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18 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What was the first national park and what year was it established?
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Yellowstone National Park, 1872 |
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US congress Act in 1914
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Provided funding to eliminate predators from national parks and public lands in order to increase game animals for hunters. Also pushed through by ranchers and farmers.
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What year was the last wolf eliminated from Yellowstone. What were some unforeseen consequences. |
1926. Elk population exploded, coyotes population increased (normally killed by wolves). Coyotes reduced small mammal species (mice, squirrels and, rabbits). Coyotes killed newborn proghorns reducing their pop. Cottonwood and willows declined with increased grazing by elk. |
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What years were wolves reintroduced to Yellowstone and how many? What has resulted from the reintroduction.
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31 wolves between 1995, and 1996. Today there are about 100. Elk pop dropped from 19,000 to 4,000. Elk grazing behavior changed (move more) increase cottonwood and willow. Leads to increase in beavers. Beaver dams and extra shade increase fish habitat. Trees provide homes for birds. Coyote population decreased, smaller rodents increase in pop (voles, mice), increases food for foxes, hawks, and owls.
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Definition of Environmental Science
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Interdisciplinary field that includes both scientific and social aspects of human impact on the world. Interdisciplinary field that includes science, economics, sociology, and politics.
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Environment
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Surrounding conditions that affect organisms, more generally everything that affects an organism during it's lifetime. All organisms including people can affect it.
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Science
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Approach to studying the natural world that involves formulating hypotheses and then testing them to see if the hypotheses are supported or refuted. |
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When was the first earth day?
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April 22, 1970.
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Ecosystem
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A region in which the organisms and the physical environment form an interacting unit. Includes complex network of interrelationships. Sometimes boundaries and clear (physical boundaries like mountains and rivers) and unclear boundaries (grassland to desert)
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Purpose of an environmental scientist
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Recognize and understand and the natural interactions that take place and to integrate these with the uses humans must make of the natural world. |
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AASHE (Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education)
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Founded in 2006, membership organization of colleges and universities in US and Canada. Over 800 members. Mission is to promote sustainability (defined as human and ecological health, social justice, secure livelihoods, and a better world for all generations). |
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STARS (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System).
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Rating system used by AASHE. Focuses on education/research, operations, and administration/finance.
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Population growth
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Core cause of current environmental crisis. Generally in less developed nations and is a contributing factor in poverty.
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Population growth leads to increased agriculture
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Large portion of earths surface converted for raising crops or grazing cattle. Destroys ecosystems.
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Organism extinction
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Ripples through ecosystem. Current rate of extinction matches previous mass extinctions. |
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ecosystem services
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Regulating services: waste decomposition, pollination, purification of water/air, pest/disease control. Cultural Services: Spiritual, recreational, and cultural Supporting Services: nutrient cycling, photosynthesis, and soil formation |
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Food security
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Most of the worlds poor are subsistence farmers and are affected most by environmental disasters. Plenty of food in the world, shortages caused by economics and distribution. |
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Environment and Health
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1/4 of all diseases are caused by environmental exposure (World Health Organization WHO) 13 million preventable deaths yearly worldwide. Number in poor countries is 1/3.
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