BESC 201 9 16 2013 Exam 1 Study Guide Lectures 1 8 Lecture 1 August 28 Introduction to the Environmental Science How can scientists tell that Earth is being affected by humans Is this negative What kind of ethics come into play Ecological footprint describes environmental impact in terms of total area of biologically productive land and water to provide a person resources and to dispose of recycle that the person produces Environmental scientists keep research objective Relativists ethicists who believe that ethics should vary with social context Universalists ethicists who believe that ethics are static across cultures Environmental ethics application of ethics to relationships between people and the environment Lecture 2 August 30 How do humans view the Earth and how should it be taken care of if at all What kind of ethical mindsets do people have What is the triple bottom line when it comes to sustainable development 3 Ethical World Views 1 Anthropocentrism human centered view 2 Biocentrism human and nonhuman life view 3 Ecocentrism living and nonliving view most holistic Preservation ethic the environment should be protected in an unaltered state more for its own sake spiritual benefit Conservation ethic people should be able to use resources but have a responsibility to use them wisely Uses an utilitarian standard we should allocate resources that provides the greatest good to the greatest number of people for the longest time sustainability Development ethic people are the masters of nature regardless Environmental justice fair treatment of all people with respect to environmental policy and practice Sustainable development has found solutions to satisfy a triple bottom line environmental economic and social goals Lecture 3 September 2 Why did the oysters disappear from the Chesapeake Bay What is eutrophication What kind of compounds are found in nature The oysters disappeared because of pollution from various fertilizers and runoff This affected the economic and environmental ways of life Oysters weren t able to filter phytoplankton sufficiently causing a domino effect leading to eutrophication Eutrophication process of nutrient overenrichment blooms of algae increased production of organic matter and subsequent ecosystem degradation Organic compounds carbon atoms joined by bonds may include other elements Inorganic compounds lack carbon carbon bonds Hydrocarbons consist solely of atoms of carbon and hydrogen make up fossil fuels Lecture 4 September 4 What is an estuary What kind of energy productions and how are they found What is an ecotone Estuary a water body where rivers flow into the ocean mixing fresh water with salt water Energy flows in one direction and exits ecosystems heat and respiration Gross primary production total amount of chemical energy produced by autotrophs Net primary production gross primary production minus cellular respiration Net primary productivity the rate autotrophs convert energy to biomass Differences in net primary productivity result in distinct geographical patterns wetlands deserts forests Ecotones areas where ecosystems meet and may have transitional zones Lecture 5 September 6 What is residence time What is a flux How does the use of fossil fuels affect the carbon cycle What are the differences between nitrogen fixation nitrification and denitrifying bacteria How are phosphate ions released in its cycle Residence time varying amounts of time that nutrients occupy a reservoir Flux the rate at which materials more between reservoirs Use of fossil fuels increases flux of carbon from lithosphere to atmosphere and shortens residence time of carbon in fossil fuel deposits Nitrogen fixation lightning energy striker or nitrogen fixing bacteria Nitrification converting ammonium ions first into nitrite ions NO 2 then nitrate ions NO3 Denitrifying bacteria convert nitrates in soil or water to gaseous N 2 Weathering to reduce phosphate ions PO 43 into water is the only way to release ions in phosphate cycle Lecture 6 September 9 How did the newly discovered toad become extinct so quickly What is evolution natural selection and mutations The Golden Toad became extinct from habitat destruction and disease from humans interrupting its way of life Evolution change over time genetic changes over generations Natural Selection inherited characteristics enhance survival and reproduction and passed frequency to future generations Mutations accidental changes in DNA leading to genetic variation Lecture 7 September 11 What is biodiversity What is the difference between speciation and allopatric speciation What is the formula for the number of species in existence What is an endemic How much of a species can be wiped out during a mass extinction event Biodiversity the variety of life across all levels of biological organization including diversity of species their genes their populations and their communities Speciation the process by which new species are generated Allopatric speciation species formation due to the physical separation of populations over some geographic distance considered main mode of speciation The number of species in existence at any one time number added through speciation number removed by extinction Endemic phenomenon that occurs nowhere else on Earth 50 95 of a species can be removed during a mass extinction event Lecture 8 September 13 What are the levels ecology can be studied at How are habitats scale dependent What is the difference between a specialist and a generalist What are the factors population growth is determined by How is growth rate calculated What is exponential growth and the logistic growth curve What is the difference between K and R selected species Level Organism relationships between the organism and its physical environment Level Population Ecology dynamics of population change and the factors that affect the distribution and abundance of its members Level Community Ecology patterns of species diversity and interactions among species Level Ecosystem flow of energy and nutrients and living nonliving components Habitats are scale dependent because of the needs of the organism A caterpillar won t need as many resources or space versus a tiger Specialists narrow breadth and have very specific requirements Generalists broad tolerances and use a wide array of resources Population growth determined by four factors 1 Births within population natality 2 Deaths within population mortality 3 Immigration arrival from