Biodiversity and Evolution – Key Vocabulary

40 vocabulary flashcards covering key terms on biodiversity, extinction factors, and environmental issues from the lecture notes.

Biodiversity

The variety of life in a particular area, including all plants, animals, microorganisms, and ecosystems.

Species

A group of organisms that can reproduce with one another and produce fertile offspring (e.g., all domestic cats).

Population

All individuals of the same species living in the same area at the same time.

Community

Different populations (different species) that live together in one area.

Ecosystem

A community of living things (biotic) and the non-living environment (abiotic) such as water, soil, sunlight, and air.

Food Chain

A model that shows how energy and nutrients flow from one organism to another through eating.

Limiting Factor

Anything that prevents a population from increasing, such as limited food, water, space, or shelter.

Species Extinction

The permanent disappearance of a species when its last member dies.

Habitat Loss

The complete destruction or severe alteration of a natural home, making it hard for organisms to survive.

Deforestation

Cutting down or clearing forests (for farming, building, mining, etc.) without replanting trees.

Illegal Logging

Unlawful cutting and harvesting of trees, often contributing to habitat loss and soil erosion.

Kaingin (Slash-and-Burn)

Clearing forest by cutting and burning trees to create farmland, which degrades soil and forests.

Mining

Extraction of minerals from the earth that often removes vegetation and damages habitats.

Invasive Species

Organisms introduced to an area where they are not native that establish, spread rapidly, and harm local ecosystems.

Non-native Species

A species living outside its natural distribution range; may become invasive if it harms the new habitat.

Knife Fish (Chitala ornata)

An invasive freshwater fish in Laguna de Bay that preys on native fish and out-competes them for food and habitat.

Golden Kuhol (Golden Apple Snail)

An invasive snail that damages young rice plants and competes with native snails, causing crop losses.

Biocontrol

Using natural predators, parasites, or sterile males to reduce pest or invasive species populations.

Water Pollution

Contamination of rivers, lakes, oceans, or groundwater by garbage, chemicals, or waste, making water unsafe.

Algal Bloom

Rapid algae growth caused by excess nutrients; blocks sunlight and leads to oxygen depletion.

Dissolved Oxygen

Oxygen mixed in water; its decline (often after algal blooms) can suffocate fish and aquatic life.

Heavy Metals

Toxic elements (e.g., mercury, lead) that accumulate in water and poison aquatic organisms.

Noise Pollution (Marine)

Excessive underwater sound from ships or sonar that disrupts marine animals’ communication and navigation.

Overpopulation

Human population growth that exceeds the environment’s capacity to provide resources and services.

Resource Depletion

Exhaustion of natural resources (food, water, land, clean air) due to overuse, often linked to overpopulation.

Climate Change

Long-term shifts in temperature and weather patterns largely caused by human-produced greenhouse gases.

Greenhouse Gas

Gas (e.g., carbon dioxide) that traps heat in Earth’s atmosphere, contributing to global warming.

Coral Bleaching

Loss of algae from coral due to warmer, more acidic seas, causing corals to turn white and die.

Drought

Extended period of low rainfall; dries plants and water sources, threatening wildlife survival.

Overharvesting (Overhunting)

Removing wild plants or animals faster than they can reproduce, leading to population decline or extinction.

Reforestation

Planting trees in deforested areas to restore forests and habitats.

Sustainable Logging

Cutting trees responsibly so forests can regenerate and biodiversity is maintained.

Marine Reserve

Protected ocean area where fishing and other extractive activities are restricted to conserve marine life.

Renewable Energy

Energy from sources like solar, wind, or hydro that do not deplete resources or emit large amounts of CO₂.

Sterile Male Technique

Biocontrol method that releases sterilized males to lower invasive species’ reproduction rates.

Habitat Restoration

Activities that repair damaged ecosystems so native species can recover.

Species Competition

When two or more species vie for the same limited resources such as food or space.

Pollution Runoff

Movement of fertilizers, waste, or chemicals from land into water bodies, often triggering algal blooms.

Soil Erosion

Removal of topsoil by water or wind, often intensified by deforestation and leading to flash floods.

Carbon Dioxide (CO₂)

Major greenhouse gas released by burning fossil fuels and deforestation, driving global warming.