Environmental Science Final Review Flashcard

Front

What biome is characterized by low rainfall and extreme temperature variations?

Back

Desert

Front

What type of growth occurs when a population grows rapidly without any limitations?

Back

Exponential growth

Front

What major event in history led to a significant increase in the human population due to advancements in technology and medicine?

Back

Industrial Revolution

Front

What is a keystone species and how does it affect biodiversity?

Back

A keystone species is one whose impact on its ecosystem is disproportionately large relative to its abundance; as the sea otter population increases, biodiversity increases.

Front

What is the difference between primary and secondary ecological succession?

Back

Primary succession occurs in lifeless areas where soil has not yet formed, while secondary succession occurs in areas where a disturbance has destroyed an existing community but left the soil intact.

Front

What is the term for the maximum population size that an environment can sustain?

Back

Carrying capacity

Front

What is logistic growth and how does it differ from exponential growth?

Back

Logistic growth is a population growth model that describes how a population grows rapidly at first and then slows as it approaches the carrying capacity, unlike exponential growth which continues to grow without limits.

Front

What is the role of producers in an ecosystem?

Back

Producers, such as plants, convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis, forming the base of the food chain.

Front

What is the significance of biodiversity in an ecosystem?

Back

Biodiversity contributes to ecosystem resilience, productivity, and stability, allowing ecosystems to recover from disturbances.

Front

What is a trophic level?

Back

A trophic level is a position in a food chain or food web, representing the flow of energy and nutrients from one level to the next.