Unit 1: Foundations of ESS
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Questions and Answers

Which of the following are considered to be major sources of pollution?

  • Combustion of fossil fuels (correct)
  • Domestic waste (correct)
  • Industrial waste (correct)
  • Agricultural waste (correct)
  • All of the above (correct)

    • What is the difference between a primary pollutant and a secondary pollutant?

    A primary pollutant is emitted directly from a source, while a secondary pollutant is formed through the chemical transformation of a primary pollutant in the environment.

    Which of the following is an example of a point source pollution?

  • Agricultural Runoff
  • Urban stormwater
  • Runoff from construction sites
  • Industrial discharge from a factory (correct)

    • Define persistent organic pollutants (POP) and give an example.

    <p>Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are resistant to breaking down and remain in the environment for a long time. They bioaccumulate in organisms. An example of a POP is DDT.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the difference between bioaccumulation and biomagnification?

    <p>Bioaccumulation refers to the buildup of a pollutant in the tissues of an organism over time, while biomagnification refers to the increase in concentration of a pollutant as it moves up the food chain. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    An acute pollution event typically causes immediate effects, while chronic pollution has gradually building effects that may go undetected for a long time.

    <p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The presence of leafy lichens on trees is a sign of high air pollution.

    <p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Define ecosystem.

    <p>An ecosystem is a community of living organisms and the physical environment they interact with.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the difference between a species and a population?

    <p>A species is a group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring. A population is a group of individuals of the same species living in the same area at the same time.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a factor affecting population size?

    <p>Weather (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Define habitat.

    <p>A habitat is the environment in which a species normally lives.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is an example of an abiotic factor?

    <p>Temperature (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Define niche.

    <p>A niche is the role a species plays in an ecosystem, including its habitat, food sources, and interactions with other organisms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Two species can occupy the same niche in the same location at the same time.

    <p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the difference between a fundamental niche and a realized niche?

    <p>The fundamental niche is the full range of conditions a species could potentially occupy, while the realized niche is the actual range of conditions it occupies due to interactions with other organisms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Define carrying capacity.

    <p>Carrying capacity is the maximum population size that a given environment can sustainably support.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a population interaction?

    <p>Cooperation (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the difference between intraspecific competition and interspecific competition?

    <p>Intraspecific competition occurs between individuals of the same species, while interspecific competition occurs between individuals of different species.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Predation is a type of population interaction where one species benefits while the other is harmed.

    <p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Define mutualism.

    <p>Mutualism is a type of interaction between two species where both benefit.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of population growth pattern is characterized by an initial rapid growth followed by a slowing down and stabilization around the carrying capacity?

    <p>Logistic growth (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which population growth pattern is characterized by an initial period of slow growth followed by a rapid, uncontrolled increase, eventually leading to a collapse?

    <p>Exponential growth (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    A dieback occurs when a population exceeds the carrying capacity of its environment and experiences a dramatic decline.

    <p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Define limiting factor.

    <p>A limiting factor is an environmental condition that restricts the growth or distribution of a species.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is an example of a density-dependent limiting factor?

    <p>Availability of food (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The law of thermodynamics states that energy can be created or destroyed but cannot be transformed.

    <p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes the second law of thermodynamics?

    <p>Entropy always increases in an isolated system. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Organisms can defy the second law of thermodynamics by creating energy from scratch.

    <p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The amount of energy transferred from one trophic level to the next in a food chain is typically around 90%.

    <p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Explain the concept of equilibrium in an ecosystem.

    <p>Equilibrium refers to a state of balance in an ecosystem, where the rates of inputs and outputs are equal, resulting in a relatively stable state.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    A stable equilibrium means that a system will return to its original state after a disturbance.

    <p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of feedback loop is generally considered to be beneficial for ecosystem stability?

    <p>Negative feedback loop (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the albedo effect?

    <p>The albedo effect refers to the reflectivity of a surface, with white surfaces having a high albedo and reflecting more sunlight, while dark surfaces have a low albedo and absorb more sunlight.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is resilience in an ecosystem?

    <p>Resilience is the ability of an ecosystem to return to its original state after a disturbance, maintaining its stability.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following factors typically contributes to higher resilience in an ecosystem?

    <p>High biodiversity (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a tipping point in an ecosystem?

    <p>A tipping point is a critical threshold where even a small change in an ecosystem can trigger a rapid and significant shift in its overall state.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Tipping points are typically easy to predict and can be easily reversed.

    <p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Define sustainability.

    <p>Sustainability is the ability to meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an ecological footprint?

    <p>The ecological footprint is a measure of the amount of land and water resources that are needed to sustain a particular lifestyle or activity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is biocapacity?

    <p>The ability of an ecosystem to regenerate resources and absorb waste. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is Earth Overshoot Day?

    <p>Earth Overshoot Day marks the date when humanity's demand for ecological resources and services exceeds what the Earth can regenerate in a given year.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is natural capital?

    <p>Natural capital refers to the world's stocks of natural assets, such as forests, fisheries, and soil, that provide a flow of goods and services to humans.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is natural income?

    <p>Natural income refers to the flow of resources and services derived from natural capital, such as timber, food, and clean water.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)?

    <p>An EIA is a process used to assess the potential environmental, social, and economic impacts of a proposed development project.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a step in the 7 key steps of an EIA?

    <p>Project implementation (E)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    EIAs are considered to be a perfect tool for avoiding all potential environmental impacts of a project.

    <p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Unit 1: Foundations of ESS

    • Biorights: All living things, regardless of their perceived value to humans, deserve to exist. This includes inherent value for both the environment and all organisms.

    • Environmental Value Systems (EVS): Individual or group worldviews that shape how environmental issues are perceived and evaluated.

    • Influencing Factors on EVSs: Education, experience, culture, media, and economics all influence an individual's or group's EVS.

    • Ecocentric EVS: Nature-centered, prioritizing biorights. Emphasizes education, self-restraint, and ecological balance. Deep ecologists are extreme ecocentrists.

    • Anthropocentric EVS: Human-centered, emphasizing sustainable human management of the global ecosystem. Views nature as something to utilize for human benefit.

    • Technocentric EVS: Technology-driven, believing that technological advancements can solve environmental problems. Prioritizes economic development and scientific control of systems. Cornucopians are extreme technocentrists.

    • Industrial Revolution: (1760-1840) Increased pollution and resource exploitation.

    • Minamata Bay Disaster: (1956) Mercury pollution in Japan, causing severe health problems. Demonstrated the dangers of pollution.

    • Silent Spring (Rachel Carson): (1962) Highlighted the dangers of pesticide use and bioaccumulation. Led to increased awareness, and 1970's confirmation of pesticide buildup.

    • Bhopal Disaster: (1984) Chemical leak in India resulting in widespread deaths and injuries. Highlighted the dangers of chemical industries.

    • Fridays for Future: (2018) Global youth-led climate strikes, spearheaded by Greta Thunberg.

    Systems and Models

    • System: Interrelated parts working together as a complex whole.

    • Open System: Exchanges energy and matter with its surroundings (e.g., living organisms).

    • Closed System: Exchanges energy but not matter with its surroundings (e.g., water cycle).

    • Isolated System: Exchanges neither energy nor matter with its surroundings (e.g., the universe).

    • Models of Systems: Simplified versions of reality used to understand and predict system behavior.

    • Strengths of Models: Simplify complex systems. Allow rapid testing of change impacts. Easier understanding for others.

    • Limitations of Models: Involve approximations and assumptions. May oversimplify complex interactions. Different models can produce differing results.

    • Transfer: Energy or matter moving from one place to another without changing state (e.g., water flowing).

    • Transformation: Energy or matter moving from one place to another and changing state (e.g., evaporation).

    Energy and Equilibria

    • Energy: The ability to do work. Governed by thermodynamics.

    • First Law of Thermodynamics: Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed. Total energy remains constant.

    • Second Law of Thermodynamics: Entropy (disorder) increases over time, reducing available energy. Food chain efficiencies impacted by reduced energy availability.

    • Energy Flow in Food Chains: Approximately 10% of energy transfers to the next trophic level.

    • Complexity and Stability: More complex systems tend to be more stable.

    • Equilibrium: The tendency of a system to return to its original state after disturbance.

    • Dynamic Equilibrium: System is always changing but remains balanced (e.g., body temperature).

    • Static Equilibrium: No change, no inputs or outputs (e.g., a bridge structure).

    • Stable Equilibrium: Tends to return to original state after disturbance.

    • Unstable Equilibrium: Easily disrupted balance.

    • Feedback Loops: Systems' self-regulation through responses to outside information.

    • Negative Feedback: Stabilizes the system, counteracts deviations from the original state (e.g., body temperature).

    • Positive Feedback: Amplifies changes, moves the system away from equilibrium (e.g., ice-cap melting).

    • Albedo Effect: Measure of how much light is reflected off a surface. White surfaces have high albedo; dark surfaces have low.

    • Resilience: A system's ability to return to its original state after a disturbance. Higher resilience means greater ability to withstand disturbances.

    • Factors affecting resilience: Primarily increased by complexity (and biodiversity).

    • Tipping Point: A threshold where small changes cause dramatic, large-scale responses. Examples include species extinction and coral reef death (often related to climate change).

    • Characteristics of Tipping Points: Fast shifts beyond threshold. Difficult to predict exact threshold. Changes are often long-lasting and reversed with difficulty.

    Sustainability

    • Sustainability: Meeting current needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet their needs. Balancing economic growth, environmental care, and social well-being.

    • Measuring Sustainability: Ecological footprint (EF) helps estimate resource demand and the Earth's ability to meet that demand.

    • Ecological Footprint (EF): Measures the area of land and water needed to sustainably provide resources at current rates of consumption. Units: global hectares (gha).

    • Factors in Calculating EF: Carbon sequestration, grazing land, forest products, fisheries, cropland, and built-up land.

    • Biocapacity: The Earth's capacity to generate biological materials and absorb waste. EF compared to biocapacity indicates if a resource reserve or deficit exists.

    • Overshoot Day: The point in a year when humanity's demands exceed Earth's capacity to regenerate resources.

    • Natural Capital: Natural resources and services that generate a sustainable income (e.g., forests, fisheries, pollination).

    • Natural Income: Sustainable yield of natural resources and services.

    Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

    • EIA: Assessment of the environmental, economic, and social impacts of development projects.

    • Key Steps in EIA: Screening, scoping, impact assessment, mitigation strategies, report, decision, monitoring.

    • Strengths of EIA: Avoiding environmental impacts. Increasing awareness and public input.

    • Weaknesses of EIA: Lack of precise system boundaries. Varying standards between countries. Potential for corruption.

    Humans and Pollution

    • Pollution: Substances or energy introduced into the environment causing harm to humans, resources, or ecosystems.

    • Types of Pollutants: Matter (organic/inorganic), energy (light, sound, heat), and organisms (biological agents, invasive species).

    • Major Sources of Pollution: Combustion of fossil fuels, domestic/industrial waste, and agricultural runoff.

    • Primary Pollutants: Directly emitted from a source (e.g., fossil fuel combustion).

    • Secondary Pollutants: Formed from chemical reactions of primary pollutants (e.g., tropospheric ozone).

    • Point Source Pollution: From a single, identifiable source (e.g., factory discharge). Often regulated or controlled.

    • Non-Point Source Pollution: From diffuse sources across a large area (e.g., agricultural runoff). Challenging to track and control.

    • Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs): Resist breakdown and accumulate in the environment.

    • Biodegradable Pollutants: Break down easily.

    • Bioaccumulation: Pollutants build up in an organism over time.

    • Biomagnification: Pollutants become more concentrated at higher trophic levels.

    • Acute Pollution: High concentrations from a rapid event.

    • Chronic Pollution: Long-term, gradual effects.

    • Pollution Monitoring: Direct (measuring pollutants) and indirect (observing changes in abiotic / biotic factors) methods.

    Ecosystems and Ecology

    • Ecosystem: A community of organisms interacting with their physical environment.

    • Ecology: The study of the interrelationships of organisms with their environment and each other.

    Species and Populations

    • Species: A group of organisms with shared characteristics that can interbreed to produce fertile offspring.

    • Population: A group of the same species living in the same area at the same time.

    • Population Density: Average number of individuals in a given area.

    • Factors Affecting Population Size: Mortality, natality, and migration (immigration/emigration).

    • Habitat: The environment in which a species normally lives.

    • Abiotic Factors: Non-living physical factors affecting organisms (temperature, sunlight, pollutants).

    • Biotic Factors: Living components of an ecosystem, including organisms and interactions.

    • Niche: The set of biotic and abiotic factors a species requires.

    • Fundamental Niche: The full range of conditions a species could occupy to survive and reproduce.

    • Realized Niche: The actual conditions a species does occupy due to biotic interactions.

    • Carrying Capacity: The maximum sustainable population size for a given area.

    • Population Interactions: Competition, predation, herbivory, parasitism, and mutualism influence population dynamics and carrying capacities.

    • Competition: Individuals competing for limited resources (intraspecific or interspecific).

    • Predation: One animal hunts and eats another.

    • Herbivory: Animals feed on plants.

    • Parasitism: One organism benefits at the expense of another.

    • Mutualism: Both organisms benefit from the interaction.

    • Logistic Growth (S curve): Population increases rapidly, then slows, reaching a stable carrying capacity.

    • Exponential Growth (J curve): Rapid, exponential growth followed by a collapse, due to exceeding carrying capacity.

    • Dieback: Population collapse due to exceeding carrying capacity.

    • Limiting Factors: Environmental conditions limiting processes, population growth, in particular.

    • Density-Dependent Limiting Factors: Influenced by population size (predation, disease, resources).

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    Description

    This quiz covers the fundamental concepts in Environmental Systems and Societies (ESS), focusing on biorights, environmental value systems (EVS), and their influencing factors. It explores various perspectives including ecocentric, anthropocentric, and technocentric views on environmental issues.

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