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Teacher Resource Bank

GCE Environmental Studies

Dominoes

GCE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

Dominoes

Instructions:

Print off the dominoes, preferably on card.Cut horizontally between the pairs of boxes and trim to create 12 ‘dominoes’.

Match each domino to a suitable neighbour such that each key term ismatched to its definition. You should end up with a complete ring ofdominoes.

GCE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

Dominoes

Table of topic areas

Topic area

Conditions for Life on EarthWildlife ConservationConservation in the UKConservation AbroadLife ProcessesLand ResourcesThe AtmosphereThe HydrosphereThe LithosphereEnergyPollutionThe Population: Resource BalanceAgricultureAquatic Food Production SystemsForestrySustainabilityPractical Skills

Conditions for Life on Earth

AtmosphereAll the living organisms

on the Earth

EnzymeAll the gases that

surround the Earth

LithosphereA protein molecule that

controls biochemicalreactions

HydrosphereThe crust and upper

mantle

PhotolysisThe water of the Earth,in solid, liquid and gas

states

SpecificHeat

Capacity

The splitting of asubstance by light

Thermophile

The amount of energygained or lost for a

particular temperaturerise

Ozone layerAn organism that lives

under unusually hotconditions

Ultravioletlight

The layer in thestratosphere with most

naturally occurring ozone

GreenhouseGas

High energy, shortwavelength

electromagnetic radiation

TranspirationGas that absorbs

infra red energy emittedby the Earth

BiosphereThe evaporation of water

from leaf stomata

Wildlife Conservation

CITESThe artificial transfer of

semen into a female withoutmating

EndemicInternational wildlife trade

control

Gene poolA species that is native to anarea and not found naturally

anywhere else

IndigenousThe total variety of genes in a

population

IWCA species that is native to an

area

NicheInternational organisation thataims to ensure exploitation of

whales is sustainable

Ramsar Site

The role an organism plays inits habitat, how it makes use ofresources and its inter-relations

with other species

RSPBProtected wetland site,

especially for birds,designated by DEFRA

TeratologyUK conservation charity that

focuses on birds

VavilovCentre

The study of physiologicalabnormalities during

development

BiomimeticsAn area with a rich diversity ofwild varieties of crop species

Artificialinsemination

The study of living organismsso the knowledge can beapplied to technological

developments

Conservation in the UK

PlagioclimaxNatural England scheme to

conserve particularendangered species

NaturalEngland/CCW

A community that does notreach the natural climax due

to external influences egburning

NGOA government agency

responsible for conservationof wildlife and the landscape

SPAAny organisation that is not

run by a government

Biologicalcorridor

Area designated under theEU Birds’ Directive

MNRA habitat that allows

movement between twoother habitats

Ramsar siteA designated protected

marine habitat

ESSWetland area protected by a

global internationalagreement

CoppicingA scheme that pays farmers

for environmentallybeneficial management

RSPBTraditional woodland

management by regularcutting to ground level

SACThe main UK bird

conservation organisation

SpeciesRecovery

Programme

Area designated under theEU Habitats directive

Conservation abroad

BiodiversityPhysical factors such aslight, temperature and

water

Carbonsequestration

A measure of the varietyand abundance of wildlife

species

CITESAppendix I

Removal of carbon dioxidefrom the atmosphere,

eg afforestation orunderground storage

No take zone(NTZ)

Complete ban on trade ina species

UpwellingArea where catching orremoval of species is

banned

Slash andburn farming

Where nutrient-rich deepocean water comes to the

surface

CITESAppendix II

Farming in temporaryclearings with new onescleared every few years

PlanktonTrade in a species

permitted from somecountries

Micro-climate Floating aquatic organisms

Biotic factorsA small area with a climate

that is different from thesurrounding area

AlbedoBiological factors such as

food and disease

Abioticfactors

The reflectivity of a surface

Life processes

HabitatA group of organisms basedon their biological similarities

PopulationThe place where a species,

population or community lives

HeterotrophAll the individuals of a

species living in an area

Symbiosis

An organism that gains itsorganic compounds for

energy and growth from otherorganisms

PollinationThe relationship between

organisms of different speciesthat live together

CommunityThe transfer of male gametes

resulting in fertilisation andseed production

SpeciesAll the populations of all the

species living in an area

Ecosystem

A group of organisms thatresemble each other morethan other organisms and

naturally interbreed toproduce fertile offspring

Biome

A community of organismsand their interactions with

each other and their abioticenvironment

Edaphic

A large geographic regionwith a characteristic climateand unique community of

species

TaxonThe changes as an area

develops from a bare area tobecome a climax community

Land resources

CBA

A community of species thatdoes not develop to a naturalclimax, but is maintained byexternal influences such as

burning, grazing or ploughing

Country ParkDecision making process inplanning - all factors being

given a financial value

EIACountryside area managed

for public enjoyment, usuallyby local authorities

Green BeltDecision making process inplanning - to predict effects

and propose changes

Honeypot SiteA designated area around an

urban area which restrictsurban expansion into the

countryside

Leopold MatrixAn area that is particularly

attractive to visitors

NationalTrust

A grid used to assess theenvironmental impacts ofproposed developments

Space zoning

A UK charity that conserveshistoric buildings and

important landscapes andhabitats

NeptuneCoastlineCampaign

A method of avoiding landuse conflicts by allocatingdifferent areas to different

uses

Urban parkThe National Trust campaignto buy and protect important

coastline landscape

Time zoning

An area of semi-natural landin an urban area used for

public recreation andrelaxation

Plagioclimax

A method of avoiding landuse conflicts by allowingdifferent uses at different

times

The Atmosphere

AlbedoHigh energy short wavelength

electromagnetic radiation

El Niňo A measure of the reflectivity

of a surface

HCFCs

The reversal of the equatorialPacific Ocean current thatnormally flows westwards

InfiltrationHydrochlorofluorocarbons.

A group of chemicals used toreplace CFCs

Kyotoprotocol

Water entering the ground,flowing between the particles

of soil or rock

La Niňa

The international agreementintended to control emissions

of greenhouse gases

Montrealprotocol

The strengthening of thewestward flowing equatorial

Pacific Ocean current

OzoneInternational agreement thathas controlled the release ofozone-depleting substances

Stratosphere Triatomic oxygen

IR/Infra redenergy

The layer of the atmospherein which UV is absorbed by

the ozone layer

TroposphereLong wavelength

electromagnetic radiationemitted by warm objects

UV/Ultravioletlight

The layer of the atmospherebelow the stratosphere, fromground level to about 10km

The Hydrosphere

PathogenPrecipitation that does not

reach the ground because itlands on vegetation

PercolationAn organism that causes

disease

PermeabilityThe movement of water

between the particles of soilor rock

PorosityA measure of the rate at

which a fluid, such as water,can flow through rock

PotableA measure of the percentageof the volume of a rock that is

space

Transfer rateWater that is suitable for

drinking

SubsidenceThe volume of material

moved from one reservoir toanother in a set period of time

Abstraction

The collapse of the groundsurface caused by

undermining or a reduction inaquifer rock volume following

the over-abstraction ofgroundwater

AerobicThe removal of water from the

location where it was foundso it can be used

AquiferA process or organism that

requires oxygen

Infiltration

An underground rockstructure from which water is

abstracted. It consists ofporous, permeable rock such

as sandstone or limestone

Interception

The process by which surfacewater enters the ground

between the particles of soilor rock

The Lithosphere

Adsorption

The characteristics of asoil based on the

proportions of sand, siltand clay

BatholithThe attachment of a

material onto a surface

DetritivoreA large underground massof solidified molten magma

SoluteOrganism that feeds on

dead organic matter, oftenin or on the soil

Regolith A dissolved substance

HomeostasisThe solid rock particles left

behind after weathering

Soil structure

The combined processesthat maintain balance in aliving organism or in the

environment

Residencetime

The characteristics of a soilbased on the aggregation of

soil particles into peds

Gaiahypothesis

The average length of timethat a molecule remains in a

reservoir

OverburdenA theory that considers theEarth to behave as a single

self-regulating system

TurbidityThe unwanted material ontop of the mineral deposit

that is to be exploited

Soil textureA measure of the cloudiness

of water caused bysuspended solid particles

Energy

DepleteThe process of storing

surplus energy to satisfylater peaks in demand

ElectrolysisTo reduce the amount of aresource that is available

Non-renewableresource

The splitting of moleculesusing electricity(lysis = splitting)

Viscosity

A resource which isrenewed so slowly that theamount that is available for

use is effectively finite

Secondaryfuel

A measure of the ease withwhich a fluid can flow

Energydensity

An energy source that isproduced by the conversion

of a primary fuel

Parabolicreflector

The amount of energy in aparticular mass of fuel orthat can be harnessed by

a particular mass ofequipment

Renewableresource

A mirror system thatreflects incoming light onto

a single point

Primary fuelA resource that is

reformed relatively quickly

HeliostatAn energy source that can

be harnessed from theenvironment

Kineticenergy

A device that tracks thesun so the angle of

incident sunlight stays thesame

Peak shaving The energy of movement

Pollution

Acoustic fatigue

A measure of the rate atwhich a material breaksdown and therefore thelength of time it remains

Turbidity

Stress cracking of amaterial caused by

repetitive vibrations inducedby sound

Secondarysewage

treatment

A measure of thecloudiness of a liquid

caused by suspended solidparticles

Biomagnification

The breakdown of theremaining organic matter in

the fluids after primarysewage treatment

VitrificationThe progressive

bioaccumulation of amaterial along a food chain

Liposolubility

The process ofencapsulating high levelradioactive waste in solid

glass

Electrostaticprecipitator

A measure of how easily asubstance dissolves in fats

and oils

Bioaccumulation

The removal of suspendedparticles from gaseous

effluents by attracting themto electrically charged wires

or plates

Primary sewagetreatment

The build up of a material inliving organisms

Lapse ratediagram

The removal of organicsolids from fluids during

sewage treatment

Biodegradability

A graph to show howtemperature changes with

altitude, often used to showtemperature inversions

Persistence

The ease with which amaterial is broken down byliving organisms, usually

bacteria

The Population: Resource balance

Affluence

An activity that can be carriedout without making life more

difficult for people in thefuture

Per capitaThe level of richness or

poverty

LEDC Per person

Fairtradegoods

A country with a lowerlevel of economic

development

FSCItems produced by people

whose rate of pay ensures abasic standard of living

MEDC

The organisation thataccredits sustainably

managed forests

ExtravaganceA country with a higher level

of economic development

AltruismBeing unnecessarily

wasteful

Agenda 21Acting for the benefit of all or

others

Food milesUN strategy resulting from

the Rio Summit in 1992

Bushmeat

A measure of the distancethat food travels betweenproducer and consumer

SustainableFood provided by hunting

wild animals

Agriculture

Carryingcapacity

The growth of a single type ofcrop, usually over a large area

InsolationThe greatest population that canbe supported sustainably in an

area

Geneticengineering

Sunlight landing on a surface

True-breedingvariety

The artificial insertion of genesfrom another organism, often of

another species

Intensiveagriculture

A variety of selectively bredorganism where all members aregenetically almost identical and

produce similar offspring

EdaphicFarming where high yields are

achieved by using large inputs perunit area

Crop rotation A factor related to soil

Cloning

The practice of growing adifferent crop in a field on acycle of three, four or five

years

MicropropagationAn artificial form of asexual

reproduction

Humus

Artificial asexualreproduction where plants

are grown from small piecesof plant tissue, eg pieces of

leaf

Aspect

The colloidal material in soilthat is the end product of the

decomposition of deadorganic matter

MonocultureThe direction something

faces in relation to incomingsunlight

Aquatic food production systems

Photic layerThe artificial productionof aquatic organisms,including fish farming

PhytoplanktonThe water layer into

which light canpenetrate

MaximumSustainableYield (MSY)

Free-floatingphotosynthetic

organisms that drift withcurrents

PelagicThe greatest amountthat can be harvested

sustainably

By-catchLiving near the water

surface eg herring andtuna

MolluscsThe non-target

organisms that arecaught when fishing

CrustaceansInvertebrates with one or

two hard shells eg oysters,clams, squid

UpwellingInvertebrates with jointedlimbs and an exoskeleton

eg crabs and lobsters

DemersalA water current that

moves from deep water tothe surface

Phosphatesand nitrates

Living on the seabed egcod and plaice

OverfishingNutrients that are often thelimiting factors on marine

productivity

Aquaculture Fishing above the MSY

Forestry

Canopy

The process where trees arecut to ground level every few

years. The regrowthproduces long narrow stems

TaigaThe uppermost layer ofvegetation in a forest

StratificationThe Northern conifer forest

biome found in Canada,Scandinavia and Russia

ForestStewardship

Council (FSC)

Layering, as seen withvegetation layers in forests

Programme forBelize (PfB)

An organisation that certifiessustainable forestry

operations

Deciduous

Independent conservationorganisation that managesthe Rio Bravo Conservationand Management Area inBelize, Central America

Carbonsequestration

The process of shedding allthe leaves at the same time of

a year

Primaryproductivity

The process by which plantsabsorb carbon dioxide from

the atmosphere and store thecarbon in wood and other

plant tissues

UnderstoreyThe energy captured during

photosynthesis

Climaxcommunity

The layer of tree vegetationbeneath the canopy layer

ConifersThe community of organisms

at the end of ecologicalsuccession

CoppicingTrees that produce theirseeds in cones, eg pine,

spruce and fir trees

Sustainability

BiocapacityEnergy released by the joining

of nuclei of small atoms, eghydrogen

Ecologicalfootprint

A measure of the biologicalproductivity of an area

Ecological debtday

The area of the Earth's surfacethat is needed to provide the

resources that are used by thehuman population and to deal

with the wastes produced

Sustainable

The day on which it isestimated that the whole year'sworth of resources have been

used

Plannedobsolescence

An activity that can be carriedout without making life more

difficult for people in the future

Carbonfootprint

The deliberate plan to makeitems that do not last as long

as they could have, usually forcommercial gain

Carbonsequestration

The part of the ecologicalfootprint caused by the

release of carbon dioxide andother greenhouse gases

Tragedy ofthe Commons

Any process that is used toremove carbon dioxide from

the atmosphere, such asafforestation or underground

storage

Rio Summit(1992)

The lack of responsibilitytowards resources that are

shared by everyone

Ecologicaldebt

International summit intendedto achieve plans for

sustainable development

Landfill TaxThe concept that the planet is

being exploited at a fasterrate than it can replace theresources we have used

NuclearFusion

Tax intended to reduce solidwaste disposal in the ground

Practical Skills

DAFOR scale

The factor which may becontrolled by the independentvariable ie the 'results' that are

measured

Surbersampler

A qualitative scale that judges theabundance of organisms. Initialsstand for: Dominant, Abundant,

Frequent, Occasional, Rare

Quadrat

An aquatic invertebrate samplingframe and net that provides more

quantitative data than kicksampling

Transect

An area, usually square orcircular, in which samples are

taken. The size of the areadepends upon the organisms

being studied

HeterogenousA line or belt of sampling sites

across an area

Nullhypothesis

Uneven, with local concentrations

Lincoln indexThe no-link theory against which

the hypothesis is tested

Tüllgrenfunnel

A catch, mark, release, recapturemethod of estimating animal

populations

Secchi discA piece of equipment used to

extract invertebrates from soil orleaf litter

IndependentVariable

A circular disc divided into fourblack and white segments that isused to estimate water turbidity

Pitfall trapThe factor that is deliberately

altered or measured to see if itcontrols the dependent factor

Dependentvariable

A method of sampling populationsof mobile animals that live on the

soil surface, by collectingindividuals that fall into traps set

into the ground