Environmental Science Final Exam
Aquifer
An underground water reservoir
What is happening to our carbon sinks that is leading to increased global temperatures
Carbon sinks keep CO2 from building up, however, when trees are burned down for room to build factories and other businesses, we are reducing the sizes of our sinks and allowing build up to occur. Warmer atmospheres speed up evaporation and hold more water vapor, so, evaporation has increased due to this. This would explain the increase in snow storms and flooding.
Describe three ways in which environmental protection can enhance economic well-being
Environmental protection increases a region's appeal, drawing residents, increasing property values, and boosting the tax revenues that fund social services. As a result, regions that safeguard their environments tend to retain and enhance their wealth, health, and quality of life
Provide two examples of carbon sinks and how do carbon sinks affect CO2 levels in the atmosphere
Examples of carbon sinks include oceans and forests. The sinks absorb about half of the CO2 from the air and the rest remains. The two main effects of this process is first, an increase of CO2 in the atmosphere, and secondly an increase of CO2 in oceans and plants
Chronic exposure
Exposure for long periods of time to a toxicant occuring in low amounts
What are greenhouse gases
Greenhouse gasses residing in the atmosphere soak up some of that radiation. Examples of greenhouse gasses are carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor. A greenhouse gas is simply one that retains infrared radiation released by the surface and then secreting energy.
write out the logistic equation and explain what each letter in the equation stands for
The formula for logistic growth is dN/dt=rmax*N*(K-N)/K. This stands for the change in population over time is equal to the initial growth rate (rmax) multiplied the number of individuals in the population (N), multiplied by the percentage left until reach carrying capacity.
Explain how time is limited yet human potential to solve problems is tremendous
Time for turning around our environmental impacts is running short. Yet the United States and other nations have met tremendous challenges before, so we have reason to hope that we will be able to achieve the ultimate challenge of attaining a sustainable society.
Could selfish genes drive altruism and could that altruism lead to a world where better choices are made concerning the environment
We are born selfish, so the characteristics of being generous and altruistic must be taught. But that does not mean that selfish genes imply a selfish individual. To answer the question of whether you can expect traits to evolve on the resilience of being good for one's group, I believe you can. You are what you incorporate yourself with. If you surround yourself with selfish individuals, you will begin to notice those kinds of qualities and vice versa.
kirsch center
demonstrates to students and the public how to merge energy efficiency, pollution prevention, and biodiversity protection
college environmental advisory group
encourages green buildings and other sustainable practices on campus
List and explain five solutions to increase sustainability and mitigate impacts on the environment
five ways to improve sustainability is by reducing, reusing, recycling, composting, and being aware of where your things come from. By reducing and reusing that is saving materials and chemicals from having to make another product. Recycling and composting saves the air from unnecessary chemicals and acts as a fertilizer. being aware of where your things come from so you know the right places to buy from and to help better the present and future.
Evolution
genetically based change in populations of organisms across generations. changes in genes may lead to changes in the appearance, physiology, and/or behavior of organisms across generations, often by the process of natural selection
overshoot
the amount by which humanity's resource use, as measured by its ecological footprint, has surpassed earth's long-term capacity to support us
background extinction rate
the average rate of extinction that occurred before the appearance of humans
extinction
the disappearance of an entire species from earth
Ocean acidification
the process by which today's oceans are becoming more acidic as a result of increased carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere
natural selection
the process by which traits that enhance survival and reproduction are passed on more frequently to future generations of organisms than traits to do not, thereby altering the genetic makeup of populations through time. Natural selection acts on genetic variation and is a primary driver of evolution
Floodplain
the region of land over which a river has historically wandered and periodically floods
environment
the sum total of our surroundings, including all of the living things and nonliving things with which we interact
What are three major types of water pollutants? Which class is most important in our area?
toxic chemicals (pesticides) biodegradable waste (animal manure) pathogens and waterborne disease (protis and bacteria). with all the agriculture in this area I believe the toxic chemicals and pesticides to be primarily worse in this area.
Watershed
The entire area of land from which water drains into a given river
Natural resources
any of the various substances and energy sources that we take from our environment and that we need in order to survive
Describe one way in which campus sustainability proponents have addressed each of the following issues (1) recycling and waste reduction (2) green building (3) water conservation
(1) consumer choice has helped drive sales of everything from recycled paper to organic produce to sustainable seafood. (2) Catalytic converters on cars have reduced emissions as have scrubbers on smokestacks. recycling technology and wastewater treatment are reducing our waste output. Solar, wind, and geothermal energy technologies are producing cleaner, renewable energy. (3) Schools are installing water saving faucets, toilets, urinals and showers in dorms and classroom buildings to reduce water waste.
When did concern over the effects of pesticides start to grow in the United States? Describe the argument presented by Rachel Carson in Silent Spring. What policy resulted from the book's publication? Where and how is DDT still used?
1960s was the start of the concern. Rachel was arguing that DDT and artificial pesticides in general were hazardous to people, wildlife, and ecosystems. DDT was banned in the US in 1973 and is now illegal in a number of nations. It is used in developing countries with tropical climates to control vectors.
Phthalates
A class of endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in the fire retardants and plasticizers
Discuss the difference in weather and climate
A climate is a pattern of conditions that embodies a certain region over longer periods of time (years, decades, centuries). That differs because the definition of weather focuses on characteristics such as wind, humidity, and temperature over short periods of time (minutes, hours, days)
Non-point sources
A diffuse source or pollutants, often consisting of many small sources
sustainability
A guiding principle of environmental science that requires us to live in such a way as to maintain Earth's systems and its natural resources for the foreseeable future.
Great Pacific Garbage Patch
A portion of the North Pacific gyre where currents concentrate plastics and other floating debris that pose danger to marine organisms.
Epidemiological studies
A study that involves large-scale comparisons among groups of people, usually contrasting a group known to have been exposed to some toxicant and a group that has not
teratogen
A toxicant that causes harm to the unborn, resulting in birth defects
Endocrine disruptor
A toxicant that interferes with the endocrine (hormone) system
sustainable architecture
Architecture with zero energy consumption (i.e. independent from the energy grid supply) and created using materials that are renewable and local.
Choose one subject covered in racing extinction and explain in detail the impact that it is having on biodiversity and the environment
At one point in racing extinction, they were discussing the sport-like killing of manta rays in a low income based country. men and cameras would go and try to convince the fishers to stop because the species were low on population and were exotic. the fishermen did not seem to care as this was their way of making money and providing for their families. so, the environmentalists had to come up with an alternative for the fishers. instead of killing off the manta rays, they decided to use it as a tourist attractions. because of this concept, lots of money was brought into the country. these environmentalists even went to a convention and were able to get these manta rays on an exotic animal lists, making it illegal to fish them at all. now, that country is a huge tourist attractions for rays and their numbers have gone up.
In what ways are campus sustainability efforts relevant to sustainability efforts in our broader society?
It doesn't matter where you are, sustainability means living in a way that can be lived far into the future. It involves conserving resources, reducing waste and pollution, and safeguarding ecological processes and ecosystem services to ensure that our society's practices can continue and our civilization can endure.
Can two species occupy the same niche?
No two species can occupy the same niche because one of the two will use the resources better than the other and run that species out of the ecosystem
How is the world (our Nation and other Nations) trying to save the world from climate change via the Kyoto Protocol and International Climate Conferences? Who is pitching in and who isn't
Smaller European nations took the lead in regards to the negotiations while larger countries like the U.S., India, and China took a rather backseat role and engaged in release cuts. Negotiators have been working for years to agree to reduced emissions. Progress was actually made in 2015 because all 197 countries involved pledged emission cuts. Everyone can say the right things but ultimately it will come down to who keeps their word. For example, the U.S. agreed to cut back on coal-fired power plants. Brazil agreed to terminate their plans of deforestation. However, with their forest recently burning down, I do not see it helping the temperature rising
Describe approaches being taken on college and university campuses to promote sustainability
Students, faculty, staff, and administrators are pursuing all kinds of ways to reduce material waste; conserve energy and water; grow and serve sustainable food; construct green buildings; encourage sustainable transportation
Explain the concept of sustainable development and discuss how environmental protection can enhance economic well-being
Sustainable development entails environmental protection, economic development, and social justice. Proponents of sustainable development believe that economic opportunity and environmental quality go hand-in-hand. Environmental protection and green technologies and industries can create rich sources of new jobs, while safeguarding environmental quality enhances a community's desirability and economic well-being.
What do environmental scientists mean by sustainable development
Sustainable development is a type of development that satisfies our current needs without compromising the future availability of natural capital or our future quality of life. it is shaped by policy and informed by science.
Assess key approaches to designing sustainable solutions
Ten general strategies and actions that can be taken by individuals, businesses, governments, and communities can inspire specific sustainable solutions: (1) getting engaged politically (2) harnessing consumer power (3) prioritizing quality of life (4) halting population growth (5) deploying green technologies (6) mimicking nature in our technology and practices (7) weighing the pros and cons of local and global approaches (8) striving for systemic solutions (9) taking a long term perspective (10) supporting research and education
How might you incorporate Dawkins' ideas on the selfishness of genes in propagating themselves through the vehicles of the organisms that carry them into an understanding of competition of Homo sapiens with other members of their species (intraspecific competition) and competition with other species (interspecific competition) and the environmental impacts that result
Well Dawkins explained the selfish gene by stating that every living organism and us included, come from an unbroken line of successful ancestors; a survival machine you could call it. Our bodies will self-replicate information and endure multiple generations. This explains his thought on the basis that successful genes are basically immortal. Our genes program the organism to make good decisions, which led to the growth of consciousness. Intraspecific competition results in high population density that lead to increased competition. Interspecific competition leads to competitive exclusion or species coexistence and strongly affects the community's composition
ecological footprint
a concept that measures the cumulative area of biologically productive land and water required to provide the resources a person or population consumes and to dispose of or recycle the waste the person population produces.
recyclemania
a friendly competition between two universities in ohio to see which could recycle the most waste which eventually led to this nationwide competition
population
a group of organisms of the same species that live in the same area. Species are often composed of multiple populations.
species
a population or group of populations of a particular type of organism whose members share certain characteristics and can breed freely with one another and produce fertile offspring
peer-review
a scientific manuscript submitted for publication in an academic journal is examined by specialists in the field, who provide comments and criticism and judge whether the work merits publication in the journal.
kill-a-watt meter
a valuable tool for auditing energy use on campus
Marine reserves
an area of the ocean designated as a "no-fishing" zone, allowing no extractive activities
Community
an assemblage of populations of interacting organisms that live in the same area at the same time
El-Niño-Southern Oscillation
an exceptionally strong warming of the eastern pacific ocean that occurs every 2-8 years and depresses local fish and bird populations by altering the marine food web in the area.
sustainability management plan
identified environmental and health risks and helped to prioritize opportunities for addressing them.
ecosystem services
processes and the results of those processes that naturally result from the normal functioning of ecological systems and from which human beings draw benefits
Zooxanthellae
symbiotic algae that inhabit the bodies of corals and produce food through photosynthesis
