Flashcards in this deck (48)

• What is environmental science?

  A field combining biological, information, chemical, and physical sciences to study the environment and its impacts.
  environment science
• What is environmental engineering?

  Application of science and engineering to protect natural resources and control pollution.
  engineering environment
• What do environmental scientists focus on?

  Testing samples to identify pollution and contamination risks.
  science pollution
• What do environmental engineers focus on?

  Developing community systems and infrastructure for waste disposal and water treatment.
  engineering infrastructure
• What does the word 'environment' mean?

  French word 'environner'; refers to all elements affecting human life.
  definition environment
• What are the two types of environment?

  Natural environment and built environment.
  environment types
• What is the lithosphere?

  The solid land, including rocks, soil, and the Earth's crust.
  earth lithosphere
• What is the hydrosphere?

  All the water on Earth, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and glaciers.
  earth hydrosphere
• What is the atmosphere?

  The layer of gases surrounding the Earth, essential for life.
  earth atmosphere
• What is the biosphere?

  All living organisms on Earth and their environments.
  earth biosphere
• What is ecology?

  The scientific study of interactions among organisms and their environment.
  ecology science
• What are the two major subdivisions of modern ecology?

  Ecosystem Ecology and Population Ecology.
  ecology subdivisions
• What does descriptive ecology do?

  Describes types and nature of organisms, ecosystems, and populations.
  ecology descriptive
• What does functional ecology explain?

  How ecosystems work, including population responses and energy movement.
  ecology functional
• What is an ecosystem?

  An assembly of interacting organisms and their environment, with cyclical material interchange.
  ecosystem definition
• What are the four broad categories of environment?

  Terrestrial, Freshwater, Oceanic Marine, and others.
  environment categories
• What is the terrestrial environment?

  Based on land and includes biomes like forests and deserts.
  environment terrestrial
• What is the freshwater environment?

  Includes standing-water habitats like lakes and running-water habitats like rivers.
  environment freshwater
• What characterizes the oceanic marine environment?

  It is characterized by saltwater.
  environment oceanic
• What are the two main divisions of ocean waters?

  Neritic zone and oceanic region
  oceanography environment
• What is a symbiotic environment?

  An environment where organisms exist together for mutual benefit
  ecology symbiosis
• What is mutualism?

  A type of symbiosis where both organisms benefit
  ecology symbiosis
• What is parasitism?

  A type of symbiosis where one organism benefits at the expense of another
  ecology symbiosis
• What is commensalism?

  A type of symbiosis where one organism benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed
  ecology symbiosis
• What are trophic levels?

  Stages in a food chain indicating energy and nutrient flow
  ecology food_chain
• Who are primary producers?

  Plants and photosynthetic organisms that convert solar energy
  ecology trophic_levels
• Who are primary consumers?

  Herbivores that eat producers
  ecology trophic_levels
• Who are secondary consumers?

  Carnivores or omnivores that eat primary consumers
  ecology trophic_levels
• Who are tertiary consumers?

  Higher-level carnivores that eat secondary consumers
  ecology trophic_levels
• What role do decomposers play?

  Break down dead organic matter and recycle nutrients
  ecology trophic_levels
• What happens to energy at each trophic level?

  Energy decreases, with about 10% transferred to the next level
  ecology energy_flow
• What are the levels of organization in biology?

  Hierarchy of biological structures from organism to biosphere
  biology organization
• What is an organism?

  An individual living entity functioning on its own
  biology organization
• What defines a species?

  A group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring
  biology organization
• What is a population?

  A group of individuals of the same species in a specific area
  biology organization
• What is a community?

  Different populations of various species interacting in an environment
  biology organization
• What is an ecosystem?

  A community interacting with its physical environment
  biology organization
• What is a biome?

  A large geographic area with specific climate and organisms
  biology organization
• What is the biosphere?

  The global sum of all ecosystems, the zone of life on Earth
  biology organization
• What are photoautotrophs?

  Organisms that produce food using light energy
  ecology photoautotrophs
• What do photoautotrophs synthesize?

  Glucose from carbon dioxide and water, releasing oxygen
  ecology photoautotrophs
• What role do photoautotrophs play in ecosystems?

  They are primary producers, forming the base of the food chain
  ecology photoautotrophs
• What is energy flow in an ecosystem?

  The transfer of energy through producers, consumers, and decomposers
  ecology energy_flow
• Who are autotrophs?

  Producers that capture solar energy to create organic matter
  ecology energy_flow
• Who are heterotrophs?

  Consumers that obtain energy by consuming producers and others
  ecology energy_flow
• What do producers use to create organic matter?

  Solar energy through photosynthesis
  biology photosynthesis producers
• Who are consumers in an ecosystem?

  Heterotrophs
  biology ecosystem consumers
• What types of consumers are there?

  Herbivores, carnivores, omnivores
  biology consumers food_chain