§-Environmental Science Q&A
VIC · VCAA← Environmental Science
Environmental Science Q&A by dot point
A short Q&A bank for every VIC Environmental Science syllabus dot point. Each question and answer is drawn directly from our worked dot-point page, so you can scan key concepts before opening the long-form answer.
Unit 3: How can biodiversity and development be sustained?
the classification, taxonomy and naming of organisms, including the use of binomial nomenclature and taxonomic hierarchy, and how classification supports the description and conservation of biodiversity
the four categories of ecosystem services (supporting, provisioning, regulating and cultural) and how each links biodiversity to human wellbeing and development
the concepts of endemism and biodiversity hotspots, why endemic species and hotspots are especially vulnerable, and their significance for setting conservation priorities
the levels of biodiversity (genetic, species and ecosystem) and the value of biodiversity through ecosystem services and human wellbeing
measures of biodiversity including species richness, species evenness and the use of diversity indices to compare ecosystems
the threats to biodiversity including habitat loss and fragmentation, invasive species, overexploitation, pollution and climate change, and the process of extinction
the ecological, economic, social and intrinsic value of biodiversity and the difference between instrumental and intrinsic value in conservation decisions
Unit 4: How can climate change and energy use be managed?
Earth's climate system as the interaction of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere and lithosphere, and the global energy balance including incoming solar radiation, albedo and outgoing radiation
the lines of evidence for climate change including direct measurements and proxy data such as ice cores, and the environmental and social impacts of climate change
the natural drivers of climate change including Milankovitch cycles, solar variation and volcanic activity, and the role of positive and negative feedback mechanisms in amplifying or dampening change
the carbon cycle including the main carbon stores (reservoirs), the fluxes between them, the role of fast and slow cycling, and how human activities have altered the cycle
the natural greenhouse effect, the main greenhouse gases and their sources, and how the enhanced greenhouse effect from human activity drives global warming
Unit 3: How can biodiversity and development be sustained?
strategies for managing and conserving biodiversity including in-situ conservation (protected areas, wildlife corridors) and ex-situ conservation (captive breeding, seed banks)
the principles of ecological sustainability and how development can be managed using approaches such as the precautionary principle, intergenerational equity and ecologically sustainable development
Unit 4: How can climate change and energy use be managed?
the scientific concepts of energy and power, the units used to measure them (joules and watts), energy conversions and losses, and the meaning of energy efficiency
approaches to managing energy use and reducing greenhouse gas emissions including energy efficiency, mitigation and adaptation strategies, and the transition to a low-carbon economy
the characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of non-renewable energy sources (fossil fuels, nuclear) and renewable energy sources (solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, biomass)