Environmental Value Systems Overview
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What would an ecocentric viewpoint prioritize in environmental decision-making?

  • Legislative frameworks to regulate environmental impact
  • Technological advancements and their applications
  • Biorights and self-restraint in behavior (correct)
  • Human economic growth and consumerism

    • Which of the following best defines an environmental value system (EVS)?

  • A strict scientific method applied to environmental studies
  • A collection of govt regulations impacting environmental practices
  • A worldview that shapes the perception and evaluation of environmental issues (correct)
  • A technological approach that depends solely on advancements

    • What is a key characteristic of a technocentric viewpoint?

  • Focus on ecological preservation above human needs
  • Belief that technology can solve environmental problems (correct)
  • Emphasis on traditional ecological knowledge and values
  • Advocacy for minimal governmental interference

    • What influences the diversity of environmental value systems (EVSs)?

    <p>Cultural, religious, economic, and sociopolitical contexts</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement best describes an anthropocentric perspective on environmental issues?

    <p>Human management is critical but must be sustainable</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which extreme viewpoint on the environmental value system is associated with deep ecology?

    <p>Ecocentrism</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one major critique of a strictly technocentric viewpoint?

    <p>It may neglect the limits of technology in solving environmental problems</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do historical influences shape environmental value systems (EVSs)?

    <p>They provide context for how societies view and respond to environmental issues</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the first law of thermodynamics principally state?

    <p>Energy in an isolated system can be transformed but not created or destroyed.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the second law of thermodynamics relate to entropy?

    <p>Entropy increases over time, indicating rising disorder.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characterizes a steady-state equilibrium in an open system?

    <p>It may have oscillations but shows no long-term changes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What effect do negative feedback loops have in an ecosystem?

    <p>They stabilize the system and counteract deviations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a tipping point in the context of system dynamics?

    <p>The threshold of change causing a shift to a new stable state.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In terms of system resilience, what factors can contribute to increased resilience?

    <p>Increase in diversity and size of storages within systems.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role do humans play in the resilience of ecological systems?

    <p>Human activities can reduce storage and biodiversity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary effect of rising entropy during energy transformations?

    <p>It decreases the energy available to perform work.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a primary pollutant?

    <p>A pollutant that is active upon emission.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following strategies focuses on altering human behavior to manage pollution effectively?

    <p>Promoting alternative lifestyles and education.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What differentiates point source pollution from nonpoint source pollution?

    <p>Point source pollution can be controlled more easily than nonpoint source pollution.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a common method for clean-up and restoration after pollution has occurred?

    <p>Promoting better waste disposal habits.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main function of secondary pollutants?

    <p>To result from the chemical transformation of primary pollutants.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes the term 'biodegradable' in the context of pollution?

    <p>Substances that break down naturally by biological processes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    DDT is often cited in discussions on pollution because it exemplifies which of the following?

    <p>The conflict between utility and environmental harm.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following activities would be categorized as a proactive approach to pollution management?

    <p>Conducting community education campaigns.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What defines the fundamental niche of a species?

    <p>The full range of conditions and resources a species can survive in</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following factors are classified as abiotic?

    <p>Temperature and sunlight</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary role of primary producers in an ecosystem?

    <p>To convert light energy into chemical energy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do S and J population curves typically respond to environmental conditions?

    <p>They model growth patterns influenced by biotic and abiotic factors</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which process converts organic matter into carbon dioxide and water, releasing energy?

    <p>Respiration</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In terms of ecological interactions, what does the term 'competition' refer to?

    <p>Struggle between organisms for limited resources</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the impact of limiting factors on population growth?

    <p>They slow growth as the population nears carrying capacity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do biotic factors differ from abiotic factors in an ecosystem?

    <p>Biotic factors involve interactions between organisms</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary process by which producers create their own food?

    <p>Photosynthesis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements about ecological pyramids is true?

    <p>Pyramids of biomass measure the standing stock of each trophic level.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does bioaccumulation refer to in ecological terms?

    <p>The build-up of pollutants within an organism at a trophic level.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement best describes biomagnification?

    <p>It is the increase in concentration of toxins along a food chain.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do pyramids of productivity indicate?

    <p>The rate of energy flow through a trophic level.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What effect does the second law of thermodynamics have on ecological pyramids?

    <p>It results in a decrease in biomass and energy along food chains.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why might a pyramid of numbers show an inverted structure?

    <p>When lower trophic level individuals are relatively large.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes the role of producers in an ecosystem?

    <p>They convert solar energy into chemical energy through photosynthesis.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a flow in the carbon cycle?

    <p>Denitrification</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a primary impact of human activities on the carbon and nitrogen cycles?

    <p>Altered energy flows</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which factor primarily governs the distribution of biomes?

    <p>Insolation, precipitation, and temperature</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the context of succession, what characterizes climax communities?

    <p>Stable and diverse species composition</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which biomes are influenced by the tricellular model of atmospheric circulation?

    <p>All terrestrial biomes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does habitat diversity affect species diversity?

    <p>Greater habitat diversity leads to greater species and genetic diversity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a typical characteristic of early stages of succession?

    <p>Low gross productivity due to unfavorable conditions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes the role of r-strategist species in communities?

    <p>They are adapted to thrive in pioneer communities.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Environmental Value Systems (EVS)

    • Significant historical influences on the development of the environmental movement include literature, media, environmental disasters, international agreements, and technological advancements.
    • An EVS is a worldview or paradigm that shapes how individuals or groups perceive and evaluate environmental issues, based on cultural, religious, economic, and socioeconomic contexts.
    • An EVS can be considered a system with inputs (education, experience, culture, media), generating consistent decisions (outputs).
    • EVSs exist on a spectrum, ranging from ecocentric to anthropocentric to technocentric.
    • Ecocentric viewpoints emphasize a holistic ideal, integrating social, spiritual, and environmental dimensions with an emphasis on ecology and nature, less materialism, and self-sufficiency.
    • Anthropocentric viewpoints emphasize the need to sustainably manage the global system through taxes, environmental regulations, and legislation.
    • Technocentric viewpoints suggest technological solutions are key and have an optimistic outlook on human ability to manage global problems and encourage scientific research, policy formation, and manipulation of systems.
    • EVSs vary greatly across cultures and time periods, rarely fitting neatly into categories.

    Systems and Models

    • A systems approach visualizes complex interactions, be they ecological or societal.
    • Emergent properties result from interactions.
    • Systems are considered at various scales, consisting of storages and flows.
    • Flows are processes of transfer or transformation of energy and matter.
    • System diagrams use boxes to represent storages and arrows to represent energy & matter transfer.
    • Open systems exchange energy and matter with their surroundings, while closed systems only exchange energy.
    • Isolated systems exchange neither energy nor matter.
    • Ecosystems are open systems.

    Energy and Equilibrium

    • The first law of thermodynamics states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed.
    • Energy transformations occur in food chains and energy production systems.
    • The second law of thermodynamics indicates entropy (disorder) increases over time, reducing available energy.
    • Ecosystems usually exist in stable equilibria, either steady-state or developing over time.
    • Negative feedback loops counteract deviations and maintain stability.
    • Positive feedback loops amplify deviations and drive systems towards tipping points.
    • System resilience encompasses its tendency to avoid tipping points and maintain stability.
    • Diversity and storage size can contribute to a system's resilience.
    • Time lags in feedback loops complicate system modeling and prediction of tipping points.

    Sustainability

    • Sustainability involves using resources such that natural replacements are guaranteed and ecosystems recover.
    • Natural capital describes natural resources providing sustainable natural income (goods and services).
    • Ecosystems offer essential services: water replenishment, flood protection, erosion control, timber, fisheries, and agriculture.
    • Environmental indicators measure factors such as biodiversity, pollution, population, and climate to assess sustainability.
    • Environmental impact assessments (EIAs) evaluate environmental, social, and economic impacts of projects, suggesting mitigation strategies, and are subject to varying requirements per region.
    • Criticisms of EIAs include lack of standardized practices, unclear boundaries, and underestimation of indirect impacts.
    • An ecological footprint measures the land and water area to sustainably provide resources at the rate of consumption, indicating sustainability status.

    Humans and Pollution

    • Pollution occurs when substances or agents are introduced into an environment faster than their natural breakdown, affecting organisms.
    • Pollutants include substances in various forms (e.g., organic, inorganic, biological), and can be primary (released directly) or secondary (formed from existing pollutants).
    • Pollution can be managed at various levels (e.g., altering human activity, emission control, restoration).
    • Management strategies include campaigns, education, community involvement, government legislation, and economic incentives/disincentives.

    Species, Populations, Communities, and Ecosystems

    • A species is a group of interbreeding organisms with shared characteristics.
    • A habitat describes the typical environment of a species.
    • A niche encompasses conditions and resources a species requires.
    • The realized niche describes the actual conditions occupied by a species.
    • Biotic factors encompass interactions between organisms, while abiotic factors include non-living conditions (climate, pH, etc).
    • Populations are groups of the same species in the same area/time.
    • Communities are groups of populations interacting in a common habitat.
    • Ecosystems include the living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components of an area.

    Biomes, Zonation, and Succession

    • Biomes are collections of ecosystems with similar climates.
    • Key factors influencing biome distribution include insolation (solar radiation), precipitation, and temperature.
    • Zonation describes community changes along environmental gradients (e.g., altitude).
    • Succession is the directional change over time in an ecosystem.

    Pyramid Structures

    • Productivity/energy flow through trophic levels can be represented by pyramids depicting the standing biomass/productivity of a given period.
    • Pathways of energy in ecosystems include the conversion of light energy to chemical energy, transfer between trophic levels, and release of energy as heat.

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    Description

    Explore the concept of Environmental Value Systems (EVS) and their historical influences on the environmental movement. This quiz delves into the spectrum of viewpoints from ecocentric to anthropocentric, highlighting how cultural and socio-economic factors shape our environmental perceptions and decisions.

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