Human and Global change cause bio

Invasive species

a species that is not native to an ecosystem and whose introduction is likely to cause economic or environmental harm to humans.

Biomagnification

process where chemicals enter the food chain and build up in the bodies of organisms

Ecological footprint

total amount of functioning ecosystem needed to both provide the resources a human population uses, and to absorb the wastes that population generates

Climate

Average year-to-year conditions of temperature and precipitation in an area

Climate change

measurable long-term changes in averages of temperature, clouds, winds, precipitation, and the frequency of extreme weather events such as floods, major storms, and heat waves

Habitat fragmentation

the splitting of ecosystems into pieces due to development and agriculture

Overharvesting (ocean & land)

harvesting of a renewable resource to the point of diminishing returns

Deforestation

destruction of forests

Ocean Acidification

When carbon dioxide is dissolved in seawater and produces acid.

Atmosphere

thin layer of gases that surround Earth

Geosphere

all the rock at and below Earth’s surface

Hydrosphere

all the water above and below the Earth’s surface and in the atmosphere

Pollutant

Harmful material that can enter the biosphere through the land, air, or water