Environmental Science Unit 1 Quiz

Unit 1: Introduction to Environmental Science

• The Scientific Method: A systematic problem-solving approach involving observations, hypothesis formation, experiments, and conclusions. Steps: Observation → Hypothesis → Experiment → Conclusion.
• Descriptive vs. Hypothesis-based Science: Descriptive science observes and documents phenomena (e.g., cataloging species). Hypothesis-based science tests hypotheses through experiments and observations.
• Basic vs. Applied Science: Basic science focuses on acquiring knowledge, while applied science uses knowledge to solve practical problems.
• Deductive vs. Inductive Reasoning: Deductive reasoning starts with a general theory and tests it with specific observations (top-down). Inductive reasoning starts with specific observations and develops a general theory (bottom-up).
• Control and Experimental Variables: Control variables are kept constant in an experiment, while experimental variables are changed or manipulated to test the hypothesis.
• Frontier Ethic, Sustainability Ethic, and Land Ethic: Frontier ethic emphasizes human dominance over nature, sustainability ethic emphasizes resource use for future generations, and land ethic promotes ecosystem preservation.
• Recent Environmental Impact of Human Activity: Human activities (deforestation, pollution, overfishing, climate change) significantly impact ecosystems and biodiversity.
• Purpose of Fishbone Diagrams: Visual tools (Ishikawa diagrams) to identify potential causes of a problem.
• Ecological Footprint: Measures the land and resources needed to support a person or group.
• Indicators of Environmental Stress: Metrics that assess environmental degradation.

Unit 2: Ecology and Ecosystems

• The Food Chain: Describes energy flow through organisms (producers → consumers → decomposers).
• Biomagnification: Toxins become more concentrated as they move up the food chain.
• Biogeochemical Cycles: Processes like the water cycle, nitrogen cycle, and carbon cycle move elements through ecosystems.
• Chaparral Systems: Ecosystems with hot dry summers and mild wet winters, found in Mediterranean climates.
• Aphotic Zones (Biomes): Deep ocean layers lacking light (e.g., deep-sea ecosystems).
• Population and Population Growth Models: Exponential growth is rapid unchecked, logistic growth slows as resources become limited.
• Survivorship Curve: Graphs the number of surviving individuals within a population at different ages.
• Carrying Capacity: The maximum number of individuals an environment can sustain.
• K vs. R-selected Species: K-selected species produce few offspring and invest heavily in survival (e.g., humans), R-selected species produce many offspring but little in survival (e.g., insects).

Unit 3: Urbanization and Sustainability

• Urban Sprawl and its Environmental Impacts: The spread of cities into rural areas causing habitat loss, pollution, and energy consumption.
• Highway Revenue Act and Highway Trust Fund: Government programs contributing financially to highway construction, often correlating to urban sprawl.
• Urban Blight: Decay of urban areas due to factors like economic downturns and neglect.
• Factors Needed for a Sustainable Community: Efficient resource use, renewable energy, green infrastructure, waste management, and social equity are needed.
• Water Management: Techniques like conservation, distribution, and treatment of water resources.
• Urban Agriculture: Growing food in urban areas to reduce transportation costs and enhance food security.
• LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design): A certification program for environmentally sustainable buildings.
• Main Sources of Electrical Power: Natural gas, coal, nuclear, hydroelectric, wind, and solar.

Unit 4: Water Resources

• Facts Associated with World's Water Supply: Most water is saline, with only a small percentage being freshwater, mostly frozen.
• Terminology Associated with Water Sources: Tributary, discharge, drainage basin/watershed.
• Facts Associated with Water Usage: Agriculture, industrial, and domestic consumption are the main water users.
• Impacts of Large Water Use on Groundwater: Overuse can lead to depletion, subsidence, and contamination.
• Water Stress: Occurs when water demand exceeds supply.
• Units of Concentration: Examples: ppm (parts per million), ppb (parts per billion), mg/L.
• Sources and Types of Water Pollution: Point source and non-point source pollution.
• Nutrient Overload: Excess nutrients causing algal blooms and eutrophication.
• Deepwater Horizon and Exxon Valdez Oil Spills: Major environmental incidents from oil spills.
• Water Treatment Process: Filtration, chemical treatment, and disinfection.
• Hydrologic Cycle: Movement of water through evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff.

Test your understanding of the foundational concepts in Environmental Science with this quiz on Unit 1. Explore key topics such as the scientific method, types of science, reasoning methods, and the importance of variables in experiments. Perfect for anyone looking to solidify their knowledge in environmental studies.