Student name: ________________________________________________________ Date: ___________________
Environmental science
● Environmental Science is Interdisciplinary
● __________ Factors: The non-living
components of an ecosystem
o Soil, rocks, temperature, sunlight, pH,
humidity, nutrients, precipitation
● _________ Factors: The living components of
an ecosystem
o Ex. Bacteria, Protists, Fungi, Plants,
Animals (the 6 kingdoms of life)
Ecosystems
● Ecosystems are _______________ systems
● They are affected by ___________ or ______________
Ecosystem Balance
● Ecosystems receive and lose matter and energy
constantly (because they are open)
● Ecosystems maintain balance with feedback loops
● Feedback loop = a circular process in which a system’s
output serves as input to that same system
o ____________________: output increases the
response, which increases the output, etc.
(response is amplified over time)
▪ Natural examples:
▪ Anthropogenic examples:
o ____________________: reverses the change, bringing things back
to a “normal” homeostatic state
▪ Ex. _________________ Interactions: Populations are
controlled by the abundance of other populations
● Predators and prey keep each other’s populations “in check”
Humans Alter Natural Systems
● Humans disrupt the natural feedback loops
● This can have rippling, and sometimes, devastating consequences
● So another way of putting this is humans are not living as “one” with nature.
Why do you think this is?
The Tragedy of the Commons
● The Commons: a ___________, ________________ resource
● The Tragedy: resource becomes _______________ because people act from _________________ for
____________________ gain
● Usually no _______, regulations, or ______________________ for overuse
● What are some other examples of shared, limited resources?
Ecological Footprint
● Measures how much ______ and resources would be required to support a lifestyle
● ________________: using more resources than Earth can replenish
● ________________: meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their needs
o Not using Earth’s resources faster than they can be replenished naturally
