APES Key Concepts
US National Parks
US National Parks were set aside specifically to protect ecosystems
Endangered Species Act
a 1973 US act that implements CITES, designed to protect species from extinction
Convention on Biological Diversity
a 1992 international treaty formed to help protect biodiversity
Lacey Act
a US act that prohibits interstate shipping of illegally harvested plants and animals
Environmental Protection Agency
a US government agency that creates federal policy and oversees enforcement of regulations related to the environment, including science, research, assessment, and education
Hubbert Curve
a bell-shaped curve representing oil use and projecting both when world oil production will reach a maximum and when we will run out of oil
Carbon monoxide
a colorless, odorless gas that is formed during incomplete combustion of most matter and therefore is a common emission in vehicle exhaust and most other combustion processes
Ozone (O3)
a colorless, unstable toxic gas with a pungent odor and powerful oxidizing properties, formed from oxygen by electrical discharges or UV light
Food Web
a complex model of how energy and matter between trophic levels interact
Sulfur Oxides (SOx)
a corrosive gas that comes primarily from combustion of fuels such as coal and oil
Pesticide Treamill
a cycle of pesticide development, followed by pest resistance, followed by new pesticide development
Bitumen
a degraded petroleum that forms when petroleum migrates to the surface of earth and is modified by bacteria
Individual Transferable Quotas
a fishery management program in which individual fishers are given a total allowable catch of fish in a season that they can either catch or sell
Water Logging
a form of soil degradation that occurs when a soil remains underwater
Salination
a form of soil degradation that occurs when the small amounts of salts on the soil surface through evaporation
Fossil Fuels
a fuel from biological material that became fossilized millions of years ago
Survivorship Curve
a graph that represents distinct patterns of species survival as a function of age
Fecal Coliform Bacteria
a group of microorganisms in the human intestines that can serve as an indicator species for potentially harmful microorganism associated with contamination by sewage
World Health Organization
a group within the United Nations responsible for human health, including combating the spread of infectious diseases and health issues related to natural disasters
Theory
a hypothesis that has been repeatedly tested and confirmed by multiple groups of researchers and has reached wide acceptance
Septic Tank
a large container that receives wastewater from a house as part of a septic system
Turbine
a large device that resembles a fan or jet engine
Mass extinction
a large extinction of species in a relatively short period of time
hazardous waste
a liquid, solid, gaseous, or sludge waste material that is harmful to humans
Asbestos
a long, thin, fibrous silicate mineral with insulating properties
Human Poverty Index
a measure developed by the UN to investigate the proportion of a population suffering from deprivation in a country with a high HDI
Human Development Index
a measure of economic well-being that combines life expectancy, knowledge, education, and standard of living as shown in GDP per capita and purchasing power
Ecological Footprint
a measure of how much that a person consumes, expressed in area of land
Ecological Economics
a method of understanding and managing the economy as a subsystem of both natural and human systems
Ice Core Sampling
a method where scientists use samples of ice to determine the temperature of the Earth many years ago
Ecosystem
a particular location on Earth distinguished by its particular mix of interacting biotic and abiotic components
Precautionary Principle
a principal based on the philosophy that action should be taken against a plausible environmental hazard
Groundwater Recharge
a process by which water percolates through the soil and works its way into an quifer
Positive Feedback Loop
a process in which a change from the normal range of function elicits a response that amplifies or enhances that change
Cellular Respiration
a process that unlocks the chemical energy stored in the cells of organisms. Respiration is the opposite of photosynthesis: cells convert glucose and oxygen into energy, carbon dioxide, and water
Biosphere Reserve
a protected area consisting of zones that vary in the amount of permissible human impact
Commensalism
a relationship between species in which one species benefits and the other species is neither harmed nor helped
Pyramid of Energy
a representation of the distribution of biomass, numbers, or energy among trophic levels
Green Revolution
a shift in agricultural practices in the 20th century that included new management techniques, mechanization, fertilization, irrigation, and improved crop techniques; and resulted in in increased food output
Resource Partitioning
a situation in which two species divide a resource, based on differences in their behavior or morphology
Environmental Justice
a social movement and field of study that works toward equal enforcement of environmental laws and the elimination of disparities in how pollutants and other environmental harms are distributed among the various ethnic and socioeconomic groups within a society
Generalists
a species that can live in a variety of habitats or feed on a variety of species
R- Selected Species
a species that has a high intrinsic growth rate, which often leads to overpopulation overshoots and dies off
Keystone Species
a species that is far more important in its community than its relative abundance might suggest
Native Species
a species that lives in a historical range, where it has for thousands or millions of years
Invasive species
a species that spreads rapidly across large areas
K- Selected Species
a species with low intrinsic growth rate that cause the population to increase slowly until it reaches carrying capacity
Passive Solar design
a technique that takes advantage of solar radiation to maintain a comfortable temperature in the building
Island Biogeography
a theory that demonstrates the dual importance of habitat size and distance in determining species richness
Law
a theory to which there are no known exceptions and which has withstood rigorous testing
Adaptation
a trait that improves an individual's fitness
Hydrogen Fuel Cell
a type of battery with a key difference, electricity is generated by a reaction between two chemical reactants. this requires hydrogen
Hydrogen Bond
a weak chemical bond that forms when hydrogen atoms that are covalently bonded are attracted to another atom on another molecule
Environmental Worldviews
a worldview that encompasses how people think the world works, how they view their role in it, and what they believe to be proper behavior regarding the environment
Acid Depostion
acids deposited on Earth as rain and snow or as gases and particles that attach to the surfaces of plants, soil, and water
Carbon Neutral
an activity that does not change the atmosphere CO2 concentrations
Population Pyramid
an age structured diagram that is widest at the bottom and smallest at the top, typical of developing countries
Integrated Pest Management
an agricultural practice that uses a variety of techniques designed to minimize pesticide inputs
Biophilia
an appreciation for life
Carbon Sequestration
an approach that involves taking CO2 out of the atmosphere
Renewable Energy
an energy source that is either potentially renewable or nondepletable
Total Fertility Rate
an estimate of the number of children that each woman in a population will bear throughout her childbearing years
Bioaccumulation
an increased concentration of a chemical within an organism over time
United Nations
an institution dedicated to promoting dialogue among countries with the goal of maintaining world peace
Genetically Modified Organism (GMO)
an organism produced by copying genes from a species with a desirable trait and inserting them into another species
Genetically Modified Organisms
an organism produced by copying genes from a species with a desirable trait and inserting them into another species
Artesian Well
an underground body of water which requires little to no pumping because it has much pressure exerted on it
E Waste
any discarded electronic or electrical devices or their parts
Wetlands
aquatic biomes that are submerged or saturated by water for at least part of each year
US National Wilderness
areas set aside with the intent of preserving large tracts of intact ecosystems or landscapes
Demographic Transition
as a country moves from a subsistence economy to industrialization and increased affluence, it undergoes a predictable shift in population
Endangered Species
at serious risk of extinction
Distillation (Desalinization)
boiling water to collect collect purified steam
toxic chemicals
carcinogens, neurotoxins, teratogens, allergens, and endocrine disruptors
Ogalala Aquifer
change in water levels from 1950-2005
Global Climate Change
changes in the climate of Earth- the average weather that occurs in an area over a period of years or decades
Endocrine Disruptors
chemicals that interfere with the normal functioning of hormones in an animal's body
Ores
concentrated accumulations of minerals from which economically valuable materials can be extracted
CITES
convention international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora- a 1973 treaty to control the international trade of threatened plants and animals
Sustainable Development
development that balances current human well-being and economic advancement with resource management for the benefit of future generations
Infectious Diseases
diseases caused by infectious agents known as pathogens
Rangelands
dry, open grasslands
High-Quality Energy
energy has a convenient concentrated form so that it does not take too much energy to move it from one place to another
Sanitary Landfill
engineered ground facilities designed to hold Municipal Solid Waste with as little contamination of the surrounding environment as possible
Impact Equation
estimate the impact of human lifestyles on Earth
Clean Water Act
expanded the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and supports the protection of wildlife and restoring water
Dose Response studies
expose animals or plants to different amounts of a chemical and then observe a variety of possible responses including mortality or change in behavior
Coral Reefs
found in warm, shallow waters beyond the shoreline, represent Earth's most diverse marine biome
Nuclear Fuel
fuel derived from radioactive materials that give off energy
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
governs the disposal of solid waste and hazardous waste
Terrestrial Biomes
have a particular combination of annual temperature and annual precipitation and contain distinctive plant growth forms that are adapted to the climate
Malnourished
having a diet that lacks the correct balance of proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals
Inorganic Chemical Water Pollution
heavy metals and other substances that can pose environmental problems for organisms and humans
Synthetic Organic Chemical Water Pollution
human made compounds that can be toxic, cause genetic defects, and, in the case of compounds that resemble animal hormones, interfere with growths and sexual development
Superfund (CERCLA)
imposes a tax on chemical and petroleum companies. this is used to fund cleanup of hazardous waste cites
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)
include nitrogen oxide and nitrogen dioxide; an end result of all forms of combustion in the atmosphere
Multiple-use lands
lands that may be used for recreation, grazing, timber harvesting, and mineral extraction
LD-50
lethal doses that kill 50% of individuals
Biofuels
liquid fuels created from processed or refined biomass
Sustainability
living on Earth in a way that allows us to use its resources w/o depriving future generations of those resources
Three Gorges Dam
located on the Yangtze River in China, it is the world's largest dam
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
mandates an environmental assessment of all projects involving federal money or federal permits
Closed System
matter and energy exchange across a system, boundaries do not occur
High-Quality Matter
matter is more concentrated and easier to extract
Intrinsic value
meaning that it has worth independent of any benefit it may have for humans
Genuine Progress Indicator
measures personal consumption, income distribution, levels of higher education, resource depletion, pollution, and health of the population
El Nino Southern Oscilation
movement of warm water and air toward South America that suppresses upwelling of the coast of Peru and decreases productivity there, reducing fish populations near the coast.
Rain Shadow
occurs where humid winds blowing in rain from inland from the ocean meet a mountain range. on the windward side of the mountains, air rises and cools, and large amounts of water vapor condense to form clouds and precipitation. on the leeward side of the mountains, cold, dry air descends, warms via adiabatic heating, and causes much drier conditions
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)
organic compounds that become vapors at typical atmospheric temperatures
Compost
organic mattter that has decomposed under controlled conditions to produce organic rich material that enhances soil structure, cation exchange capacity, and fertility
Urban Growth
percentage of people living in urban areas
Divergent Plates
plates that move away from each other
Transform Plates
plates that move sideways past each other
Convergent Plates
plates that move towards each other and collide
Carbon Cycle
process of moving carbon through the Earth. for more info see Ch 3
Stockholm Convention
produced a list of 12 chemicals that included pesticides such as DDT and chemicals such as PCB's that were to be banned in 127 countries
Photosynthesis
producers use solar energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose
Saltwater Intrusion
pumping of groundwater adjacent to infiltrate the aquifer
Logistic Growth Model
rapid exponential growth followed by steady decrease until size levels off
Municipal Solid Waste
refuse collected by municipalities from households, small businesses, and institutions
Safe Drinking Water Act
sets national standards for safe drinking water. EPA responsible form Maximum Containment Levels (MCL)
Oil Spills
slow flowing, viscous deposits of bitumen mixed with sand, water, and clay
Photochemical Smog
smog that is dominated by oxidants such as ozone; also known as LA-type smog or brown smog
Coal Formation
solid fuel formed primarily from the remains of trees, ferns, and other plant materials preserved 280 million to 36 million years ago
Particulate Matter
solid or liquid particles suspended in air
Environmental Indicators
something that describes the current state of an environmental system
Specialists
species that can only live in a specific habitat or feed on a small group of species
Trophic Levels
successive levels of organism consuming one another
Water's Unique Properties
surface tension, capillary action, boiling point, freezing point, solids being less dense than liquids
Active Solar
technologies capture the energy of sunlight with the use of technology
Debt for Nature Swap
the US Gov and prominent environmental organizations provide cash to pay down a portion of a country's debt to the US. the debt is then transferred to environmental organizations within the country. the debtor Gov then makes payments to the environmental organizations rather than US
Cation Exchange Capacity
the ability of a particular soil to absorb and release soil
Greenhouse Effect
the absorption of infrared radiation by atmospheric gases and re-radiation of the energy back toward Earth
Biological Chemical Oxygen
the amount of oxygen a quantity of water uses over a period of time at a specific temperature
Electrolysis
the application of an electric current to water molecules to split them into hydrogen and oxygen
Intertropical Convergence Zones
the area that receives the most intense sunlight, where the ascending branches of the two Hadley cells converge
Climate
the average weather that occurs in a given region over a long period, typically several decades
Chemical Weathering
the breakdown of rocks and minerals by chemical reactions, the dissolving of chemical elements from rocks, or both
Hadley Cells
the convection currents that cycle between the equator and 30 degrees N and S
Urban Sprawl
the creation of urbanized areas that spread into rural areas and remove clear boundaries between the two
Upwelling
the deep waters bring w/ them nutrients from the ocean bottom that support large populations of producers
Coriolis Effect
the deflection of an object's path due to Earth's rotation
Net Migration Rate
the difference between immigration and emigration in a given year per 1,000 people
Biodiversity
the diversity of life forms in an environment
Net Primary Production (NPP)
the energy captured by producers in an ecosystem minus the energy producers respire
Epicenter
the exact point on the surface of Earth directly above the location where rock ruptures during an earthquake
Environmental Science
the field that looks at interactions among human systems and those found in nature
Reverse Osmosis (Desalinization)
the filtering out of undesirable particles
Habitat Loss
the greatest cause of decline and extinction. human development that removes natural habitats and replaces them with homes, industries
Biomagnification
the increase in chemical concentrations in animal tissues as the chemical moves up the food chain
Carrying Capacity
the limit of how many individuals in a population the food supply can sustain
Range of Tolerance
the limits to the abiotic conditions that a species can tolerate
Maximum sustainable yield
the maximum amount that can be harvested without compromising the future availability of that resource
Physical Weathering
the mechanical breakdown of rocks and minerals
Specific cutting
the method of harvesting trees that involves the removal of single trees or a relatively small number of trees from among many in a forest
Habitat
the natural environment of an organism
pH
the number indicating the strength of acids and bases on a scale of 1-14. acidic < 7 < basic
Species Richness
the number of species in a given area
Doubling Time
the number of years it takes for a population to double
Ocean Acidification
the ongoing decrease in the PH of the Earth
US National Wildlife Refuges
the only federal public lands managed for the primary purpose of protecting wildlife
Acid Mine Drainage
the outflow of acidic water from metal mines or coal mines
Perceived Risk
the perception that certain activities carry high risk does not always match reality
Competition Exclusion Principle
the principle stating that two species competing for the same limited resource can't coexist
Nitrogen Cycle
the process by which nitrogen is converted between its various chemical forms.
Negative Feedback Loop
the process in which part of the output of a system is returned to its input in order to regulate its further output
Niche
the range of abiotic and biotic conditions under which a species lives
Fusion
the reaction that powers the sun and other stars; occurs when lighter nuclei are forced to produce heavier nuclei
Closed-Loop Recycling
the recycling of a product into the same product
Ash
the residual nonorganic material that does not combust during incineration
Demography
the study of human population and population trends
Secondary Succesion
the succession of plant life that occurs in areas that have been disturbed but have not lost their soil
Tragedy of the Commons
the tendency of a shared, limited resource to become depleted because people act from self- interest for short- term gain
Plate Techtonics
the theory that the lithosphere of Earth is divided into plates, most of which are in constant motion
Half-Life
the time it takes for one-half of an original radioactive parent atom to decay
Desertification
the transformation of arable productive land to desert or unproductive land due to climate change or destructive land use
Cogeneration
the use of a fuel to generate electricity and produce heat
Global Warming
the warming of the oceans, landmasses, and atmosphere of Earth
Gray Water
the wastewater from baths, showers, bathroom sinks, and washing machines
Sea Level Rise
the water from melting glaciers and ice sheets on land adds to the total volume of ocean water. As the water of the oceans becomes warmer, it expands
Leachate
there is always the possibility that leachate from a landfill will contaminate underlying and adjacent waterways
Synergistic Interactions
two risks together cause more harm than one would expect based on individual risk
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
typically outlines the scope or purpose of the projects, describes environmental contexts, suggests alternative approaches to the project and analyses the environmental impact of each alternative
Tailings
unwanted waste materials created during mining
Water Conservation
using the finite amount of water we have more efficiently
Aral Sea
was the 4th largest lake in the world before being drained 60% by water diversion
Non chemical Water Pollution
water pollution that comes from substances other than chemicals
Wastewater Treatment
water produced by human activities including human sewage from toilets and gray water from bathing and washing of clothes and dishes
Thermal Inversion
when a relatively warm layer of air at mid-altitude covers a layer of cold, dense air below. The warm inversion layer traps emissions that accumulate beneath it
2nd Law of Energy
when energy is transformed, the quantity of energy remains the same, but its ability to do work diminishes
Fission
when the nuclei of radioactive atoms are broken apart into smaller, lighter nuclei
Chesapeake Bay
272 million kg N2 and 14 million kg of P into the bay caused an algal bloom and then fish could not breathe properly
Natural Selection
A change in the genetic composition of a population over time as a result of the environment determining which individuals are most likely to survive and reproduce
Green Tax
A tax placed on environmentally harmful activities or emissions
Wind Energy
Energy generated from the Kinetic energy of moving air
Tidal Energy
Energy that comes from the movement of the water from the Moon's gravitational pull
Mono Lake
Example of how ecosystems are destroyed because of slight man-made changes to the environment. for more info see ch. 2
Kyoto Protocol
Global agreement where Global emissions of greenhouse gases from all industrialized countries will be reduced to 5.2% below their 1990 levels by 2012
The California Water Project
Having a $37 billion agricultural industry, California needs tons of water of water transported in order to grow the necessary crops. Diverts 8.6 trillion litres per year
Geothermal Energy
Heat energy that comes from the natural radioactive decay of elements deep within the earth
Soil Horizons
Layers of organic matter in various stages of decomposition, organic material mixed with underlying mineral material, a zone of metals and nutrients, and the least weathered portion, similar to the parent material
Radioactive Waste
Nuclear fuel that can no longer produce enough heat to be useful in a power plant but continues to emit radioactivity
Rock Cycle
Rock forms when magma from Earth's interior reaches the surface, cools, and hardens- Rock masses are moved through weathering and erosion- Eventually rock is sub ducted into the mantle and becomes magma