Environmental Science: Soil and Pests

Nitrogen = Essential for leaf growth Phosphorus = Promotes root development Potassium = Enhances overall plant health Calcium = Improves soil structure

Organic = Natural and environmentally friendly Synthetic = Chemical, potentially harmful Natural = Derived from plant or animal matter Chemical = Manufactured through industrial processes

Leaching = Removal of nutrients from soil by water Drainage = Installation of tiles to manage water Compaction = Difficulties for roots to grow Erosion = Loss of topsoil due to wind or water

<p>Weeds = Plant pests Mosquitoes = Insect pests Mice = Rodent pests Fungi = Microbial pests</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Broad-spectrum = Toxic to a wide range of species Narrow-spectrum = Toxic to limited number of species Herbicides = Kill plant pests Insecticides = Target insect pests</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Bioaccumulation = Accumulation of pesticides in organisms Resistance = Pest populations becoming immune Pollution = Contamination of soil and water Disruption = Harm to non-target species</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Reduced yield = Lower crop production Poor soil health = Decrease in soil organisms Increased pests = Higher susceptibility to infestations Environmental impact = Negative effects on ecosystems</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Monoculture = Growing a single crop species Polyculture = Growing multiple crop species Integrated Pest Management = Combined pest control methods Crop Rotation = Alternating crops in a field</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Chemical Control = Pesticide use with environmental risks Mechanical Control = Physical barriers or removal Biological Control = Intentionally introduced organisms Cultural Service = Recreational and aesthetic interactions with nature</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Freshwater = Less than 1% salt content Marine = About 3% salt content Wetlands = Nutrient-rich shallow water areas Watersheds = Land area that drains into a single body of water</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Cultural Services = Ecotourism and spiritual experiences Ecosystem Products = Hunting and harvesting animals and plants Forestry = Produces over $11 billion in products annually Other Services = Protection from erosion and excess water</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Abiotic Factors = Temperature, light, soil Biotic Factors = Living organisms within an ecosystem Limiting Factor = Any factor that restricts population size Population Size = Determined by both abiotic and biotic factors</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Rivers = Flowing bodies in freshwater ecosystems Lakes = Nearly stationary bodies of freshwater Oceans = Cover more than 70% of Earth's surface Bogs = Types of wetlands that are nutrient-rich</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Pesticide Use = Risks to non-target native species Hunting = Control method for invasive animals Physical Barriers = Method of mechanical control Introduced Organisms = Method of biological control</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Cultural Services = Aesthetic and recreational benefits Ecosystem Products = Resources harvested for use Protection Services = Shielding against physical threats Support Services = Maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem balance</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Freshwater Ecosystems = Low in nutrient content Marine Ecosystems = High in salt concentration Watershed = Area that drains into a river or lake Wetlands = Support diverse life with saturated soil</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Bioamplification = Toxins concentrate in organisms higher in the food chain Equilibrium = State of stable conditions in an ecosystem Primary Succession = Regrowth on bare rock or soil without previous life Secondary Succession = Regrowth when some life still exists after a disturbance</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Trophic level 1 = Grass Trophic level 2 = Grasshopper Trophic level 3 = Frog Trophic level 4 = Snake</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Deforestation = Destruction of habitats for timber and agriculture Urban expansion = Growth of cities into natural habitats Pollution = Contamination affecting species survival Climate change = Long-term altered weather patterns impact ecosystems</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Species Richness = Number of different species in an area Invasive Species = Non-native species that negatively affect ecosystems Special Concern = A species at risk of becoming threatened or endangered Non-Native Species = Introduced species that may struggle to survive</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Primary Succession = Occurs on bare rock with no previous life Secondary Succession = Occurs after a disturbance with some life remaining Pioneer Species = First species to colonize previously uninhabited area Climax Community = Stable community achieved after succession</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Introducing non-native species = Can upset local ecosystems Using synthetic pesticides = Can reduce biodiversity in farming Practicing organic farming = Controls pests without chemicals Encouraging biodiversity = Supports ecosystem health and stability</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Food Chain = Linear sequence of energy flow Food Web = Network of interconnected food chains Trophic Levels = Hierarchy of energy transfer in ecosystems Biodiversity = Variety of life forms in an area</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Terrestrial Ecosystem = Land-based ecosystems including forests and grasslands Aquatic Ecosystem = Water-based ecosystems, either freshwater or marine Deciduous Forest = Forests with trees that shed leaves seasonally Grassland = Ecosystems dominated by grasses and few trees</p> Signup and view all the answers

State of an ecosystem with relatively constant conditions over time. Energy flows, but the system remains balanced.

Process of recovery after a disturbance. New life takes over and the ecosystem slowly returns to a balanced state.

Starts on bare rock or soil where no life existed before. Example: Volcanic eruption

Occurs in an area where some life still exists. Example: Forest fire.

Variety of life in an area. Often measured by counting the number of species.

Number of different species in an area. Usually higher near the equator.

When organisms higher in the food chain eat organisms with concentrated toxins, those toxins become even more concentrated in their bodies. This is especially dangerous for top predators.

A species that has been introduced to a new area and can reproduce rapidly, outcompeting native species.

Any factor that restricts the size of a population.

A process that uses organisms to control invasive species.

A large area of land where water drains into a single river or lake.

Ecosystems provide benefits to the biosphere and humans.

Bodies of water with less than 1% salt content, like rivers and lakes.

The recreational, aesthetic, and spiritual experiences we get from nature.

Involves physical barriers or removal of invasive species, like cutting down plants or trapping animals.

The most common method of invasive species control, but it can harm non-target species and pollute the environment.

The process where nutrients are leached out of the soil as water passes through it, potentially contaminating groundwater.

A condition when the soil particles are densely packed together, making it difficult for roots to penetrate and access oxygen.

The use of chemicals that kill pests, including herbicides for weeds, insecticides for insects, and fungicides for fungi.

A type of pesticide that affects a wide range of species, both target pests and non-target organisms.

A type of pesticide that primarily affects a specific group of pests, minimizing harm to other species.

The process where pesticides accumulate in the tissues of organisms as they consume contaminated food, increasing in concentration up the food chain.

The buildup of pesticides within an individual organism over time through their diet.

The increase in the number and activity of organisms, such as algae, stimulated by excessive nutrients in water bodies.