Name:
Hour:
Date:
Alpha particle
Limiting factor resulting from something nonliving: shortage of a resource (food, water, space)
Weather /disasters: temp, rain, hurricane, wind
Organisms that result in the extinction of other
species because they out compete native species
for resources
The largest radioactive particle that can be given
off by an atom; can be easily stopped with paper
Anemometer
Tool used to measure wind speed for windmills
Anthracite
The cleanest burning coal; produces the most
energy when burned
Abiotic Limiting Factor
Alien species (invasive/exotic)
Atomic mass
This growth occurs in a population when its
numbers continue to increase by the same value
(Example: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 etc.)
Number of protons and/plus the number of
neutrons in an atom’s nucleus
Atomic power
Energy trapped inside a nucleus of an atom
Background rate of extinction
This is the # of organisms that will become
extinct due to natural causes, not human beings
Biodiversity
The variety of different species on in a given
area; benefits of protecting include: medicine,
Arithmetic
industry, agriculture, ethics, aesthetics & recreation
Biomass fuel
Biotic limiting factor
Biotic potential
Environmental Science – Final Exam: Spring Semester Notecards
Use of yard clippings, manure, or left-over crops
as a source of energy
Limiting factor resulting from another organism:
competition: 2 or more organisms fighting for a
resource (parasitism, predation)
When populations grow at a geometric rate, the
fastest rate at which a population can grow;
limited by reproductive potential
Page 1
Dependent variable
Maximum number of organisms that an ecosystem
can support for any length of time; determined by
the limiting resource (food/water)
This part of a nuclear power plant keeps the rate
of fission regulated so the reactor does not blow
up like a bomb
Factor that depends on a populations size; for
example a disease infecting one tree could lead to
destruction of nearby trees (small vs. large forest)
Factor that has the same impact on a population
regardless of its size; for example: volcanic
eruptions, fire, habitat destruction in general
This value is always plotted on the Y-axis of a
population graph
Electricity
The "flow" of electrons; when electrons move
between atoms, a current of electricity is created
Electron
The negative part of an atom; electric current is
the movement/flow of this particle
Carrying capacity
Control rods
Density-dependent factor
Density-independent factor
Emergent plants
Plants that have roots attached to the ground and
have leaves and stems extending above the water’s
surface; Ex: cattails
An area where fresh water meets salt water
Estuary
Eutrophication
Fission
Fossil fuel
Fusion
Gamma radiation
Environmental Science – Final Exam: Spring Semester Notecards
Water pollution may cause this – when a pond or
lake eventually fills in and dries up; Excess
nitrogen and phosphorous effect lakes usually by
The process of splitting an atom’s nucleus to
obtain energy; how nuclear power plants get their
power
Formed hundreds of millions of years ago; Coal, Oil
(Petroleum) & Natural Gas (Main use of coal in our
country is for electricity production)
The combination of two small nuclei to form a
larger nucleus; reaction in which 2 atoms of
hydrogen combine to form an atom of helium
High frequency photons; the most dangerous
radioactive particle; penetrates most materials
Page 2
Geothermal power
This type of growth is shaped like the letter “J”
when graphed; (Ex: 4, 12, 36, 108, 324); occurs in
nature when there is no competition or predator
energy found from the heat in the earth's crust
(earth’s core)
(Global) population growth
Birth rate minus death rate
Habitat destruction
The number one cause of species extinction
Half-life
The time required for half of a radioactive atom
to decay
Heating & Industry
The main use of natural gas in the United States
Hydric soil
A type of soil found in wetlands; waterlogged and
low in oxygen
Geometric
(also called exponential or logarithmic)
Hydroelectricity
Hydrophytes
Interspecific competition
Intraspecific competition
Isotope
Kilowatt-hours
Lag Phase
Environmental Science – Final Exam: Spring Semester Notecards
Use of water as an energy source; involves a
penstock
Plants that are adapted to living in very wet soil;
common in wetland areas
Relationship that exists when two members of
DIFFERENT species compete for a resource; one
hunts the other or is faster & eats all the food
Relationship that exists when two members of the
SAME species compete for a resource; plants
compete for light or wolves for rabbits
Atoms with the same number of protons but a
different number of neutrons; Different isotopes
have different atomic masses; Ex: 235 or 238
Ex:Element-24 has 10 protons & 14 neutrons
How electric companies measure (charge us for)
the energy we use
This occurs when there is little growth in a
population because its members are "getting used
to" a new environment
Page 3
Limnology
The study of biotic and abiotic features of fresh
bodies of water (lakes, ponds and streams)
Littoral Community
The shallowest part of a pond, closest to the
shore; a lot of plant/animal growth
Methane
Neutron
Non- renewable energy
Another name for natural gas; a by-product when
bacteria break down wastes in a landfill, can be
burned to generate heat and electricity
This subatomic particle has NO charge; In a
nuclear reactor, these particles are fired at atoms
to split their nuclei
Fossil fuels: coal, oil, natural gas
pH Scale
alternative energy technology that uses the
temperature difference between layers of water
to generate electricity
A U-shaped body of water formed when a wide
meander from the main stem of a river is cut off
to create a lake
Neutral = 7, acid = less than 7 base = higher than
7. Most lakes have pH 6.5-9
Petroleum oil
fossil fuel is taken to a refinery and split into
different products when heated
OTEC
(ocean thermal energy conversion)
Oxbow Lake
convert sunlight into electricity
Photovoltaic cells
Profundal Community
The deepest part of a lake; little or no sunlight
and low oxygen; has bacteria & fungi
The positive part of an atom
Proton
Radioactivity
When an unstable atom breaks down, releasing
energy and atomic sub-particles
Rainfall
most influential factor determining the kinds of
plants living in a wetland
Environmental Science – Final Exam: Spring Semester Notecards
Page 4
Secchi disc
S-shaped curve
instrument is used to measure total suspended
solids in a lake (T.S.S.: rock/soil erosion, algae,
decaying plants/animals)
Populations controlled by density dependent
factors: has a Lag Phase, Exponential Phase and
Carrying Capacity
two main air pollutants causing acid rain
sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide
Time
This unit should always be written on the X-axis
when making a graph of population growth
Transportation
The main use of petroleum oil in the United
States
Tributary
A smaller river or stream which feeds into a
larger river or stream
Uranium
Fuel used in a nuclear power plant
Volts
The force that "pushes" electrons; how much
force each electron is under
Watts
The unit of energy calculated by multiplying amps
times volts
Wetland Functions
Wind energy
Environmental Science – Final Exam: Spring Semester Notecards
Trapping and filtering, reducing flood risk,
buffering erosion, habitat for organisms,
recreational area
Use a yaw motor and nacelle; use windmills to
create electricity; disadvantage: difficult to
transport energy from source to use
Page 5