate change

genotype versus phenotype: which one's which? A) visible, expressed traits B) genetic makeup of an individual

genotype= genetic makeup of an individual phenotype= visible, expressed traits (can have large phenotypical variation among members of same species)

What are some of major reasons humans are living longer in some nations?

good sanitation, health care, and food has increased life expectancies.

Why would populations with high genetic diversity be more resilient to environmental change or disease/why would populations low genetic div. be more vulnerable?

high genetic diversity enables some individuals to adapt to the environment while maintaining the survival of the population. low genetic diversity lessens the chance of survival with a change in env.- for example, population will be in danger if no individuals have the trait to fight off change or disease.

genetically similar parents mate and produce inferior offspring; can be a result of a lack of genetic diversity (ie. dogs)

inbreeding depression

How will polar bears be impacted by climate change?

increase in temp. leads to destruction of habitat which disturbs/kills polar bears

What are atleast 3 effects of climate change that we are seeing right now?

increasing temperature, rising sea level, increase in droughts/fires/floods, increased precipitation

Why are questions related to environmental ethics hard to resolve?

it depends on the person's ethical standards and domain of ethical concern

What is the Dead Zone in the Gulf of Mexico and what human activity causes the majority of this phenomenon?

its 5-7k square miles in the Gulf of Mexico; less than 2 ppm of dissolved O2 in the water- fish heavily stressed. Formed from agricultural runoff predominantly.

What is natural gas and how do we get it today?

natural gas= methane (CH4). -a fossil fuel -often co-produced with oil -cleaner burning than coal/oil methods to get it: developed to exploit resources of "shale gas" through a process called hydraulic fracturing

Fact or Opinion?: Based on genetic, biological, and archeological evidence, most scientists believe that humans and chimpanzees evolved from a common historic ancestor.

neither- THEORY

Which fossil fuel is not a common fuel source for electrical energy in the world? Why?

oil, because

How much energy is typically transferred between trophic levels? Where does the other energy go?

only ~10% of energy from each trophic level is transferred to the next trophic level. the rest of the energy is lost largely as heat due to metabolic processes.

What is coal ash and why is it a danger to the environment and human health?

powdery substance left over after burning coal (toxic byproduct). danger to human health and environment bc its toxic substances can affect/poison drinking water, food, and air.

Which are K-selected species? give an example

produce few offspring, tend to reproduce later in life (longer generations), show much parental care and protection of youth, young are density dependent, vey competitive species (relatively small population of big/strong individuals that can compete for resources). example= elephants

3 examples of adaptation:

sea level- move inland to avoid rising sea level agriculture- develop and plant more drought resistant crops species loss- assist efforts of species loss where possible

What is one way coal power plants are limiting their co2 output into the environment?

sequester carbon by capturing and storing co2. which pumps co2 into the ground to extract oil.

formula for calculating number of species live on Earth:

speciation #s- extinction #s

the number or variety of species in a particular region. -the number of species is called __________. -the similarity in numbers between species is called __________.

species diversity -called richness -called Evenness(relative abundance)

Who is Thomas Malthus and what did his research focus on?

studied human population and believed: humans cannot increase food production as rapidly as needed to match population growth. population is limited by positive check (shorter life) and preventative check (reduced birth). lastly, believed technology could not save us.

example of Law:

thermodynamics

What are photovoltaic cells and how (very generally) do they work?

these cells convert sunlight directly into electrical energy. the photovoltaic (photoelectric) effects occurs when light hits the PV cell and hits a plate made of silicon. released electrons attract to the opposite plate. wires connecting the 2 plates let electrons flow, creating an electric current. -cells that make up solar panels

goal of the Paris Climate Agreement:

to limit global temperature rise to under 2 degrees Celcius.

What is the overall goal of the Environmental Science Spectrum?

to solve environmental problems

What are some materials produced by burning coal that contribute to air pollution?

toxic chemicals (mercury) smog chemicals (nitrous oxide) acid rain chemicals (sulfur dioxide) GHG (carbon dioxide)

adaptation/ why it's more expensive?

treating symptoms rather than prevention

what are some common limiting factors to populations?

water space food predators disease

What are the 4 main greenhouses gasses? Which one is the main GHG?

water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide, methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). main= CO2

How do humans create algal blooms, which lead to dead zones, or anoxic/eutrophic conditions?

we use huge amounts of fertilizer for agricultural practices; it runs off agricultural lands and become nutrients for phytoplankton; this excess of nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus) lead to "blooming" of algae.

What was atmospheric CO2 at pre-industrial levels and what is it at today (within 10 ppm)?

went from 280 ppm to 410 ppm (increased A LOT)

How much of our energy generated within the US is produced from fossil fuels?

~65% (more natural gas than coal, we barely get energy from oil/petroleum though)

How much of energy generated within Michigan is produced from fossil fuels?

~70% fossil fuels (more energy from coal than natural gas although decreasing)

species that, when protected, also help protect other, less charismatic species. (often large species that need large amounts of habitat; protecting their habitat automatically protects others.)

"Umbrella" species

What is carrying capacity and how is that influenced by limiting factors?

-Carrying capacity is the maximum population size of a species that its environment can sustain. -Limiting factors slow and stop exponential growth.

What are the three causes of biodiversity endangerment/loss?

-Habitat losses/destruction/fragmentation -exotic species introduction(?) -exploitation(i.e. killing animals for feathers, fur)

List the 4 factors of population change:

-Natality -Mortality -Immigration -Emigration

list 3 umbrella species:

-Northern spotted owl (protects mollusks and salamanders) -Siberian tiger (protects deer, boar moose) -Panda bear (protects birds, forest mammals, and amphibians)

What are some key features of ecological management of natural areas (the 4th major strategy to environmental management)?

-Retain functioning natural systems -Focuses on species interactions -Humans as part of ecosystem, not simply stewards -Thinking toward sustainability

What types of conditions in nature can lead to exponential growth of a population?

-Small populations -Low competition -Ideal conditions -New environment

What is "fracking"?

-a method of obtaining natural gas (hydraulic fracking/hydrofracking)

factors that affect rates of fertility?

-access to family planning -rates of infant mortality -levels of women's rights -level of affluence (wealth) -importance of child labor -government support for retirees

trends in global production and US production of GHG:

-biggest contributor to increase in GHG is electricity -production of GHGs are increasing exponentially

What are 3 causes of biodiversity endangerment/loss?

-degradation of ecosystem -loss of food sources -medicine

What are some environmental and human health impacts of mining coal?

-environmental impacts: air and water pollution, sink holes, erosion. -human impacts: black lung disease, heart diseases, fatal injuries, worker safety.

Explain how coal and other fossil fuels are formed.

-formed from organisms that lived 100-500 million years ago. basically organisms die, are decomposed by microbes under accumulating sediments, kerogen forms. Heat and pressure deep underground alter kerogen in anaerobic conditions. -"Fossilized sunlight" ?? Coal, natural gas, and oil are all formed the same way (diff. geological conditions leads to diff. types of fossil fuels).

Why is climate such a complex system?

-includes both positive and negative feedback loops; has natural cycles like El Nino/ La Nina, ice ages) and normal variations (i.e. droughts, hurricanes, warm/cool years). also solar radiation, greenhouse gases

2 goals of the ESA:

-stabilize declining populations -enable populations to recover

Why Study Ecological Issues?

-the health of our natural world affects the health of human society -we need to understand the ecological problems so we can work towards solutions

What are ecological services and what are atleast 5 good examples of it for a given environment?

-the process by which natural environments provide life supporting resources 5 examples: soil formation, pollination, food provision, water supply, climate regulation

What are some materials . produced by burning coal that contribute to air pollution?

-toxic chemicals (mercury) -smog chem. (nitrogen oxides) -acid rain chem. (sulfur dioxide) -greenhouse gases (CO2)

List the 6 steps of The Scientific Method

1) Observation (made by scientist) 2) Questions (scientist questions a certain phenomenon) 3) Hypothesis (formulated by scientist) 4) Predictions (generated from hypothesis) 5) Test Hypothesis 6) Test Results (these either support or reject the hypothesis)

What are the 3 natural fluctuations of the Earth relative to the Sun that create variations in climate? AKA the three parts of the Milankovitch cycles.

1. Axial wobble (axial precession) 2. Variation of tilt (Obliquity) 3. Variation of orbit (Eccentricity)

How does electricity generation work in a coal power plant? (just the basics)

1. Burn fuel to heat water 2. create steam 3. Steam turns turbine 4. Turbine induces magnetic field, produces current

3 examples of mitigation:

1. Consume fewer fossil fuels by seeking alternative energy options. 2. sequester carbon by capturing and storing carbon dioxide at power plants 3. sequester carbon by replanting and managing forests (sequestering carbon drains the bathtub faster)

List the 4 Environmental Management Strategies

1. Domination of Nature 2. Altruistic Preservation 3. Resource (utilitarian) Conservation 4. Ecological Management

List the 4 assumptions/criteria of Natural Selection

1. Overproduction 2. Variation 3. Limits on Population Growth 4. Differential Reproductive Success

What are 2 ways Co2 is naturally taken out of Earth's atmosphere?

1. absorbed by plants through photosynthesis 2. absorbed by oceans

How does electricity generation work in a coal power plant?

1. burn fuel to heat water 2. creates steam 3. steam turns turbine 4. turbine induces magnetic field, produces current

3 drawbacks to solar power:

1. not all regions are equally sunny 2. the sun is an intermittent resource (day and season variation) 3. solar is most expensive form of electricity

What are 5 individual activities you could do to reduce your energy needs? Which would save the most energy?

1. turn off lights & power strips 2. unplug appliances and chargers when not in use 3. use natural light when possible 4. take stairs over elevator 5. turn OFF computer at night (rather than let it hibernate)

What are 3 ways we can improve the environmental impact of our stuff?

1. using less stuff 2. making our stuff more efficient 3. improving environmental performance of energy systems (i.e. use more alternative energy sources)

What are 3 ways zebra and quagga mussels have impacted industry and biodiversity in North America, especially the United States?

1. zebra mussels clog water intake pipes of power plants & industrial facilities ($$) 2. suffocate native clams/mussel species 3. shifted open-water species downstream and littoral species upstream.

What is the climate gap?

3rd world countries struggle to deal with effects of climate change/ are impacted more than we are, even though we are the ones producing it most. "Those who will be most affected by climate change impacts have the least control"

Theories are: A) well tested and widely accepted B) not well tested nor widely accepted

A