Introduction to Environmental Science

• What is the importance of environmental science?

  To understand interrelationships between organisms
• Why is it important to realize that environmental problems are global?

  To create awareness at all levels
• What does environmental science aim to discover?

  Sustainable ways of living and resource use
• What is the smallest unit of living things?

  Cell
• What is a tissue?

  A group of cells working together
• What is an organ?

  A group of differentiated tissues
• What is an organ system?

  A group of organs performing different functions
• What is an organism?

  Individual living things
• What does environmental science study?

  Interaction between human and natural systems
• What is a population?

  A group of similar organisms in an area
• What is a community?

  A group of different populations interacting
• What is an ecosystem?

  A group of communities and abiotic factors
• What is a biome?

  A group of ecosystems
• What is the biosphere?

  The living sphere of the Earth
• What is the Earth in environmental science?

  The planetary environment of Earth
• What is ecology?

  The study of interactions between living things and environment
• What does the term "oikos" mean?

  House or environment
• Who coined the term ecology?

  Ernst Haeckel
• What is autecology?

  The study of individual organisms and their environment
• What is synecology?

  The study of groups of organisms and their relationships
• What are biotic factors?

  The living components of an ecosystem
• What are abiotic factors?

  The non-living components of an ecosystem
• What is water made of?

  Two hydrogen and one oxygen
• Why is water important for seed germination?

  It helps in the germination process
• How does water function in organisms?

  It transports substances in plants and animals
• What role does water play in habitats?

  It serves as habitat for aquatic organisms
• What are hydrophytes?

  Plants needing abundant water supply
• What are halophytes?

  Plants surviving in high salinity water
• What are mesophytes?

  Plants needing moderate water supply
• What are xerophytes?

  Plants tolerating scanty water supply
• What are tropophytes?

  Plants living in alternating heavy rainfall and drought
• What is soil?

  Material formed from rock and organic materials
• What is sand soil?

  Soil with the largest particles
• What is clay soil?

  Soil with the smallest particles that retains water
• What is silt soil?

  Soil smaller than sand but larger than clay
• What is loam soil?

  Soil good for agriculture with sand, silt, and clay
• What is sunlight?

  The main energy source for life
• What is temperature?

  The hotness or coldness of an area
• What are intraspecific relationships?

  Relationships between individuals of the same species
• What are interspecific relationships?

  Relationships between different species