EVR2001: EXAM 1 REVIEW
What\is\science?\-\ans-✔✔-A\body\of\knowledge\and\a\method\of\acquiring\further\
knowledge\about\the\world\around\us
-Goal:\To\develop\an\ever\more\accurate\factual\understanding\of\how\the\universe\and\
everything\that\exists\within\it\is\structure\and\functions
-Structure:\how\things\are\made
-Functions:\how\things\work\and\what\is\its\purpose
What\are\the\major\branches\of\science?\-\ans-✔✔-Physical\sciences:\the\scientific\study\
of\inanimate\(nonliving)\objects\and\processes\(e.g.\physics,\chemistry,\astronomy,\Earth\
sciences);\part\of\natural\sciences
-Life\sciences\(aka\biological\sciences):\the\scientific\study\of\living\organisms\and\
associated\processes\(e.g.\biology,\biochemistry,\ecology);\part\of\natural\sciences
-Social\sciences:\the\study\of\human\behavior\and\society\using\scientific\approaches\(e.g.\
anthropology,\economics,\psychology)
How\does\the\scientific\method\work?\-\ans-✔✔1.\Observation\and\measurement
2.\Hypothesis
3.\Experiment\(if\possible)
4.\New/revised\hypothesis
5.\Experiment\(if\possible)
6.\Substantiated\hypothesis
What,\specifically,\is\environmental\science?\-\ans-✔✔-Environmental\science\is\an\
interdisciplinary\academic\field\that\integrates\social,\physical,\and\biological\sciences\to\
the\study\of\the\environment
What\do\interdisciplinarity\and\transdisciplinarity\mean?\-\ans-✔✔-Interdisciplinarity:\
integration\and\application\of\multiple\branches\of\science,\specifically\natural\and\social\
sciences,\to\the\study\of\a\phenomenon\or\issue
-Transdisciplinarity:\going\beyond\academic\borders;\when\environmental\scientists\work\
jointly\with\non-academic\stakeholders\to\solve\a\problem
The\importance\and\range\of\scales\in\environmental\science-\spatial,\temporal,\
taxonomic,\including\cascading\interactions\-\ans-✔✔-Environmental\science\spans\many\
scales
-Individual\organism:\any\single\living\entity
-Population:\members\of\one\species\inhabiting\the\same\area
-Community:\populations\of\different\species\inhabiting\the\same\area
, -Ecosystem:\a\community\and\its\non-living\surroundings
-Landscape:\the\mosaic\of\ecosystems\within\a\broader\area
-Biome:\large\regions\within\which\a\particular\ecosystem\dominates
-Biosphere:\the\totality\of\life\on\earth\and\its\non-living\context
-Example\of\cross-scalar\(cascading)\interactions:\A\tiny\rogue\infectious\protein\called\a\
prion\causes\mad\cow\disease,\which\decimated\the\British\cattle\industry\in\the\1980-90s.
What\do\environmental\scientists\study?\-\ans-✔✔Environmental\scientists\assess\causes\
of\environmental\problems\and\apply\their\knowledge\to\aid\in\developing\physically\and\
biologically\possible,\economically\feasible,\and\culturally\appropriate\solutions\to\these\
problems
What\do\environmental\scientists\do\in\practice?\-\ans-✔✔Environmental\science\in\
practice:\reading\academic\literature,\field\work,\lab\work,\modeling\work,\data\entry,\data\
analysis,\conducting\applied\work,\organizing\events,\writing\academic\papers,\presenting\
at\conferences
Know\the\major\environmental\issues\and\why\they\are\important\-\ans-✔✔1.\Habitat\
conversion\and\land\degradation:\ex.\deforestation\in\the\amazon,\mountaintop\removal\
mining\in\Tennessee
2.\Freshwater\depletion:\ex.\the\Colorado\River\now\dries\up\before\reaching\its\former\
delta
3.\Soil\degradation:\ex.\poor\management\is\contributing\to\massive\amounts\of\fertile\
topsoil\being\lost\to\wind\and\water\erosion
4.\Water\pollution:\impacts\of\excessive\nutrient\accumulation\in\water\bodies
5.\Air\pollution:\ex.\severe\air\pollution\in\Eastern\China
6.\Solid\waste\accumulation:\ex.\accumulation\of\plastics\in\marine\ecosystems
7.\Anthropogenic\climate\change:\climate\change\is\a\very\complex\and\serious\
environmental\problem\that\spans\many\scales
8.\Biodiversity\loss:\species\are\going\extinct\at\rapid\rates\because\of\overhunting\and\
habitat\destruction
9.\Loss\of\ecosystem\services:\colony\collapse\disorder\is\threatening\to\reduce\the\"free"\
pollination\service\that\our\food\production\systems\depend\on;\Ecosystem\services:\ex.\
food,\bees\and\pollination
10.\Poverty,\starvation,\and\inequality:\extreme\poverty\is\not\only\a\humanitarian\crisis,\but\
it\also\contributes\to\environmentally\unsustainable\behaviors
What\does\I=PAT\mean?\-\ans-✔✔-I\=\P\x\A\x\T\:\and\the\need\for\sustainable\development
-The\environmental\impact\(I)\of\society\is\correlated\to\the\size\of\its\population\(P),\its\
affluence\(A),\and\its\technological\development\(T)
What\is\sustainable\development?\(from\textbook)\-\ans-✔✔-Sustainable\development:\
meeting\current\needs\without\compromising\future\needs
-Many\forms\of\sustainable\farming,\for\example,\produce\food\while\protecting\wildlife\
habitat,\soil,\and\water\resources
What\is\science?\-\ans-✔✔-A\body\of\knowledge\and\a\method\of\acquiring\further\
knowledge\about\the\world\around\us
-Goal:\To\develop\an\ever\more\accurate\factual\understanding\of\how\the\universe\and\
everything\that\exists\within\it\is\structure\and\functions
-Structure:\how\things\are\made
-Functions:\how\things\work\and\what\is\its\purpose
What\are\the\major\branches\of\science?\-\ans-✔✔-Physical\sciences:\the\scientific\study\
of\inanimate\(nonliving)\objects\and\processes\(e.g.\physics,\chemistry,\astronomy,\Earth\
sciences);\part\of\natural\sciences
-Life\sciences\(aka\biological\sciences):\the\scientific\study\of\living\organisms\and\
associated\processes\(e.g.\biology,\biochemistry,\ecology);\part\of\natural\sciences
-Social\sciences:\the\study\of\human\behavior\and\society\using\scientific\approaches\(e.g.\
anthropology,\economics,\psychology)
How\does\the\scientific\method\work?\-\ans-✔✔1.\Observation\and\measurement
2.\Hypothesis
3.\Experiment\(if\possible)
4.\New/revised\hypothesis
5.\Experiment\(if\possible)
6.\Substantiated\hypothesis
What,\specifically,\is\environmental\science?\-\ans-✔✔-Environmental\science\is\an\
interdisciplinary\academic\field\that\integrates\social,\physical,\and\biological\sciences\to\
the\study\of\the\environment
What\do\interdisciplinarity\and\transdisciplinarity\mean?\-\ans-✔✔-Interdisciplinarity:\
integration\and\application\of\multiple\branches\of\science,\specifically\natural\and\social\
sciences,\to\the\study\of\a\phenomenon\or\issue
-Transdisciplinarity:\going\beyond\academic\borders;\when\environmental\scientists\work\
jointly\with\non-academic\stakeholders\to\solve\a\problem
The\importance\and\range\of\scales\in\environmental\science-\spatial,\temporal,\
taxonomic,\including\cascading\interactions\-\ans-✔✔-Environmental\science\spans\many\
scales
-Individual\organism:\any\single\living\entity
-Population:\members\of\one\species\inhabiting\the\same\area
-Community:\populations\of\different\species\inhabiting\the\same\area
, -Ecosystem:\a\community\and\its\non-living\surroundings
-Landscape:\the\mosaic\of\ecosystems\within\a\broader\area
-Biome:\large\regions\within\which\a\particular\ecosystem\dominates
-Biosphere:\the\totality\of\life\on\earth\and\its\non-living\context
-Example\of\cross-scalar\(cascading)\interactions:\A\tiny\rogue\infectious\protein\called\a\
prion\causes\mad\cow\disease,\which\decimated\the\British\cattle\industry\in\the\1980-90s.
What\do\environmental\scientists\study?\-\ans-✔✔Environmental\scientists\assess\causes\
of\environmental\problems\and\apply\their\knowledge\to\aid\in\developing\physically\and\
biologically\possible,\economically\feasible,\and\culturally\appropriate\solutions\to\these\
problems
What\do\environmental\scientists\do\in\practice?\-\ans-✔✔Environmental\science\in\
practice:\reading\academic\literature,\field\work,\lab\work,\modeling\work,\data\entry,\data\
analysis,\conducting\applied\work,\organizing\events,\writing\academic\papers,\presenting\
at\conferences
Know\the\major\environmental\issues\and\why\they\are\important\-\ans-✔✔1.\Habitat\
conversion\and\land\degradation:\ex.\deforestation\in\the\amazon,\mountaintop\removal\
mining\in\Tennessee
2.\Freshwater\depletion:\ex.\the\Colorado\River\now\dries\up\before\reaching\its\former\
delta
3.\Soil\degradation:\ex.\poor\management\is\contributing\to\massive\amounts\of\fertile\
topsoil\being\lost\to\wind\and\water\erosion
4.\Water\pollution:\impacts\of\excessive\nutrient\accumulation\in\water\bodies
5.\Air\pollution:\ex.\severe\air\pollution\in\Eastern\China
6.\Solid\waste\accumulation:\ex.\accumulation\of\plastics\in\marine\ecosystems
7.\Anthropogenic\climate\change:\climate\change\is\a\very\complex\and\serious\
environmental\problem\that\spans\many\scales
8.\Biodiversity\loss:\species\are\going\extinct\at\rapid\rates\because\of\overhunting\and\
habitat\destruction
9.\Loss\of\ecosystem\services:\colony\collapse\disorder\is\threatening\to\reduce\the\"free"\
pollination\service\that\our\food\production\systems\depend\on;\Ecosystem\services:\ex.\
food,\bees\and\pollination
10.\Poverty,\starvation,\and\inequality:\extreme\poverty\is\not\only\a\humanitarian\crisis,\but\
it\also\contributes\to\environmentally\unsustainable\behaviors
What\does\I=PAT\mean?\-\ans-✔✔-I\=\P\x\A\x\T\:\and\the\need\for\sustainable\development
-The\environmental\impact\(I)\of\society\is\correlated\to\the\size\of\its\population\(P),\its\
affluence\(A),\and\its\technological\development\(T)
What\is\sustainable\development?\(from\textbook)\-\ans-✔✔-Sustainable\development:\
meeting\current\needs\without\compromising\future\needs
-Many\forms\of\sustainable\farming,\for\example,\produce\food\while\protecting\wildlife\
habitat,\soil,\and\water\resources
