Environmental Science Inquiry & Application

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Environmental Science

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Is interdisciplinary, drawing from both the natural sciences and social sciences
AND
Is the systematic study of our environment and humans’ place in it

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In designing a controlled experiment in a scientific study:

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You change one independent variable and observe the effect on the dependent variable.

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If the probability of flipping a coin and getting heads is 50% (1 in 2) or 0.5, then the probability of flipping a coin and getting heads three times in a row is:

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b. 0.5 x 0.5 x 0.5

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Scientific theory

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well-tested and accepted hypothesis

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Hypothesis

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conditional explanation that can be tested

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Habitat loss

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primary cause of species extinctions

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Sustainable development

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meets current needs without compromising future generations

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Chemosynthetic bacteria

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primary producers where there is no sunlight

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Probability

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measure of likelihood

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Photosynthesis

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most primary producers on Earth can do this

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Biomass

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this decreases at higher trophic levels

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Kinetic energy

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the energy of a body in motion

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Environment

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physical, social and cultural conditions that surround organisms

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Endangered Species Act

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passed 1973; identifies at-risk species, directs recovery planning, provides landowner aid and enforcement measures

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Endangered

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species in imminent danger of extinction

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Pelagic

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Refers to “in the water column”

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Climate

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long-term atmospheric conditions

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Tundra

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northernmost biome in the world

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Weather

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short-term atmospheric conditions

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Benthic

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Refers to “on the bottom”

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Threatened

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species likely to become endangered in foreseeable future

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Boreal forests

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largest land biome on Earth

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Biodiversity “hot spots”

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Most are near the equator, especially tropical rainforests and coral reefs