Exam 2

Definition: A person who believes humans are the most significant entity in the universe and evaluates environmental issues primarily from a human-centered perspective.

Definition: Costs of economic activities that are not included in the price of goods or services and are borne by society, such as pollution and environmental degradation.

Definition: Benefits that humans obtain from ecosystems, such as clean air, water filtration, pollination, and climate regulation.

Definition: Economic development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Definition: A person who believes that all living things have intrinsic value, regardless of their usefulness to humans.

Definition: Laws, regulations, and policies aimed at protecting the environment from harm caused by human activities.

Definition: A labeling system for products that are environmentally friendly or sustainably sourced, helping consumers make informed choices.

Definition: An equation representing how human impact on the environment (I) is the product of population (P), affluence (A), and technology (T).

Definition: A variable in the IPAT model representing the vulnerability of an environment to human activities.

Definition: The total fertility rate at which a population exactly replaces itself from one generation to the next, typically 2.1 children per woman.

Definition: Occurs when animals graze a land area so heavily that the vegetation is damaged and the ground becomes susceptible to erosion.

Definition: The agricultural practice of growing a single crop species in a field or farming system over a long period.

Definition: Large industrial operations where animals are raised in confined conditions for maximum production at minimal cost, often raising concerns about animal welfare and environmental impact.

Definition: Irrigation practices that aim to use water efficiently and conserve water resources to maintain agricultural productivity in the long term.

Definition: Man-made chemical compounds that are applied to soils to provide essential nutrients for plant growth, often leading to environmental problems like water pollution if overused.

Definition: A measure of the human demand on Earth's ecosystems, representing the amount of natural resources required to sustain a person or population.

Definition: The number of different species represented in an ecological community, landscape, or region.

Definition: Species that are native to and found only in a particular geographic region.

Definition: The local extinction of a species from a particular area, though it still exists elsewhere.

Definition: The inherent worth of something, regardless of its utility to humans or other beings.

Definition: Areas designated to protect and preserve natural environments and biodiversity, often limiting human activities to maintain ecological balance.

Definition: The maximum population size of a species that an environment can sustainably support, given the resources available.

Definition: The study of moral principles guiding human interactions with the environment. It includes perspectives like anthropocentrism (focusing on human welfare), biocentrism (valuing all living things), and ecocentrism (valuing entire ecosystems). Anthropocentrism evaluates actions based on human health, economic costs/benefits, and aesthetic concerns.

Definition: The rapid increase of the human population in relation to Earth's carrying capacity. This growth can lead to issues such as resource depletion, habitat destruction, and environmental stress, differentiating it from natural population dynamics.

Techniques like crop rotation rejuvenate soil nutrients.

Contour farming, on the other hand, mitigates water runoff and erosion on sloped terrains. The introduction of shelterbelts, or windbreaks, can reduce soil erosion caused

by winds

Definition: The use of natural predators, parasites, or diseases to manage pest populations, reducing the need for chemical pesticides. Pros include reduced environmental harm, but cons include the risk of unintended ecological impacts.

Definition: Biodiversity provides essential benefits to humans, including ecosystem services (e.g., water filtration, pollination), agricultural support (e.g., genetic diversity for crops), and medical contributions (e.g., discovery of medicinal compounds).

: Humans, unlike most organisms,

can modify their environment and artificially create resources. However, unchecked

human population growth can strain resources, social systems, and natural

environments.

Introducing natural predators or parasites

to control pests is environmentally friendly compared to chemical alternatives. However,

such methods come with their challenges, such as potential harm to non-target species

or unforeseen ecological interactions

Biodiversity has multifaceted benefits. Economically, industries like

agriculture and pharmaceuticals rely on diverse biological resources. Ecosystem

services, such as water purification and pollination, depend on healthy, diverse

ecosystems. Furthermore, diverse environments offer humans cultural, recreational, and

spiritual experiences.