Study guides, Class notes & Summaries

Abiotic Factor - A non-living, physical factor that may influence an organism or ecosystem; For example, temperature, sunlight, ph, salinity, precipitation. Biotic Factor - A living, biological factor that may influence an organism or ecosystem; for example, predation, parasitism, disease, competition. Trophic Level - The position that an organism occupies in a food chain, or a group of organisms in a community that occupy the same position in food chains. Species - A group of orga...

Natural capital - Source of supply of resources and services that are derived from nature (forests, mineral deposits, fertile soil, fishing grounds) Provisional services of natural capital - Food, fresh water, fiber Regulating services of natural capital - Climate regulation, disease Cultural services of natural capital - Ecotourism, recreational Supporting services of natural capital - Soil formation, nutrient recycling Renewable capital - Composition and structure of natu...

Abiotic Factor - A non living, physical factor that can affect an organism or ecosystem Biochemical Oxygen Demand - A measure of the amount of dissolved oxygen required to break down all of the organic matter in a set volume of water through aerobic biological activity. Biodegradable - Capable of being broken down by natural biological processes Biodiversity - The amount and variation of different species per unit area. Biomass - The mass and organic matter in an ecosystem or or...

Conservation - the act of preserving nature - attempting to save habitats, species and biodiversity in general 2/3 - the proportion of living species which are found in tropical rainforests Current extinction rates - approx. 100 species per million species per year Ecosystem complexity - creates stability and resilience to change in an ecosystem - there are many pathways for energy flow Limiting factors - environmental conditions that limit the growth, abundance, or distribution...

Environmental value system (EVS) - a world view or paradigm that shapes the way an individual or group of people perceive and evaluate environmental issues. This is influenced by cultural, religious, economic, and socio-political context. Ecocentric worldview - puts ecology and nature as central to humanity Anthropocentric worldview - believes humans must sustainably manage the global system Technocentric worldview - believes that technological developments can provide solutions to ...

Ecocentric - pure ecology & nature is central to humanity and emphasizes a less materialist approach to life with greater self-sufficiency of societies Technocentric - believes that technological development can provide solutions to environmental problems Anthropocentric - believes humans must sustainably manage the global system Environmental Manager - believe governments need to legislate to protect environment and resources from overexploitation and make sustainable economics - h...

Model - a simplified description designed to show the structure or working of an object, system or concept. Open system - type in which both matter and energy are exchanged with its surroundings Closed system - type in which energy but not matter is exchanged with its surroundings Gaia hypothesis - developed by James Lovelock, compares the Earth to a living organism in which feedback mechanisms maintain equilibrium Isolated system - type in which neither energy nor matter is exc...

System - An assemblage of parts and their relationship forming a functioning entirely or whole Open System - Exchanges matter and energy Closed System - Exchanges only energy Isolated System - does not exchange matter or energy. Theoretical. 1st Law of Thermodynamics - Energy is neither created nor destroyed. It only changes forms. 2nd Law of Thermodynamics - The entropy of a closed system increases. When energy is transformed into work, some energy is always lost as waste...

Ecocentric - Correct Answer pure ecology & nature is central to humanity and emphasizes a less materialist approach to life with greater self-sufficiency of societies Technocentric - Correct Answer believes that technological development can provide solutions to environmental problems Anthropocentric - Correct Answer believes humans must sustainably manage the global system Environmental Manager - Correct Answer believe governments need to legislate to protect environment and resour...

Environmental Value System (EVS) - Correct Answer a particular worldview that shapes the way individuals or societies perceive and evaluate environmental issues intrinsic value - Correct Answer The value any living thing has for itself System - Correct Answer a network of relationships among parts, elements, or components that interact with and influence one another through the exchange of energy, matter, or information Synergy - Correct Answer The creation of a whole that is greater than the...