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Jackson APES
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Environment | The complex of physical, chemical, and biological factors that act upon an organism or a community, and which include the conditions of existence. It encompasses both the natural world and human-made surroundings. |
| Environmental science | A field that studies the interactions between the biological, chemical, and physical components of the environment. It seeks to understand environmental problems and develop solutions for issues such as pollution, conservation, and climate change. |
| Ecosystem | A dynamic complex of plant, animal, and microorganism communities and their nonliving environment interacting as a functional unit. Ecosystems can vary in size from a small pond to a vast forest. |
| Biotic | Pertaining to living organisms and their interactions within an environment. This includes all living components such as plants, animals, fungi, and bacteria. |
| Abiotic | Pertaining to nonliving components of an environment. This includes physical and chemical factors such as temperature, light, water, and minerals. |
| Environmentalist | An individual who is concerned with or advocates for the protection of the environment. Environmentalists work to promote sustainable practices and address environmental issues. |
| Ecosystem service | The benefits that humans receive from ecosystems. These services include provisioning (e.g., food, water), regulating (e.g., climate regulation, flood control), cultural, |
| Economic service | Benefits derived from ecosystems that contribute to economic value, such as resources (timber, minerals), agricultural products, and services that support economic activities. |
| Biodiversity | The variety and variability of life forms within a given ecosystem, region, or on the entire Earth. It includes species diversity, genetic diversity, and ecosystem diversity. |
| Genetic Diversity | The total number of genetic characteristics in the genetic makeup of a species. It is crucial for a population's ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions and avoid genetic diseases. |
| Species | A group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring under natural conditions. Members of a species share common characteristics and genetic heritage. |
| Species diversity | The variety of different species within a particular area or ecosystem. It is often measured by both the number of different species (richness) and the relative abundance of each species (evenness). |
| Speciation | The evolutionary process by which populations evolve to become distinct species. This often occurs through mechanisms such as geographic isolation, genetic divergence, and reproductive isolation. |
| Greenhouse gases | Gases in the Earth's atmosphere that trap heat, contributing to the greenhouse effect. Major greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), and water vapor (H₂O). |
| Anthropogenic | Originating from human activity. This term is often used to describe environmental changes, pollutants, or impacts that are the result of human actions, such as deforestation, industrial pollution, and urbanization. |
| Sustainability | The ability to maintain or improve the quality of life for present and future generations while conserving natural resources and ensuring environmental health. It involves balancing economic, social, and environmental considerations. |
| Biophilia | The inherent human affinity for nature and living things. It suggests that humans have an innate tendency to seek connections with the natural world and that this connection contributes to well-being and quality of life. |
| Ecological footprint | The measure of the environmental impact of an individual, community, or country, expressed as the amount of land and water area required to produce the resources consumed and absorb the waste generated. |
| Hypothesis | A testable and falsifiable statement or prediction about the relationship between two or more variables. It serves as a starting point for scientific investigation. |
| Control group | In an experiment, the group that is not exposed to the experimental treatment or condition. It is used as a baseline to compare with the experimental group to assess the effect of the treatment. |
| Sample size | The number of individual observations or data points collected in a study or experiment. A larger sample size generally increases the reliability and validity of the results. |
| Theory | A well-substantiated explanation of an aspect of the natural world that has been repeatedly tested and confirmed through observation and experimentation. Theories are broader and more comprehensive than hypotheses. |
| Acid | A substance that donates hydrogen ions (H⁺) or accepts electron pairs in a chemical reaction. Acids have a pH less than 7 and can turn blue litmus paper red. |
| Base | A substance that accepts hydrogen ions (H⁺) or donates electron pairs. Bases have a pH greater than 7 and can turn red litmus paper blue. |
| pH | A measure of the acidity or basicity of a solution. It is a scale from 0 to 14 where 7 is neutral, values less than 7 indicate acidity, and values greater than 7 indicate basicity. |
| Chemical reaction | A process in which substances (reactants) are transformed into different substances (products) with different properties through the breaking and forming of chemical bonds. |
| Law of conservation of matter | A fundamental principle stating that matter cannot be created or destroyed in a closed system during a chemical reaction; it can only change forms or be rearranged. |
| Renewable energy | Energy derived from natural sources that are replenished on a human timescale, such as solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal energy. |
| Nonrenewable energy | Energy derived from sources that are not replenished on a human timescale and are finite, such as fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) and nuclear fuels. |
| Chemical energy | The energy stored in the bonds of chemical compounds, which can be released or absorbed during a chemical reaction. |
| First law of thermodynamics | Also known as the law of energy conservation, it states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another. In an isolated system, the total energy remains constant. |
| Second law of thermodynamics | States that the total entropy (disorder) of an isolated system always increases over time. It implies that energy transformations are not 100% efficient and that systems tend toward greater disorder. |
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jacejackson0
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