BIOL1400 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
Objectives, Key Terms and Concepts
KELEHER - Introduction - Understanding Our Environment
Objectives:
1. Define Environmental Science and describe its human dimensions.
2. Explain some of the most important environmental problems facing the world.
3. Discuss some of the people that have shaped our ideas of resource conservation and preservation (e.g. Case Study on
pp 46).
Key Terms:
Environment
Preservation
Environmental Science
Sustainable development
Utilitarian conservation
Environmentalism
Focused Concepts:
A. A Closer Look – Sustainable development. What does it mean? What does it have to do with environmental
science? (pp 34-35)
KELEHER - The Process of Science
Objectives:
1. Understand what science is, its criteria, limitations and the scientific method.
2. Compare and contrast inductive and deductive logic.
3. Why is critical thinking essential for understanding environmental science?
Key Terms:
Science
Inductive Reasoning
Natural Experiment
Scientific consensus
Reproducibility
Hypothesis
Independent variable
Paradigm shift
Replication
Scientific theory
Independent variable
Sound science
Deductive reasoning
Probability
Manipulative experiment
Critical thinking
Focused Concepts:
A. Exploring Science – Why do Scientists Answer Questions with a Number? (pp 29)
B. Data Analysis – Working with Graphs. (pp. 38-39)
DREXLER – Environmental Ethics
Objectives:
Since philosophy in general is not about the acquisition of facts, but rather the exploration of truths and moralities
through arguments made by specific, real life people who come from various perspectives, you should understand:
1. WHO thinks WHICH major argument…not just that an argument or view exists but WHO thought it. (For instance,
WHO argues that sentience is important? WHO believes we should take an ecocentric view of the land? etc.)
2. The basic Roman foundations of the concept of the Commons.
Key Terms:
All key terms presented in the lectures.
KELEHER – Systems, Chemistry, Water and Biochemical Cycles
Objectives:
1. Understand what a system is and how feedback loops can affect a system.
2. Understand the basic chemistry of life (matter, elements, organic compounds, pH etc.)
3. Describe the 4 major groups of biologically important organic macromolecules.
4. List and explain the unique properties of water.
5. Describe the general steps in the primary biochemical cycles (hydrologic, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur
cycles) and understand how human activities are impacting these cycles.
Key Terms:
System
Threshold
Disturbance
Emergent property
Isotope
Base
Carbohydrate
Open system
Positive feedback
Resilience
Matter
Compound
pH
Lipid
Closed system
Negative feedback
State shift
Atom
Molecule
Organic compound
Protein
Throughput
Homeostasis
Element
Atomic number
Acid
Nucleotide
Cell
Focused Concepts:
A. Exploring Science – A “Water Planet” (Page 72)
KELEHER - Energy and Food Webs
Objectives:
1. Explain the concept of “energy” including the types, qualities and the Laws of Thermodynamics.
2. Understand energy flow in life systems (photosynthesis, cellular respiration, food chains/webs and trophic biology).
Key Terms:
Energy
Chemical Energy
Primary producer
Cellular respiration
Consumer
Herbivore
Detritivore
Kinetic Energy
Thermodynamics
Chemosynthesis
Biological community
Productivity
Carnivore
Decomposer
Potential Energy
Entropy
Photosynthesis
Ecosystem
Biomass
Omnivore
Heat
Population
Species
Producer
Food web
Scavenger
Focused Concepts:
A. A Closer Look – How do energy and matter move through systems? (Page 80)
KELEHER – Evolution, Natural Selection and Taxonomy
Objectives:
1. Understand evolution and the process of natural selection.
2. Explain the concept of tolerance limits (Fig 3.4)
3. Describe what and ecological niche is and the role of species in their environment.
4. Explain how new species arise via the process of speciation.
5. Understand taxonomy and the scientific name.
Key Terms:
Evolution
Mutation
Tolerance limit
Competitive Exclusion
Allopatric speciation
Natural Selection
Genetic drift
Habitat
Resource partitioning
Sympatric speciation
Adaptation
Charles Darwin
Ecological niche
Speciation
Taxonomy
Focused Concepts:
A. Case Study – Darwin’s Voyage of Discovery (Page 89)
B. A Closer Look – Where do Species Come From? (Page 94)
Selective pressure
Critical factor
Endemic species
Geographic isolation
Scientific name
KELEHER - Species Interactions, and Biological Communities
Objectives:
1. List and explain the primary species interactions that shape communities (competition, predation, symbiosis, keystone
species).
2. Compare and contrast r-selected and K-selected species.
3. Understand species diversity and how this diversity is distributed at different scales.
4. Briefly describe the concept of community ecology in terms of succession and disturbance.
Key Terms:
Intraspecific competition
Mullerian mimicry
Parasitism
Ecotone
Core habitat
Gross primary productivity
Primary succession
Interspecific competition
Coevolution
Symbiosis
Biological diversity
Fragmentation
Net primary productivity
Secondary succession
Batesian mimicry
Mutualism
Predator
Edge effect
Complexity
Stability
Pioneer species
Abundance
Commensalism
Keystone species
Community structure
Resilience
Climax community
Disturbance
Focused Concepts:
A. Data Analysis – Species Competition (Page 113).
KELEHER – Biomes and Climate Diagrams
Objectives:
1. List and describe the nine major terrestrial biomes and the environmental factors that determine their distribution.
2. List and describe the primary marine and freshwater environments and the environmental factors that determine
them. Explain the role of vertical stratification in these environments.
3. Argue why each of these biomes and aquatic environments are important.
Key Terms:
Biome
Benthic
Vertical zonation
Pelagic
Deciduous
Coral bleaching
Phytoplankton
Thermocline
Focused Concepts:
A. Climate Diagrams: Figure 5.6 (Page 118)
Lecture Topic: Biological Diversity, Threats and Conservation (Keleher)
Objectives:
1. Explain what biological diversity encompasses. List and explain the three “types” of biodiversity (genetic,
species, ecosystem).
2. Contrast the phylogenetic and evolutionary species concepts.
3. List regions in the world that have the greatest biodiversity.
4. List and explain the major benefits of biodiversity (e.g. A Closer Look).
5. Describe the primary human-caused threats to biodiversity.
6. Provide an overview of the Endangered Species Act.
7. Compare and contrast the types of in-situ conservation strategies.
8. List the different types of ex-situ conversation facilities.
9. Understand the variations on extinction of species.
Key Terms:
Biodiversity
Biodiversity Hot Spot
Endangered species
Conservation
Extinction
Invasive species
Threatened species
In-situ Conservation
HIPPO
Pollution
Vulnerable species
Ex-situ Conservation
Fragmentation
Overharvesting
Minimum Viable Population
Introduction
Reintroduction
Captive breeding
The Living Dead
Mass extinction
Augmentation
Recovery plan
Extirpated
Gap analysis
Translocation
Indicator species
Ecologically extinct
Head-start
Extinct
Background extinction
Focused Concepts:
A. Case Study: Predators Help Restore Biodiversity in Yellowstone (Page 115)
B. Exploring Science: Using Telemetry to Monitor Wildlife (Page 135)
Lecture Topic: Population Characteristics (Keleher)
Objectives:
1. Be able to discuss the Principle of Allocation and relate this to how organisms allocate their energy. Be sure to
include aspects related to reproductive effort and adult survivorship.
2. Compare and contrast r-selected species with K-selected species.
3. Be able to describe the 3 types of Survivorship Curves and give examples of organisms that tend to demonstrate
each type.
4. Be able to list and describe how populations of the same species can be different (hint: there are 7 aspects).
5. Describe how age distribution graphs can be used to understand past population growth as well as be used to
predict future growth.
6. Be able to draw and describe a population growth curve. What effects do fertility rate and longevity (life
expectancy) have on a population’s growth curve?
7. As above, be able to describe the biotic potential of a population and how it is affected by environmental
resistance factors. Adding to this the notion of extrinsic and intrinsic factors.
8. Be able to answer the question and give reasons for “Can Populations Grow Unregulated Forever?” Explain the
concept of “carrying capacity”.
9. Be able to list and describe a number of population-limiting factors (environmental resistance factors). Which
ones would be considered density-dependent? Density-independent?
10. Compare and contrast exponential and logistic growth. Be able to describe the growth of the human
population.
11. Briefly explain what a population cycle is. Describe one of the examples presented in the lecture material.
Key Terms:
Life History
Reproductive Effort
Survivorship Curve
Type III Curve
Birth rate
Death rate
Age distribution
Dispersal/emigration
Population-limiting factor
Decelaration phase
Logistic Growth
Logistic growth
Principle of Allocation
r-Selection
Type I Curve
Natality
Asexual reproduction
Population growth rate
Abundance
Immigration
Lag phase
Biotic Potential
Carrying capacity
Density-dependent
Fecundity
K-selection
Type II Curve
Mortality
Sexual reproduction
Sex ratio
Population density
Environmental resistance factor or
Stable equilibrium phase
Exponential Growth
Exponential growth
Lecture Topic: Human Population (Dastrup)
Objectives:
1. Be able to describe the human population in terms of growth, birth rates (CBR), death/mortality rates (CDR and
IMR), fertility rates (TFR) and population pyramids (age distributions) from several different areas of the world.
2. Be able to describe the “basic demographic equation”.
3. Explain what a Demographic Transition Model is. Describe the different stages and be able to give examples of
countries that are in each of the different stages.
4. What is a population profile? Who uses these and why?
5. What is the future of human population growth? Worldwide? Different countries? Be able to describe and/or
list ways of slowing human population growth.
Key Terms:
Crude Birth Rate
Zero Population Growth
Rate of Natural Increase
Preindustrial Stage
Medical Revolution
Population Pyramid
Dependency Ratio
Ecumene
Population Density
Urbanization
S-Curve
Population Momentum
Total Fertility Rate
Crude Death Rate
Rate of Population Growth
High Growth Stage
Low Population Neutrality
Demography
Doubling Time
Nonecumene
Physiological Density
Population Projections
Neo-Malthusianism
Replacement Level Fertility
Infant Mortality Rate
Demographic Transition Model
Moderate Growth Stage
Population Profile
Cohort
Population Relocation
Overpopulation
Agricultural Density
Thomas Malthus
Homeostatic Plateau
Lecture Topic: Human Geography (Dastrup)
Objectives:
1. Be able to describe the different aspects of geography and in particular, human geography.
2. Explain some of the correlations in the Geographic Continuum.
3. Be able to list the core concepts (questions asked) in Geography.
4. Compare and contrast absolute and relative location, direction and distance.
5. What is Geospatial Technology? Describe some of the primary types of technology.
Key Terms:
Geography
GPS
Relative location
Relative direction
Natural landscape
Human Geography
GIS
Absolute distance
Site
Cultural landscape
Spatial variation
Geographic Continuum
Relative distance
Situation
Geospatial Revolution
Remote-sensing
Absolute location
Absolute direction
Scale
Lecture Topic – Food and Agriculture (Dastrup)
Objectives:
1. Be able to describe the competing ideas for and against Malthus’s theory.
2. Explain global trends in food and nutrition. Why do nutritionists worry about food security?
3. What does it mean to be chronically undernourished? How many people in the world currently suffer from this
condition?
4. What conditions constitute famine?
5. List and describe the three basic crops that provide most human caloric intake.
6. Be able to explain what humans eat and the debate on if we should focus on hungry or overweight populations.
7. Compare and contrast the competing means of food production (Green Revolution, Organic Food, GMOs).
8. Describe fertile soil and the ways in which soil is abused.
9. Describe sustainable agriculture.
Key Terms:
Food security
Soil
Water-logging
Famine
Malnourishment
Sheet erosion Rill Erosion
Salinization
Organophosphates
Obese
CAFO
Gully Erosion Desertification
Genetically Modified Organism (GMO)
Contour Farming
Strip-Farming
Regenerative Farming Terracing
Reduced Tillage System
Key Concepts:
1. A Closer Look – How can we feed the world? – Page 232-233
Lecture Topic: Environmental Health and Toxicology (Dastrup)
Objectives:
1. Be able to define health, disease and the concept of “environmental health”.
2. Describe the primary health risks that humans should worry most about.
3. Why are some emergent diseases more frequent today?
4. Describe the field of Toxicology. Explain the effects that toxins have on human health.
5. Describe how toxins are introduced, distributed and disposed of. Be able to list some of the top toxic and
hazardous substances.
6. Explain the following statement by Paracelsus “The dose makes the poison.”
7. Compare and contrast chemicals that are dangerous and those that are harmless.
8. How much risk is generally acceptable?
Key Terms:
Health
Disease
Pathogen
Emergent Disease
Toxic
Toxicology
Life years
Neurotoxin
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Endocrine Hormone Disrupter
Chronic effect Hormesis
Morbidity
Ecological Disease
Allergen
Mutagen
Bioaccumulation
LD50
Synergis
Mortality
Environmental Health
Conservation Medicine
Antigen
Disability-Adjusted
Teratogen
Carcinogen
Biomagnification
Persistent Organic Pollutant
Acute effect
Key Concepts:
1. Tips for Staying Healthy – Page 250
2. A Closer Look – What toxins and hazards are present in your home? – Page 252-253
3. Critical Thinking and Discussion Questions – Page 266.
Lecture Topic: Land Use Planning (Ramjoue)
Objectives:
1. Explain why most major cities are located on rivers, lakes, or the ocean.
2. Describe the forces that result in farmland adjacent to cities being converted to urban uses.
3. Explain why floodplains and wetlands are often mismanaged.
4. Describe the economic and social values involved in planning for outdoor recreation opportunities
5. Explain why some land must be designated for particular recreational uses, such as wilderness areas, and why
that decision sometimes invites disagreement from those who do not wish to use the land in the designated
way.
6. List the steps in the development and implementation of a land-use plan.
7. Describe methods of enforcing compliance with land-use plans.
8. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of both local and regional land-use planning.
9. Describe the concept of smart growth.
Key Terms:
Rural-to-Urban Shift
Central City
Cul-de-sac
Liquefaction
Urbanization
Suburb
Urban Sprawl
Fault Zone
Shantytown
Urban
Reverse Migration
Land-Use Planning
Infrastructure
William Leavitt
Fragmentation
Sustainability
Open Space
Megalopolis
Floodplain
Greenways
Transit-Oriented Design
Land Trust
Wasatch Choice for 2040
Mixed Use Strategy
Infill Development
Solar Access Protection Smart Growth
Brownfield Redevelopment
LEED
Lecture Topic: Solid Waste (Keleher)
Objectives:
1. Be able to list and describe each of the primary kinds of solid waste.
2. What is the waste stream?
3. How have we historically dealt with waste? What are the various methods of waste disposal used today? Be
able to compare and contrast each of these. Be sure to include advantages and disadvantages of each.
4. What are the 3 “R”s? Explain the differences and benefits of each.
Key Terms:
Solid Waste
Tailings
Waste Stream
Leachate
Waste-to-energy
Compost
Great Pacific Garbage Patch
Waste Rock
Incineration
Reuse
Sludge
Mass burn
Recycle
Municipal Solid Waste
Energy Recovery
Downcycling
Key Concepts:
A Closer Look – Garbage: liability or resource? Be able to provide a general explanation of each of the primary types of
municipal solid waste including how much is generated, how much is recovered and where it goes.
Lecture Topic: Hazardous Waste (Keleher)
Objectives:
1. Be able to define and describe what a toxic or hazardous waste material is. Be sure you can list examples.
2. Where is most hazardous waste generated?
3. There are two primary laws that regulate hazardous waste? What are they? What are the primary problems
facing hazardous waste regulation?
4. How is hazardous waste disposed of?
5. Describe a Superfund site. What is the Superfund?
Key Terms:
Hazardous waste
EPA
Superfund
Toxic
Explosive
Brownfield
Carcinogenic
Reactive
Mutagenic
Corrosive
Tertogenic
CERCLA
LECTURE TOPIC: Water Resources and Pollution
Objectives
1. Briefly describe the formation and unique properties of water.
2. Be able to describe the path a water molecule will follow through each of the 4 loops in the water cycle.
3. Describe the primary water compartments on earth and the approximate resident times and size of each. Be
sure to include freshwater compartments (e.g. 10.3)
4. What are the threats facing each of the primary water compartments?
5. List the primary functions that wetlands provide.
6. Why does water availability vary on earth? Which areas have the greatest water available? Who are the “have
nots”?
7. Compare and contrast water withdrawal and water consumption.
8. How is water used by humans?
9. What is pollution? Water pollution? What are the primary sources of water pollution?
10. Explain the difference between point and non-point pollution. Which is harder to control? Why? (page 444 and
454)
11. Be able to list and briefly explain the types of water pollution (biological, inorganic, organic, sediment, thermal)
(Pages 444-449)
12. Explain the process of biomagnification.
13. Be able to describe the primary steps in cultural eutrophication and an oxygen sag.
14. Describe the three basic steps in water treatment (page 455).
15. Briefly explain the Clean Water Act of 1972. (page 457)
16. List ways that you can save water and prevent water pollution.
Key Terms:
Cohesion
Hydrologic cycle
Water table
Recharge zone
Lake
Water consumption
Non-point source
Euphotic zone
Pathogen
Oligotrophic
Adhesion
Resident time (r)
Aquifer
Discharge
Renewable water
Pollution
Point source
Phytoplankton
Coliform bacteria
Eutrophic
High surface tension
Zone of aeration
Groundwater
River
John Wesley Powell
Water pollution
DDT
Submerged plant
Oxygen sag
Thermal pollution
Key Concepts:
Case Study – When will Lake Mead Go Dry? Page 432
A Closer Look – Could Natural Systems treat our Wastewater? Page 458-459
Specific heat capacity
Zone of saturation
Artesian well
Wetland
Water withdrawal
Point source
Biomagnification
Cultural eutrophication
Dissolved oxygen
Sentinal species