Name: ________________________________________ Period______ Date ______
AP Environmental Science: Ch.1 Study Guide (20 points)
Environmental Problems, Their Causes, and Sustainability
Read Ch. 1, pages 6-26
Answer questions 1-10 on page 25
Selected Critical Thinking Questions
Define the following: exponential growth development at an increasingly rapid rate in proportion to the growing total number or size; a constant rate of growth applied to a continuously growing base over a period of time
sustainability the quality of not being harmful to the environment or depleting natural resources, and thereby supporting long-term ecological balance
natural capital the extension of the economic notion of capital (manufactured means of production) to goods and services relating to the natural environment
sound science to achieve the adaptive management of lands, waters, and natural resources on which human communities depend.
environmentally sustainable society the Earth's resources must be used at a rate at which they can be replenished.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is the market value of all officially recognized final goods and services produced within a country in a given period.
economic development the sustained, concerted actions of policymakers and communities that promote the standard of living and economic health of a specific area.
developed countries is a sovereign state which has a highly developed economy and advanced technological infrastructure relative to other less developed nations.
developing countries s a nation with a low living standard, undeveloped industrial base, and low Human Development Index relative to other countries
Aldo Leopold was an American author, scientist, ecologist, forester, and environmentalist. He was a professor at the University of Wisconsin and is best known for his book A Sand County Almanac, which has sold more than two million copies.
tragedy of the commons a dilemma arising from the situation in which multiple individuals, acting independently and rationally consulting their own self-interest, will ultimately deplete a shared limited resource, even when it is clear that it is not in anyone's long-term interest for this to happen.
ecological footprint a measure of human demand on the Earth's ecosystems.
poverty is the pronounced deprivation of well being
affluenza a painful, contagious, socially transmitted condition of overload, debt, anxiety and waste resulting from the dogged pursuit of more
point-source a single identifiable localized source of something.
non-point source refers to both water and air pollution from diffuse sources.
Rule of 70
A way to estimate the number of years it takes for a certain variable to double. The rule of 70 states that in order to estimate the number of years for a variable to double, take the number 70 and divide it by the growth rate of the variable.
reuse to use an item again after is been used
pollution the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause adverse change
planetary management worldview is intentional global-scale management of Earth's biological, chemical and physical processes and cycles
stewardship worldview we can and should manage the earth for our benefit but we have an ethical responsibility to be caring and responsible managers or stewards of the earth.
environmental wisdom worldview are a part of and totally dependent on nature and that nature exists for all species, not just us; encourages earth sustaining forms of growth and development
frontier environmental worldview
recycling
Convert (waste) into reusable material.
output control the controlling of what you take out
input control the controlling of what you put in
Name______________________________ Period____ Date_________
Case Study: American Chestnut (22 points)
Use the internet sites below (or others you find) to gain answers to the following questions: http://www.ppws.vt.edu/griffin/accf.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Chestnut http://www.acf.org/ 1. How common were American Chestnut trees in their native range before 1904?
2. What purposes did they serve for wildlife?
3. How were they useful to people?
4. How common are they now?
5. What happened to the American Chestnut?
6. What is the future outlook for the American Chestnut?
7. What efforts are currently underway to save the American Chestnut?
8. Why are the remaining American Chestnut trees so valuable?
Go to http://www.acf.org/ Click on FIND AN AMERICAN CHESTNUT TREE
9. How can you identify one from other trees?
10. What can you do to help find American Chestnut trees?
11. What can you do if you find one that will help ensure the future of the species?
If you are curious, be a real scientist! Do your own research! 