Midterms 1:
Basic Concepts in ES
Basic Concepts in ES
An interdisciplinary field studying environmental problems and solutions.
Environmental Science
The role or function of an organism within an ecosystem.
Niche
The maximum ability of a population to reproduce under ideal conditions.
Biotic Potential
The average number of children born to a woman during her lifetime.
Total Fertility Rate (TFR)
Contamination of rivers, lakes, and oceans by harmful substances.
Water Pollution
These occur when the effects of an action are not immediately seen.
Time Delays
The final stable stage of succession is called this community.
Climax Community
The birth rate minus the death rate determines this.
Population Growth Rate / Per Capita Growth Rate
The world population recently surpassed this number of people.
8 Billion
This sacred river in India suffers from severe pollution.
Ganges River
Predator-prey relationships often demonstrate this type of feedback loop that stabilizes systems.
Negative Feedback Loop
The relationship between flowering plants and pollinators is a classic example of this.
Mutualism
If a deer population grows beyond the forest’s ability to support it, this has been exceeded.
Carrying Capacity
A diagram showing the distribution of ages in a population.
Population Pyramid
The disappearance of different species from ecosystems.
Biodiversity Loss
Only about this percentage of energy is transferred to the next trophic level.
10%
The variety of living organisms in an area.
Biodiversity
Natural disasters can suddenly reduce population size regardless of density.
Density-independent Limiting Factors
China’s strict population policies contributed to gender imbalance due to preference for ________.
Sons/Males
Logging and kaingin farming contribute to this environmental issue in the Philippines.
Deforestation
Nitrogen-fixing bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen into this usable form.
Ammonia/Ammonium
Forest regrowth after a wildfire is an example of this ecological process.
Secondary Succession
This concept explains why no population can grow exponentially forever.
Environmental Resistance
Family planning, poverty reduction, and education all help achieve this demographic goal.
Cutting Global Population Growth
Sea level rise, stronger storms, and droughts are impacts of this global problem.
Climate Change