Download Chapter 16 Study Guide

Chapter 16 Study Guide
Human Impact on Ecosystems
Biology
1. Carrying capacity - amount of people that Earth can support; Earth’s human
carrying capacity is unknown
2. Thomas Malthus - Claimed that the human population was growing faster than
Earth’s resources could support.
Malthus’ prediction was off because of the advances in technology.
3. smog - sunlight interacts with pollutants in the air produced by fossil fuel
4. Renewable resources - cannot be used up or can replenish themselves over time.
5. ecological footprint - amount of land needed to support a person. Measures use
of water, food, shelter, waste, energy, etc.
6. greenhouse effect - slows the release of energy from Earth’s atmosphere, traps
heat, Earth would be too cold for life without the greenhouse effect
7. acid rain - caused by fossil fuel emissions
8. ozone - harmful to organisms at ground level, but plays a critical role in
protecting Earth’s biosphere from harmful UV rays from the sun.
9. global warming - trend of increasing global temperatures; caused by carbon
dioxide gases (changes with natural climate cycles) and methane
10. pH of rain – 5.6
11. frog sensitivity to pollution - Skin is water permeable and direct contact with
pollutants can cause deformities such as extra arms and legs, as well as body
tumors.
12. Biomagnification - causes accumulation of toxins in the food chain; Top
consumers, including humans, are most affected
13. umbrella species - the habitat in which the species lives must be protected
other species are protected because they share the ecosystem
14. clear cutting – cutting down an entire forest
Factors in ecological footprint http://myfootprint.org/en/visitor_information/ know some
factors used in determining your footprint
.