Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and exercises for Geology for Baccalaureate

Agricultural Land as a Soil Resource

Agricultural land represents the natural humanized environment. Changes in soil horizons result from tillage, fertilizer inputs, sprinkler system installations, and anti-erosion measures. The primary difference between natural and agricultural soil lies in human intervention through fertilization and tillage.

Soil Fertility and Crop Production

Soil fertility is the capacity of the soil to provide essential nutrients for plant growth. Key agricultural products include:

• Cereals
• Tubers
• Fruit trees
• Vegetables

Note: In Catalonia, there is a growing trend of crop abandonment.

Rangeland Soil Use

Rangelands consist of meadows and pastures—expanses of land with grass that result from photosynthesis. These areas support various...

Ecosystem Fundamentals

An ecosystem is defined as the set of living beings that inhabit an environment, the physical-chemical factors of that environment, and the interactions that develop between them.

Ecological Communities

Communities are sets of populations of different species that occur together in space and time and interact with each other.

Ecological Succession

In any ecosystem, there is a progression towards the acquisition of a series of successively more stable states, which we call succession. These sequences occur over long periods and are often irreversible, leading to ecosystem maturation. As maturation increases, the rate of ecosystem changes slows down, as more efficient regulatory mechanisms develop in relation to a situation...

Theme 3: The Industrial Revolution and the Origins of Modern Economic and Political Thought

The Industrial Revolution originated capitalism, a new economic doctrine and political system that brought sustained economic growth. The new system spread to Europe, the United States, and Japan.

Principles of Classical Liberal Economics (Adam Smith)

• The interests of the individual and the maximization of profit drive the economy.
• Diverse interests find equilibrium in the market, where prices adapt supply and demand.
• The State should abstain from interfering in the economy, allowing the free development of particular interests (free trade).

Industrial Capitalism

Under industrial capitalism, the productive system is structured around the means of production...

Alternative Agriculture (Eco or Bio)

Alternative agriculture is an alternative to chemical agriculture that avoids the use of synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. It practices intensive agricultural methods based on biological means and traditional methods focused on ecological cultivation. Example: Ecological orchards (horts).

Agritourism

Agritourism refers to the tourist exploitation of rustic residential complexes that include classic agricultural activities. Example: A finca of agricultural activities in Calvià dedicated to agritourism.

Maritime Waters

Maritime waters constitute the maritime space that is part of a territory. It consists of:

• Inland waters (bays and ports)
• Territorial sea (up to 12 miles)
• Contiguous zone (up to 24 miles)
• Exclusive

Tema 7: Biological Membranes

Membranes are structures that permit the selective passage of substances and act as barriers that keep physicochemical conditions of each cellular compartment distinct.

Plasma Membrane

The plasma membrane defines the limits of the cell and maintains differences between the cytosol and the extracellular environment. It is formed by a lipid bilayer composed of glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids and amphipathic cholesterol. It serves as a barrier permeable to polar molecules.

Properties of the Lipid Bilayer

• Self-assembly and self-sealing
• Fluidity: lipids move by lateral diffusion and exchange positions, but do not flip-flop between leaflets, maintaining lipid asymmetry.
• Cells can change membrane composition by increasing

Microorganisms: Prokaryotes and Their Reproduction

Microorganisms are microscopic organisms. Prokaryotes, such as bacteria and archaea, do not have a nucleus and reproduce asexually, mainly through binary fission.

Bacteria

Bacteria are classified as photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic:

• Photosynthetic bacteria:
  • Cyanobacteria are phototrophs that contain chlorophyll a and perform oxygenic photosynthesis.
  • Other photosynthetic bacteria have bacteriochlorophyll and perform anoxygenic photosynthesis, without releasing oxygen.
• Non-photosynthetic bacteria:
  • Chemotrophs obtain energy from chemical reactions, such as oxidation, without light.
  • Heterotrophs obtain nutrients from other organisms. Most are saprophytic (they ferment organic matter), while others

Environmental Science Terminology

1. Core Ecological Concepts

• Albedo: The reflection of sunlight.
• Carrying Capacity: Maximum number of individuals of a species that can be sustained by an environment.
• Steady State Equilibrium: Condition of an open system in which there are no changes over the long term; stability remains despite potential fluctuations.
• R Strategist: Species that grow quickly and produce many offspring. They are highly adaptable and colonize quickly.

2. Atmospheric Processes and Warming

• Greenhouse Effect: Natural and necessary process in which gases allow infrared radiation to pass and trap heat, warming the Earth and allowing life.
• Enhanced Greenhouse Effect: Man-made accelerated effect. An increase of greenhouse gases leads to global

Future Tenses

Future Continuous

Affirmative: Subject + will be + Verb-ing

Future Perfect

Affirmative: Subject + will have + past participle (do, did, done)

Vocabulary

Unit 2

• observing
• analysing procedures
• conducting
• test a theory
• provide evidence
• demonstrate the possibility
• major breakthrough
• adopted an approach
• fields of study
• process data
• variety of sources

Phrasal verbs:

• plug in
• looked at (ways)
• hooked up
• bring up
• take in info
• took away
• takes after
• show off
• go over calculations
• rely on

Unit 3

• made improvements
• influenced / inspired
• make advances in
• turning point
• transform
• overcome difficulties
• making the world of difference
• remarkable achievement
• seeking ways to improve

Phrasal verbs:

• turn out
• take over
• move into
• go through

Modal Verbs

• Ability: can / could / be able to
• Advice: should

Evidence from Rocks About Life

Rocks are an important source of information about many forms of life that existed on this planet.

Why Can't Scientists Be Sure How Earth Was Created?

Because no rocks date to the formation of the Earth.

How Fossil Teeth Reveal an Animal's Diet

Size and shape indicate diet.

Explaining Relative Dating of Fossils

Sedimentary rocks form layers, with newer layers added on top of older layers. This does not tell scientists the exact age of the fossil; however, it does tell the scientist the fossil's age in relation to other fossils above or below it.

Common Radioactive Isotopes

Potassium-40 and Carbon-14 are two common radioactive isotopes.

What Is a Mass Extinction?

A mass extinction is when many organisms disappear from the...

Unit 7: The Environment

Agriculture: agricultura Atmosphere: atmósfera Change: cambio Chemical: químico Climate change: cambio climático Coast: costa Coastal: costero Coastal erosion: erosión costera Deforestation: deforestación Desert: desierto Desertification: desertificación Destruction: destrucción Development: desarrollo Drought: sequía Electric cars: coches eléctricos Energy: energía Energy-saving: de bajo consumo Environment: medio ambiente Environmental: medioambiental Erosion: erosión Factory: fábrica Flood: inundación Fossil fuels: combustibles fósiles Glacier: glaciar Global warming: calentamiento global Greenhouse effect: efecto invernadero Greenhouse gases: gases efecto invernadero Industry: industria Negative effect:...