apes unit 5 definations

a

Tragedy of the Commons

Overexploitation of shared resources by individuals prioritizing personal gain, leading to resource depletion.

Clearcutting

The complete removal of all trees in an area for timber or land use.

Green Revolution

A period of agricultural innovation involving high-yield crops, chemical fertilizers, and mechanization.

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)

Organisms whose genetic material has been altered for specific traits like pest resistance.

Tilling

The process of turning over soil to prepare it for planting, often causing erosion and nutrient loss.

Slash-and-burn farming

Cutting and burning vegetation to clear land for agriculture, causing deforestation and soil degradation.

Drip irrigation

A highly efficient system delivering water directly to plant roots via tubes or emitters.

Flood irrigation

Involves flooding fields with water, leading to inefficient use and potential waterlogging.

Furrow irrigation

Water is directed into furrows between crop rows, less efficient than drip irrigation.

Spray irrigation

Sprinklers distribute water evenly across fields, often leading to water loss through evaporation.

Waterlogging

Saturation of soil with water, reducing oxygen availability for roots.

Salinization

Accumulation of salts in soil due to improper irrigation practices, reducing fertility.

Aquifer

Underground layers of water-bearing rock or sediment that store groundwater.

Sustainability

Meeting present needs without compromising future generations’ ability to meet theirs.

Infiltration

The process of water soaking into the ground, replenishing aquifers.

Soil conservation methods

Practices like crop rotation, contour plowing, and cover cropping to prevent soil erosion.

Prescribed burn

Controlled fires to manage forest health, reduce undergrowth, and prevent wildfires.

Overgrazing

Excessive grazing by livestock, leading to vegetation loss and soil erosion.

Selective cutting

Harvesting only specific trees, preserving forest ecosystem health.

Desertification

Degradation of fertile land into desert due to overuse, deforestation, and climate change.

Subsidence

Sinking of the ground caused by activities like aquifer depletion or mining.

Overfishing

Excessive fishing that depletes fish populations and disrupts ecosystems.

SMCRA (Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act)

U.S. law regulating surface mining and land restoration.

Monoculture

The cultivation of a single crop, reducing biodiversity and increasing vulnerability to pests.

Energy subsidy

External energy input (e.g., fossil fuels) required for agricultural production.

Surface mining

Extracting resources by removing soil and rock layers above deposits.

Resistance

The ability of pests or weeds to withstand pesticides or herbicides.

Resurgence

The recovery of pest populations after pesticide application, often due to resistance.

Drift-netting

Large nets used for fishing, often catching unintended species (by-catch).

Bottom trawling

Dragging nets along the seafloor, damaging habitats and catching by-catch.

Tailings

Mining waste left after extracting valuable minerals.

Long-lining

Fishing method using lines with baited hooks, often catching by-catch.

By-catch

Non-target species caught during fishing activities.

Subsurface mining

Extraction of minerals from underground, involving tunnels and shafts.

Urbanization

The growth of cities and their impact on the environment.

MSY (Maximum Sustainable Yield)

The largest harvestable population level that allows resource regeneration.

Suburb

Residential area on the outskirts of a city.

Urban blight

Decline in urban areas due to neglect, leading to poor living conditions.

Impervious structures

Surfaces like asphalt or concrete that prevent water infiltration.

Suburban sprawl

Unplanned, low-density expansion of suburban areas.

Ecological footprints

Measurement of human impact on Earth’s ecosystems based on resource use.

Herbicides

Chemicals used to kill unwanted plants or weeds.

Fungicides

Chemicals targeting fungi that harm crops.

Rodenticides

Poisons designed to kill rodents.

Insecticides

Chemicals used to kill insects.

Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO)

High-density livestock farming for meat production.

Ores

Naturally occurring minerals containing valuable metals.

Slag

Waste byproduct from smelting ores.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Pest control using a combination of biological, mechanical, and chemical methods.

Aquaculture

Farming of aquatic organisms like fish and shellfish for food.