Environmental Science Questions

part of a policy's life cycle when a problem is identified

part of a policy's life cycle when a solution/law is put together to help with the problem

The potential energy that is contained in certain chemicals; most importantly, the energy that is contained in organic compounds such as food and fuels and that may be released through respiration or burning.

The dead organic matter, such as fallen leaves, twigs, and other plant and animal wastes, that exists in any ecosystem.

Organisms (fungi, soil insects, bacteria) that feed on dead or decaying organic matter, important in completing the breakdown of organic matter to inorganic constituents.

The chemical process that occurs in all living cells whereby organic compounds are broken down to release energy required for life processes. For respiration, higher plants and animals require oxygen, and release carbon dioxide and water as waste products, but certain microorganisms do not require oxygen.

The law stating that, in chemical reactions, atoms are neither created nor changed nor destroyed; they are only rearranged.

In classifying chemical pollutants, some are inorganic, such as the heavy metals (lead, mercury and so forth) and salts.

Regions where a species finds conditions tolerable but suboptimal. The species survives but is under stress.

In an ecosystem, those organisms that derive their energy from feeding on other organisms or their products.

Any substance (gas, liquid, or solid) that is made up of two or more different kinds of atoms bonded together

The range of conditions within which an organism or population can survive and

The law stating that a system may be limited by the absence or minimum amount (in terms of that needed) of any required factor. Also known as Liebig's law of minimums.

The condition or amount of any factor or combination of factors that will produce the best result. For example, the amount of heat, light, moisture, nutrients, and so on that will produce the best plant growth.

Biotic and abiotic factors that are consumed by organisms.

A factor primarily responsible for determining the growth or reproduction of an organism or a population.

Where two or more factors interact to affect organisms in a way that makes the impact greater than from the two acting separately.

A group within a single species whose individuals can and do freely interbreed.

All the organisms (plant, animal, or microbe) of a single kind. The "single kind" is determined by similarity of appearance or by the fact that members do or can mate and produce fertile offspring. Physical, chemical, or behavioral differences block breeding between species

a disease often not known of in the developed world that people in developing nations are often particularly vulnerable to