Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the primary driver for loss of biodiversity?
What is the primary driver for loss of biodiversity?
- Climate change
- Pollution
- Overharvesting
- Habitat loss (correct)
What are the two main ways habitat loss occurs?
What are the two main ways habitat loss occurs?
- Urban development and pollution
- Climate change and drought
- Deforestation and habitat fragmentation (correct)
- Overfishing and soil erosion
How does overharvesting reduce biodiversity?
How does overharvesting reduce biodiversity?
- By leading to species extinction (correct)
- By promoting ecosystem resilience
- By increasing genetic variation
- By stabilizing population dynamics
Which food source requires the most water to grow?
Which food source requires the most water to grow?
What is eutrophication?
What is eutrophication?
What do DDT and atrazine have in common?
What do DDT and atrazine have in common?
What is the carrying capacity in reference to?
What is the carrying capacity in reference to?
What effects do dead zones have on ecosystems?
What effects do dead zones have on ecosystems?
Flashcards
Anthropocene definition
Anthropocene definition
The current geological age, defined by significant human impact on Earth's systems.
Biodiversity value
Biodiversity value
Biodiversity provides essential services to society: clean air & water, food sources, medicine, and more.
Population factors
Population factors
Factors like birth rate, death rate, immigration, and emigration influence population size and growth.
Habitat loss causes
Habitat loss causes
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Overharvesting impact
Overharvesting impact
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Bioaccumulation vs. Biomagnification
Bioaccumulation vs. Biomagnification
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Eutrophication cause
Eutrophication cause
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Climate change impact
Climate change impact
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Study Notes
Lecture #14: Impact of Humans on the Environment
- Anthropocene: A current geological epoch defined by significant human impact on the environment.
- Biodiversity: The variety of life on Earth, assessed by species and ecosystems. Its value is crucial to society.
- Identified Species: A large number of species have been identified on Earth.
- Population Factors: Studies of population examine factors like population size, growth rate, and distribution to understand population trends.
- Human Population: Current human population and projected future changes.
- Population Growth Patterns: Nature displays various population growth patterns, with some more common than others. Carrying capacity is a factor in population growth.
- Environmental Degradation: Human activities, particularly in food production, damage the environment, decreasing biodiversity.
- Habitat Loss: Two primary contributors are habitat destruction and fragmentation.
- Overharvesting: Depleting resources via overconsumption (e.g., hunting, fishing).
- Resource Depletion: The case of water usage for food production.
- Toxic Chemicals: Chemicals such as DDT and atrazine can pollute environments and harm organisms due to bioaccumulation and biomagnification.
- Nutrient Enrichment: Farming practices cause excess nutrients, like nitrogen and phosphorus, to enter ecosystems causing eutrophication.
- Eutrophication: A process where excess nutrients lead to algal blooms and dead zones in bodies of water.
- Greenhouse Effect: The natural process by which gases in the atmosphere trap heat.
- Greenhouse Gases: CO2 and methane (CH4) are vital in this process.
- Climate Change: The enhanced greenhouse effect, caused by increased greenhouse gases, leads to the observed climate change. Rapid climate change significantly impacts organisms.
Additional Topics
- Sustainable Diet: A veggie-based diet might reduce environmental impact (referencing the 10% rule and energy diagrams).
- Sustainable Practices: Living sustainably involves adopting several methods for a lower impact (e.g., reducing waste, conserving resources).
- Sustainability Considerations: The History of Stuff provides different perspectives on sustainability and its impact on personal lives.
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