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AP Environmental Science
Natural Resources Unit
40
Environmental Studies
Undergraduate 1
04/18/2013

Additional Environmental Studies Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
agroforeastry
Definition
when trees and crops are planted together, creating a multualistic symbiotic relationship between them
Term
aquaculture
Definition
the raising of fish and other aquatic species in captivity for harvest
Term
bottom dwelling
Definition
a fishing technique in which the ocean floor is literally scraped by heavy nets that smash everything in their path
Term
by-catch
Definition
any other species of fish, mammals, or birds that are caught that are not the target organism
Term
capture fisheries
Definition
fish production in which fish are caught in the wild and not raised in captivity for consumption
Term
clear-cutting
Definition
the removal of all of the trees in an area
Term
conservation
Definition
the management or regulation of a resource so that its use does not exceed the capacity of the resource to regenerate itself
Term
consumption
Definition
the day-to-day use of environmental resources such as food, clothing and housing
Term
contour plowing
Definition
a process in which rows of crops are plowed across a hillside; this prevents the erosion that can occur when rows are cut up and down on a slope
Term
deforestation
Definition
the removal of trees for agricultural purposes or purposes of exportation
Term
driftnets
Definition
nets that drift free in the water and indiscriminately catch everything in their path
Term
ecosystem capital
Definition
the value of natural resources
Term
fishery
Definition
the industry or occupation devoted to the catching, processing, or selling of fish, shellfish, or other aquatic animals
Term
greenbelt
Definition
open or forested areas built at the outer edge of a city
Term
ground fires
Definition
smoldering fires that take place in bogs or swamps and can burn underground for days or weeks. originating from surface fires, ground fires are difficult to detect and extinguish
Term
intercropping
Definition
also called strip cropping- is the practice of planting beds of different crops across a hillside
Term
long lining
Definition
in fishing, the use of long lines that have baited hooks and will be taken by numerous aquatic organisms
Term
malnutrition
Definition
poor nutrition that results from an insufficient or poorly balanced diet
Term
mineral deposit
Definition
an area where a particular mineral is concentrated
Term
mining
Definition
the excavation of the earth for the purpose of extracting ore or minerals
Term
monoculture
Definition
when just one type of plant is planted in a large area
Term
natural resources
Definition
biotic and abiotic natural ecosystems
Term
nonrenewable resources
Definition
resources that are often formed by very slow geologic processes, so we consider them incapable of being regenerated within the realm of human existence
Term
no-till methods
Definition
refers to when farmers plant seeds without using a plow to turn the soil
Term
old growth forest
Definition
one that has never been cut; these forests have not been seriously disturbed over several hundred years
Term
overgrazed
Definition
when grass is consumed by animals at a faster rate than it can regrow
Term
preservation
Definition
the maintenance of a species or ecosystem in order to ensure its perpetuation, with no concern as to their potential monetary value
Term
production
Definition
the use of environmental resources for profit
Term
renewable resources
Definition
refers to the resources, such as plants and animals, which can be regenerated if harvested at sustainable yields
Term
second growth forests
Definition
areas where cutting has occurred and a new, younger forest has arisen
Term
selective sutting
Definition
the removal of select trees in an area; this leaves the majority of the habitat in a place and has less of an impact on the ecosystem
Term
shelter wood cutting
Definition
when mature trees are cut over a period of time (usually 10-20 years); this leaves mature trees, which can reseed the forest, in place
Term
silviculture
Definition
the management of forest plantations for the purpose of harvesting timber
Term
slash and burn
Definition
when an area of vegetation is cut down and burned before being planted with crops
Term
surface fires
Definition
fires that typically burn only the forest's underbrush and do little damage to mature trees. these fires actually serve to protect teh forest from more harmful fires by removing underbrush and dead materials that would burn quickly and at high temperatures
Term
tailings
Definition
piles of gangue, which is the waste material that results from mining
Term
traditional subsistence agriculture
Definition
when each family in a community grows crops for themselves and relies on animal and human labor to plant and harvest crops
Term
terracing
Definition
creating flat platforms in the hillside that provide a level planting surface, which reduces soil runoff from the slope
Term
tree farms
Definition
also known as planations, these are planted and managed tracts of trees of the same age that are harvested for commercial use
Term
uneven-aged management
Definition
the broad category under which selective cutting and shelter-wood cutting fall; selective deforestation
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