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235 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
10% Rule
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"at every stage of trophic consumption, 90% of the biomass in the forms of infrared heat and waste is being released out into the universe
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Abiotic Component
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non-living chemical and physical parts of the environment that affect living organisms and the functioning of ecosystems.
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Accessions
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distinct, uniquely identified samples of seed or plants maintained as part of a germplasm collection
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Acid Rain
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Burning Coal releases sulfur & nitrogen oxide into the atmosphere, reacting with O2 causing acid rain & smog
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Adaptation
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the capacity of an organism to survive long enough to have offspring who survive long enough to have offspring under current environmental conditions
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Adaptations to Ecosystems
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a part of evolution, resulting in phenotype or genotype development which allows a species to exist long enough to pass on it's genetic material
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Adaptive Levels
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Highly vulnerable, potential adapters, potential persisters, high latent risk
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Ages of Earth, life, us
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4.5 billion years, 3.8 billion years, 200,000 years old
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Agriculture
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the practice of raising crops and livestock for human use and consumption. 38% of Earth's land surface is used for agriculture
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Agroecology
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the study of ecological processes that operate in agricultural production systems
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Albedo
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It is a measure of the reflectivity of the earth's surface.
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Algae
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Eukarya/Bacteria, fuel source, photosynthetic, producers, oxygen source
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Alternative building
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made from an alternative building source such as adobe, super adobe, cob, papercrete
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Anthropocene
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6th major extinction - the present time interval, in which many geologically significant conditions and processes are profoundly altered by human activities.
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Anthropogenic
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originating in human activity
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Aquaponics
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Aquaculture + Hydroponics, raising seafood and growing plants in water.
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Aquatic
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lives in water
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Aquifers
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underground water supply (aka water table, fossil water, paleowater)
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Arbors
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Outdoor structures which allow plants to grow on them. providing shade, habitat, and possibly food
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Arthropods
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invertebrate animals with exoskeletons
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Atmosphere
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is a layer of gases surrounding a planet or other material body of sufficient mass[3] that is held in place by the gravity of the body
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Atrazine
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herbicide,
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Autotrophs
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generates own energy
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Biocides
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Pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, rodenticides
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Biodiesel
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combination of diesel fuel and vegetable oil, a renewable fuel/energy source
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Biodiversity
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the variety of different types of life found on earth. It is a measure of the variety of organisms present in different ecosystems.
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Biofuels
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plants, biodiesel, algae, biomass
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Biogas
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a mixture of different gases produced by the breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen. Biogas can be produced from raw materials such as agricultural waste, manure, municipal waste, plant material, sewage, green waste or food waste.
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Biogeochemical Cycles
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Chemical cycles in an ecosystem that involve biotic and abiotic components. Carbon Cycle, Nitrogen Cycle, Phosphoros Cycle, Hydrological Cycle
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Biological Energy
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Biomass, Biogas, Biodiesel, Microbial
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Biological Magnification
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the process whereby certain substances such as pesticides or heavy metals move up the food chain, work their way into rivers or lakes, and are eaten by aquatic organisms such as fish, which in turn are eaten by large birds, animals or humans.
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Biomass
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energy accumulated in producers
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Biomes
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Regions of the world with similar climate, animals and plants. There are terrestrial biomes and aquatic biomes.
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Bioremediation
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treatment that uses naturally occurring organisms to break down hazardous substances into less toxic or non toxic substances
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Biosphere
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the global sum of all ecosystems.
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Biotic Factors
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Any living component that affects another organism, including animals that consume the organism in question, and the living food that the organism consumes.
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BPA
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Bisophenol A
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CAFO
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Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation
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Calcium Carbonate
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Endoskeletons: mollusks, bivalves, corrals
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Cap and Trade
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Emissions trading or cap and trade ("cap" meaning a legal limit on the quantity of a certain type of chemical an economy can emit each year) is a market-based approach used to control pollution by providing economic incentives for achieving reductions in the emissions of pollutants. - good clip on storyofstuff.com
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Carbohydrates
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one of the main types of nutrients
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Carbon
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20% human weight, fuel, greenhouse gas component
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Carbon Cycle
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Cellular respiration, species decomposition, photosynthesis, producers and consumers
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Carbon Dioxide
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One carbon, 2 oxygen molecules, part of celluar respiration. degrade
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Carbon Footprint
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the total sets of greenhouse gas emissions caused by an organization, event, product or individual.
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Carbon Footprint: Grocery Store vs Farmers Market
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grocery store: lights, trucks, artifical ripening, conventional farming practices
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Carbon Sequestration
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long-term storage of carbon dioxide or other forms ofcarbon to either mitigate or defer global warming and avoid dangerous climate change. It has been proposed as a way to slow the atmospheric and marine accumulation of greenhouse gases, which are released by burning fossil fuels.
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Certified Organic
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a certification process for producers of organic food and other organic agricultural products. In general, any business directly involved in food production can be certified, including seed suppliers, farmers, food processors, retailers and restaurants.
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Cheap Food
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Not cheap at all because of the drastic impact it has on the planet's ecosystems, and the health of it's citizens
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Chemical Bonds
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energy. stored energy is potential energy. kinetic energy is broken bonds
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Chemosynthesis
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the biological conversion of one or more carbon molecules (usually carbon dioxide or methane) and nutrients into organic matter using the oxidation of inorganic molecules (e.g. hydrogen gas, hydrogen sulfide) or methane as a source of energy, rather than sunlight, as in photosynthesis
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Climate Change
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a change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns when that change lasts for an extended period of time (i.e., decades to millions of years)
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Climate Crisis
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the denial of media and governments that climate change is occuring and will have devestating consequences
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Coal
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Releases carbon dioxide, sulfur & nitrogen oxides, and mercury
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Compost
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decompsed organic matter
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Consumerism
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a social ideology that drives/manipulates people into buying things they don't need
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Consumers
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in trophic structures, those who consume others, aka heterotrophs
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Corn
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monoculture, in everything, cheap feed, deplets soils, 30% of our land base grows corn
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Correlation
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positive or negative correlation: when one increases the other does as well or vice verse
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Cost of a Hamburger
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corn subsidies reduce the cost of feed, tons of water, tons of pollution, using grain that could go towards feeding the starving
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Cradle to Cradle
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sustainable practices
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Cradle to Grave
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Linear practice
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CSAs
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Community Support Agriculture
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CSFs
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Community Support Fishery
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Deciduous
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sheds leaves in a particular summer
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Deforestation
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the permanent destruction of forests in order to make the land available for other uses.
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Desertification
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a loss of more than 10% soil productivity. causes: erosion, soil compaction, plant/forest removal, overgrazing, salinization, climate change, depletion of water sources
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Detritivores
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heterotrophs that obtain nutrients by consuming detritus. Critical in the nitrogen cycle
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Developing Nation
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an underdeveloped industrial base, and a low Human Development Index (HDI) relative to other countries.
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Dirt
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"very same molecules that make up dirt, make up human beings. water mixed with rock & clay to give first dirt. living ecosystem. weathered rock, organic matter, gases, nutrients
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Domains
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Virus, Archae, Bacteria, Eukarya,
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Dust Bowl
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a result of industrial agriculture practices that resulted in huge amounts of topsoil being blown across the US and even to other countries
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Dwarfism Giganticism
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response to genetic isolation
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E. Coli 0157H7 Solution
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Ammonia hydroxide processing, antibiotics or not using CAFOS
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E.Coli
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Bacteria found in warm blooded animals, can cause food poisioning and even death
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Earth Care, People Care, Fair Share
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3 principles of permaculture
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Ecological Footprint
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a measure of human demand on the Earth's ecosystems, the amount of natural capital used each year. The footprint of a region can be contrasted with the natural resources it generates.
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Ecology
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the scientific study of interactions between organisms and their environments
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Ecosystem
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a community of living organisms in conjunction with the nonliving components of their environment (things like air, water and mineral soil), interacting as a system. These biotic and abiotic components are regarded as linked together through nutrient cycles and energy flows.
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Ecosystem ecology
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Focuses on energy flow and the cycling of chemicals among the various abiotic and biotic factors
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Ecosystem Services
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conditions & processes through which species sustain and fulfill life. (e.g. include provision of clean water,maintenance of livable climates(carbon sequestration), pollination of crops & native vegetation, fulfillment of people's cultural, spiritual & intellectual needs)
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Ectothermic
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any animal whose regulation of body temperature depends on external sources
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Efficiency of Protein Choices
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thinking about how much land and water go into producing 1kg of protein. In order of inefficiency: Land use; Beef, Pork, Milk, Chicken, Eggs. Water use; Beef, Milk, Pork, Chicken, Egg
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Elbow Grease
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manual labor, a willingness to do someting by hand. Physically removing pests by hand, gardening without farm equipment
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Elements
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Period Table - and Elements of Permaculture
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Elements vs. Functions
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multiple fucntions to one element vs multiple elements to meet one function
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Emissions
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the release of dangerous greenhouse gases into earth's atmosphere
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Endocrine disruption
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These disruptions can cause cancerous tumors, birth defects, and other developmental disorders. Any system in the body controlled by hormones can be derailed by hormonedisruptors.
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Endocrine system
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the collection of glands that produce hormones that regulate metabolism, growth and development, tissue function, sexual function, reproduction, sleep, and mood, among other things.
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Endophytic
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an endosymbiont, often a bacterium or fungus, that lives within a plant for at least part of its life cycle without causing apparent disease.
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Endothermic
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dependent on or capable of the internal generation of heat.
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Energy
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chemical bonds, is never destroyed only transformed
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Entomopathic fungi
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a fungus that can act as a parasite of insects and kills or seriously disables them
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Environmental Science
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The study of humanity's relationship with environment
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Environmental Sustainability
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Ability of the environment to provide ecosystem services without going into decline from human activities
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Enzymes
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biological molecules (proteins) that act as catalysts and help complex reactions occur everywhere in life.
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Eukarya
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single to multicellular nuclei
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Eutrophication
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is the enrichment of an ecosystem with chemical nutrients, typically compounds containing nitrogen, phosphorus, or both.
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Evaporation
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A step in the hydrological cycle, liquid converting into gas
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Evapotranspiration
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The sum of evaporation and plant transpiration from the Earth's land and ocean surface to the atmosphere. Evaporation accounts for the movement of water to the air from sources such as the soil, canopy interception, and waterbodies.
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Evolution
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changes in heritable traits of biological populations over successive generations.
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Exponential Growth
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the growth rate of the value of a mathematical function is proportional to the function's current value.
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Externalized Costs
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doesn’t reflect the actual cost of production: paid with loss of natural resources, clean air, slave labor, subsidies
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Extinctions
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along with speciation, extinctions drive ecology. The loss of a species creates room for another to radiate. 99.9% of all species that have existed on earth have gone extinct
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Farming
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agriculture, the activity or business of growing crops and raising livestock.
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Feral Cement
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reclaimed cement, along with earth rammed tires, feral cement is a permable surface made from repurposed cement
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Fisheries
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Part of Aquaculture
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Food Choices & Energy
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when we choose what we eat, we choose how we use resources. The amount of food required to produce 1kg of edible weight
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Food Waste
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"Food scarcity is rhetoric, wasted on farms, to livestock and humans - in home, at market, in restaurants
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Food Webs
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aka food chain - energy flows from producers into consumers ending at top predators
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Fossil Fuels
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Petroleum, Coal, and nautral gas. Fuels derived from ancient sequesterd carbon
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Fossil Water
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Paleowater is groundwater that has remained sealed in an aquifer for thousands or even millions of years due to changes in the surrounding geology
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Freeganism
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Dumpster Diving, eating what one can find for free
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Fungi
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any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes unicellular microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as multicellular fungi that produce familiar fruiting forms known as mushrooms
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Genotype
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Genetic trait that has a phenotypical appearance
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Germplasm
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the living genetic resources such as seeds or tissue that is maintained for the purpose of animal and plant breeding, preservation, and other research uses.
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Glacier
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a persistent body of dense ice that is constantly moving under its own weight; it forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation (melting and sublimation) over many years, often centuries.
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Global Warming
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A slow but steady rise in the Earth's surface temperature
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Glomulin
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⅓ of the world’s carbon is in glomulin. made by mycelium. it’s a fungal protein. holds soils together.
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GMO
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Genetic Modified Organism
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Greenhouse Effect
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Warming of the atmosphere. Primary cause, atmosphereic Carbon compounds and other greenhouse gases
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Greenhouse Gases
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Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Nitrious Oxide
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Greenwashing
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a form of spin in which green PR or green marketing is deceptively used to promote the perception that an organization's products, aims or policies are environmentally friendly.
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Guerilla Gardening
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the act of gardening on land that the gardeners do not have the legal rights to utilize, such as an abandoned site, an area that is not being cared for, or private property.
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Habitat
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Environmental situations in which organisms live
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Heat
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Infrared Wavelength, energy spent, endothermic or ectothermic
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Heat Island
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a city or metropolitan area that is significantly warmer than its surrounding rural areas due to human activities.
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Herbicides
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biocides that focus specifically on unwanted plants
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Heterotrophs
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acquires energy from consuming other organisms
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Hydrocarbons
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CH4 - Methane, the smallest and lightest hydrocarbon
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hydrogen bonds
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a form of potential energy
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Hydrological Cycle
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Evaporation, condensation, movement, precipitation, percolation
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Hydrosphere
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the liquid water component of the Earth
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Impacts of Industrial Farming
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Soil depletion (desertification, salinization) water contamination, less nutritious food, biocides
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IMTA
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Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture - growing multi aquatic species for consumption in a sustainable manor
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Industrial Ecology
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creating industrial symbioses, e.g using carbon dioxide producing industries to feed algae farms
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Industrial Farming
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application of biocides, monocultures, subsidies, less nutritious foods, round up, water and soil pollution/depletion
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Industrial Revolution
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marks the beginning of harvesting ancient carbon sequestration
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Infrared Wavelengths
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a type of electromagneticradiation, Infrared(IR) light is the part of the EM spectrum that people encounter most in everyday life
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Interconnectedness
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everything is interconnected, sustainable environments are about relationships
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IPCC
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Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
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IPM
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Integrate Pest Managment: Biocontrol - Chemicals, when necessary - Population monitoring - Habitat alteration - Crop rotation and transgenic crops - Alternative tillage methods - Mechanical pest removal
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Irrigation
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the watering of land to make it ready for agriculture.
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Kingdoms
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Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, Protista
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Landfill
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Average U.S. citizen creates 4.5 lbs of garbage a day which goes to landfills or is burned (releasing toxic chemicals) then go to landfill. recycling will never be enough
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Large Corporations
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51 of the world's largest economies. Implicit in consumerism and environmental degradation
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Large Mammals & soil
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overgrazing resulted in growing annual grasses which limit protection against devastating forest fires. Livestock also compress soil limiting airation and percolation, destroying the soil ecosystem. Exposure of topsoil which can lead to erosion and desertification. Limits percolation. The World's 3.4 Billion livestock degrade rangeland and cost $23.3 Billion a year
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Law of Entropy
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All matter moves towards disorder
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Laws of Thermodynamics
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"aka Law of Conservation. Energy is neither created nor destroyed but rather it is transformed.
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Leaching
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dissolved particles move down through horizons
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Legumes
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protein rich plants that produce beans, and who root fungus allows the plant to absorb nitrogen from the atmosphere
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Lichens
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Mutualistic symbiotic relationship between producers (i.e. algae or cyanobacteria and detritivore (i.e. fungus) that look like one mass.
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Lipids
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a group of naturally occurring molecules that include fats, waxes, sterols, fat-soluble vitamins (such as vitamins A, D, E, and K), monoglycerides, diglycerides, triglycerides, phospholipids, and others.
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Marine
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of oceans or seas
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Mass Extinction
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currently in the 6th mass extinction, the Anthropocene
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Methane
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CH4 - Hydrocarbon - lightest and smallest -
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Microbes
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tiny organisms—too tiny to see without a microscope, yet they are abundant on Earth.
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Microbiome
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Microbes interact in communities, and they respond to their surroundings. Just like organisms in Earth's ecosystems, our microbial populations shift when their environment changes.
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Mitigation
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the action of reducing the severity, seriousness, or painfulness of something.
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Molecule
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A molecule is the smallest particle in a chemical element or compound that has the chemical properties of that element or compound.
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Mollusk
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an invertebrate of a large phylum that includes snails, slugs, mussels, and octopuses.
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Monoculture
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doesn’t give anything back to soil. More susceptible to pest infestation.
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Most abundant elements in humans and significance
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Oxygen (65%), Hydrogen (10%), Carbon (20%), Nitrogen (3%)
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Mutation
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a genetic change that may or may not enable to species a greater ability to survive and procreate
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Mycelium
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a fungi that breaks down organic matter. Creates dirt and provides nutrients. Mycelia network that allows the plants root system to function. Connects all of the different species in shared soil and allows plants to communicate with each other.
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Mycofiltration
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the process of using mushroom mycelium mats as biological filters
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Mycorrhizae
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Mycorrhizal fungi have occurred naturally in the soil for 450 million years. They form a close symbiotic relationship with plant roots.
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Natural gas
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flammable gas, consisting largely of methane and other hydrocarbons, occurring naturally underground (often in association with petroleum) and used as fuel.
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Natural selection
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the differential survival and reproduction of individuals due to differences in phenotype; it is a key mechanism of evolution.
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Nitrogen
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3% of human weight, critical to create protein, can also be too plentiful resulting in nutritification, nitrates, nitrites and ammonia
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Nitrogen Cycle
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Nitrogen is utilized by bacteria living in soil and in roots of legumes
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Nitrogen Oxides
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Released when burning coal
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Obesity
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biggest predictor of obesity is economic class
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Obsolescence Perceived/Planned
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no longer usable because of new products available or item was designed to be replaced/stop working
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Ops
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"Organophosphates - having PON1192 increases one’s ability to metabolize and detoxify themselves of OPs. analyzed urine for DAP (dialkyl phosphate). PON1-108TT - shorter gestation and smaller head circumference than PON1108cc
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Organic Farming
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no synthetic fertilizers, or biocides
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Oxygen
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makes up 65% of human body weight
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Ozone
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O3, layer around Earth's atmosphere
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Paleoclimatology
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The study of climate of geologic time
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Passive solar
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A renewable energy source, building design, windows, walls, and floors are made to collect, store, and distribute solar energy in the form of heat in the winter and reject solar heat in the summer.
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Percolation
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water moves down through topsoil and other horizons to the water table/aquifers
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Permaculture
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a design approach to creating human scale sustainable habitats based on natural principles. Reduce the impact anthropogenic effects have on non-renewable & renewable resources, while creating an abundant environment, catering to the needs of ALL organisms.
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Permaculture Principles
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Earth Care, People Care, Fair Share
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Permafrost
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a thick subsurface layer of soil that remains frozen throughout the year, occurring chiefly in polar regions.
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Permeable surface
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ground cover that allow water to move through it
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Perpetual Energy
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Solar (Photovoltaic & Passive), Wind, Geothermal, Tidal, Hydro
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Phenology
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the study of cyclic and seasonal natural phenomena, especially in relation to climate and plant and animal life.
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Phosphorus
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can either be found in phosphate rock, or as an element in many pesticides
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Phosphorus Cycle
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Rock erosion goes into soil and water bodies, if too much goes into the water it becomes eutrophic, inorganic phosphates in soil become organic phosphates in plants that are consumed and return to detritus
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Photosynthesis
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Produces convert sunlight into energy
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Pollinators
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species vital to transmitting pollen amongst organisms. (e.g. bees, bats, moths, flys, etc)
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Polyculture
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farming multiple species in the same plot of land
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Predators
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species which hunt and consume other living organisms
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Prey
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species that are hunted and consumed by predators
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Producers
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species who generate their own energy via photosynthesis or chemosynthesis. Autotrophs: plants, algae, cyanobacteria
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Prokaryotes
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small single celled no nuclei
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Protein
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high in nitrogen, can be found in meat, dairy, legumes, nuts and grains
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R-Value
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Resistence Value
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Radiations
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an increase in taxonomic diversity or morphological disparity, due to adaptive change or the opening of ecospace.
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Relationships
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Balance is all about relationships, hence the name food web and not chain. Every organism has mutliple relationships in one exosystem
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Renewable Energy
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Biofuels: biogas, biomass, biodiesel and microbial & Solar (photovoltaic or passive), wind, hydro, geothermic
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Respiration
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breathing
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Rethinking, reducing…
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reuse, repair, recycle
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Revolutions
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agricultural revolution, industrial revolution, sustainable revolution
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Rivers
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diverse ecosystems, with edgeing, bioremediation
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Scientific Literacy
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Primary Literature,
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Scientific Method
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Hypothesis, controlled experiements, collected results, probability values - must be less than or equal to 0.5
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Sea Levels
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are rising as glaciers and ice caps melt as a result of global warmning
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Sea Surface Temperatures
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as waters warm, evaporation increases resulting in greater storms
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Seed Banks
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International efforts to preserve biodiversity of plant life on earth
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Sink
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areas of vegetation, especially forests, and the phytoplankton-rich seas that absorb the carbon dioxide produced by the burning of fossil fuels.
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Snowpack
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a mass of snow on the ground that is compressed and hardened by its own weight.
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Soft tools
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From Limits to Growth: Loving, Learning, Networking, Truth telling, Visioning,
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Soil Carbon
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the generic name for carbon held within the soil, primarily in association with its organic content. Soil carbon is the largest terrestrial pool of carbon
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Soil Conservation Practices
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eliminate biocides, erosion, desertification, salinization, waterlogging, nutrient depletion, structural changes, pollution. Instead use drip irrigation, crop rotation, contour farming, terracing, poly/intercropping, wind breaks, no till agriculture
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Soil Structure
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Forms incredibly slowly, 1.5 cms in 250 years. Consists of Weathered Rock, Organic Matter, Gases, Nutrients, and Organisms
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Story of Stuff
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Extraction, production, distribution, consumption, disposal. Linear system on a finite planet - cannot be sustained indefinitely
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Sublimation
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the transition of a substance directly from the solid to the gas phase without passing through the intermediate liquid phase.
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Subsidies
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a sum of money granted by the government or a public body to assist an industry or business so that the price of a commodity or service may remain low or competitive.
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Surface Area
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way more opportunities for bioremediation and relationships
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Sustainable Farm Practices
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Polycultures, integrated pest managment, topographic diversity, terracing, contouring, windbreaks
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Symbiosis
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interaction between two different organisms living in close physical association, typically to the advantage of both.
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Synergistics
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the interaction of elements that when combined produce a total effectthat is greater than the sum of the individual elements, contributions,etc.; synergism.
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Terrestrial
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Of earth
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Theory
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a broad explanation based on a significant number of observations and measurements
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Thermophilic compost
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The practice of breaking down biological waste with thermophilic (heat-loving) bacteria.
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Tillage
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preparation of land for growing crops, results in loss of topsoil
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Topographic diversity
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varying topography of crops allows for greater trophic structures to form possibly resulting in intergrated pest management
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Topsoil
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most essential for supporting our agricultural needs and ecosystem services
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Trophic Cascade
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a change in feeding relationship that affect the food web
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Trophic Structure
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the way in which organisms utilise food resources and hence where energy transfer occurs within an ecosystem.
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Value of Microbes
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invaluable! Microbes are critical to the health of our planet and ourselves.
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Vermicompost
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Worm composting
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Water
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the foundation of life on EARTH
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Wetland Function
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Water purification prior to entering the ocean, sediment movement, habitat
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