Environmental Science
Main provisions of the endangered species act
-USFWS must compile a list of all endangered and threatened species in the US -act protects the listed species -prevents federal government from carrying out any project that jeopardizes the species
Four types of efforts to save individual species
-captive-breeding program -preserving genetic material -zoos -aquariums -gardens -more study needed
Describe the composition of the earth
-crust -mantle -core
Name two threats to the forest biomes
-deforestation -pollution
Describe the main layers of a tropical rainforest
-emergent layer -canopy -understory
Three major processes in the water cycle
-evaporation -condensation -precipitation
Describe two essential parts to a good experiment
-experimental group -control group
Four steps in a simple environmental decision-making model
-gather information -consider values -explore consequences -make a decision
What threats are having the largest impact on biodiversity?
-habitat destruction -fragmentation -invasive exotic species -harvesting -hunting -poaching -pollution
Types of consumers
-herbivores -carnivore -omnivore -decomposer
Describe the physical layers of the earth
-lithosphere -asthenosphere -mesosphere -outer core -inner core
What are the steps of the experimental method?
-observation -hypothesis -prediction -experiment -variable -data
Describe three types of models used by scientists
-physical models -graphical models -conceptual models
List two types of ecological succession
-primary succession -secondary succession
Three mechanisms of heat transfer
-radiation -conduction -convection
Classify environmental problems into three main problems
-resource depletion -pollution -less of biodiversity
Why is biodiversity important to humans?
-species are connected to ecosystems -species and population survival -medical, industrial, and agricultural uses
List three levels of biodiversity
-species diversity -ecosystem diversity genetic diversity
Describe the layers of earth´s atmosphere
-troposphere -stratosphere -mesosphere -thermosphere
Name the three domains
Domain Archaea: unicellular, lack nuclei, divide in half, in harsh environments Domain Bacteria: unicellular, lack nuclei, divide in half, common Domain Eukarya: uni/multicellular, contain nuclei, reproduce asexually and sexually
Three values that people consider when making decisions about the environment
aesthetic: what is beautiful or pleasing economic: gain or loss of money or jobs scientific: understanding of the natural world
How do latitude and altitude affect which plants grow in an area?
as latitude and altitude increase, biomes and vegetation change
List the five major fields of study that contribute to environmental science
biology, earth science, physics, chemistry, and social sciences
Define open system
both matter and energy are exchanged between a system and the surrounding environment
One thing humans are doing to affect the carbon cycle
burning fossil fuels and carbon is bring released into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide
Describe the environmental effects of the Industrial Revolution
burning fossil fuels caused pollution in the environment
Identify the relationship between volcanic eruptions and climate change
clouds of volcanic ash and sulfur-rich gases may reach the upper atmosphere messing with the earth´s climate
Define sustainability
condition in which human needs are met in such a way that a human population can survive indefinitely at a standard of living similar to the current one
Define closed system
energy enters and leaves the system but matter does not
Describe how organisms interact and depend on each other
everything in the environment is connected
Define nitrogen-fixing bacteria
fix atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia
Define ecological succession
gradual process of change and replacement of some or all of the species in a community
Describe the environmental effects of the agricultural revolution
habitats were destroyed and replaced with farmland (slash and burn agriculture)
Define developed countries
higher average incomes, slower population growth, diverse industrial economies
How is energy transferred from the sun to producers and then consumers?
plants receive energy from the sun and convert it to food using photosynthesis, consumers then eat the plants and receive that energy
Explain the relationship between probability and risk
probability: chance something will happen risk: probability of unwanted outcome
Define the carbon cycle
process by which carbon is cycled between the atmosphere, land, water, and organisms
Define natural selection
process by which individuals that are better adapted to their environment survive and reproduce
Define the greenhouse effect
process in which greenhouse gases absorb and re radiate infrared radiation near the earth
Define the nitrogen cycle
process in which nitrogen is cycled between the atmosphere, soil, and organisms
Describe two desert animals and the adaptions that help them survive
rattlesnakes: thick, scaly skin that prevent water loss elf owl: nest in cactuses to hide from predators
Define ecology
the study of how living things interact with each other and with their nonliving environment
Define environmental science
the study of the environment that includes physical, biological, and social sciences
Define old-field succession
when a field is not cultivated for a long time and pioneer species begin to grow
Why is vegetation used to describe a biome?
the plants that grow in a certain area are the most noticeable characteristics in that region
How is energy lost as trophic levels go up?
10% of energy is lost as you go up the pyramid
Name the four kingdoms
Kingdom Fungi: absorb food through their bodies, cells walls, live on land Kingdom Protista: uni/multicellular, live in water Kingdom Plantae: multicellular, photosynthesis, cell walls Kingdom Animalia: multicellular, no cell walls, ingest food, live in land and water
Describe the environmental effects of hunter-gatherers
Native American tribes set fires to burn prairies when hunting for bison to prevent the growth of trees
Describe the ¨Tragedy of the Commons¨
if too many animals graze in one place, the resources will run out
Explain why size of a statistical sample is important
if your sample size is larger, you have a better chance of getting accurate results
Define adaption
inherited trait that increases an organism´s chance of survival and reproduction in a certain environment
Define the factors that confine life to the biosphere
liquid water, moderate temperatures, and a source of energy
Define biotic factors
living factors in an ecosystems
Define developing countries
lower average incomes, simple and agricultural-based economies, and rapid population population growth
Describe one adaption that may help an animal survive in the taiga
many birds migrate south to avoid winter
Describe the climate in the chaparral biome
mediterrean
Describe the composition of earth´s atmosphere
nitrogen, oxygen, argon, carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor
Pollutants that are not broken down by natural processes are...
non degradable
Define abiotic factors
non-living factors in an ecosystem
One threat to the tundra biome
oil exploration, extraction, and transport disrupts the habitats
Explain the main cause of earthquakes
pieces of earth´s crust rub against each other at fault lines
Describe one plant in a temperate deciduous forest and an adaption that helps the plants survive
plants in the deciduous forest drop their leaves in the fall
Define renewable resource
resource that can be replaced relatively quickly by natural processes
Define nonrenewable resource
resource that forms at a much slower rate than the rate that it is consumed
How do scientists study subjects in which experiments are not possible?
scientists use correlations (associations between two or more events) to study subjects that cannot be experimented on
Define ecological footprint
shows the productive area of earth needed to support one person in a particular country
Define pioneer species
species that colonizes an uninhabited area and begins the process of ecological succession
Define threatened species
species that has declining population and is likely to become endangered
Define endangered species
species that is likely to become extinct
Explain how scientists use statistics
statistics are the collection and classification of data in the form of numbers
Describe the two types of ocean currents
surface currents: wind driven deep ocean currents: streamlike movements of water that flow slowly along the ocean floor
Define the law of supply and demand
the greater the demand for a limited supply of something, the more that product is worth