Environmental Science

Chapter 9 background extinction During most of the 3.56 billion years that life has existed on the earth, there has been a continuous, low level of extinction of species known as background extinction. endangered species has so few individual survivors that the species could soon become extinct over all or most of its natural range (the area in which it is normally found). extinction rate expressed as a percentage or number of species that go extinct within a certain time period such as a year. HIPPCO Habitat destruction, degradation, and fragmentation;?Invasive (nonnative) species;?Population and resource use growth (too many people consuming too many resources);?Pollution;?Climate change; and?Overexploitation. instrumental value

Chapter 7 biomes large terrestrial regions characterized by similar climate, soil, plants, and animals, regardless of where they are found in the world. climate an area?s general pattern of atmospheric or weather conditions measured over long periods of time ranging from decades to thousands of years. currents Prevailing winds blowing over the oceans produce mass movements of surface water called currents. desert In a desert, annual precipitation is low and often scattered unevenly throughout the year. During the day, the baking sun warms the ground and causes evaporation of moisture from plant leaves and soil. But at night, most of the heat stored in the ground radiates quickly into the atmosphere. forest systems are lands dominated by trees. grasslands

Chapter 5 age structure A population?s age structure?the proportions of individuals at various ages?can have a strong effect on how rapidly it increases or decreases in size. biotic potential Species vary in their biotic potential or capacity for population growth under ideal conditions. carrying capacity (K) Together, biotic potential and environmental resistance determine the carrying capacity (K): the maximum population of a given species that a particular habitat can sustain indefinitely without being degraded. coevolution

Chapter 3 abiotic Two types of components make up the biosphere and its ecosystems: One type, called abiotic, consists of nonliving components such as water, air, nutrients, rocks, heat, and solar energy. aerobic respiration Producers, consumers, and decomposers use the chemical energy stored in glucose and other organic compounds to fuel their life processes. In most cells this energy is released by aerobic respiration, which uses oxygen to convert glucose (or other organic nutrient molecules) back into carbon dioxide and water. anaerobic respiration, or fermentation Some decomposers get the energy they need by breaking down glucose (or other organic compounds) in the?absence?of oxygen. This form of cellular respiration is called anaerobic respiration, or fermentation.

Living in the Environment 16th Ed. Chapter 1 :Key Terms biodegradable pollutants harmful materials that can be broken down by natural processes. conservation the management of natural resources with the goal of minimizing resource waste and sustaining resource supplies for current and future generations. culture the whole of a society?s knowledge, beliefs, technology, and practices, and human cultural changes have had profound effects on the earth. developed countries (with 1.2 billion people) include the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and most countries of Europe. developing countries All other nations (with 5.5 billion people) are classified as developing countries, most of them in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. ecological footprint