AICE Environmental Management - Chapter 4 Vocab

desert

A hostile, barren landscape where less than 250 m of precipitation occurs annually, and biodiversity is low.

tundra

A biome found far north in Asia and Alaska, characterised by long cold, dark winters, and short cool summers with permanently frozen ground.

grasslands

A biome with grassy plains and few trees, typically found in the tropics and subtropics.

diurnal temperature range

The variation between high and low air temperatures that occur during the same day.

convectional rainfall

Rainfall that occurs when the energy of the sun heats up Earth's surface, causing water to evaporate and then condense to form clouds.

stomata

Pores in the leaf or stem of the plant that allow the movement of gases in and out of the spaces between cells.

permafrost

Areas of permanently frozen ground.

ecological succession

The process by which the structure of a biological community changes over time.

primary succession

The gradual process by which an ecosystem develops in a region that has not previously been colonised.

secondary succession

The process by which an ecosystem develops in a region that has been previously colonised but disturbed.

pioneer species

A hardy species capable of being the first to colonize disturbed or newly formed environments.

primary productivity

The rate at which energy is converted into organic material through photosynthesis by plants.

gross primary productivity

The rate at which producers convert solar energy into biomass.

net primary productivity

The rate at which producers convert solar energy into biomass minus the loss of energy through respiration.

ecosystem productivity

The rate of production of biomass for an ecosystem.

native species

A species that originated and developed in a specific ecosystem or region.

invasive species

A species that can outcompete others, causing changes to an ecosystem's balance.

indigenous

Originating or occurring naturally in a specific area.

flora

The plants of a particular area, region, or environment.

fauna

The animal life characteristic of an area, region, or environment.

eutrophication

An increase in nutrients in water that results in rapid algae growth, leading to ecological degradation.

genes

The basic units of heredity passed down from parent to offspring.

DNA

The material in cells that carries information about how a living organism will look and function.

evolution

The process by which living organisms have developed and adapted into different forms.

evolutionary tree

A branching diagram showing evolutionary relationships among various biological species.

rewilding

Restoring an area of land to its natural undisturbed state by reintroducing species of wild animals.

microhabitat

A small or limited habitat that differs from the surrounding environment.

deforestation

The action of clearing forested areas by cutting down trees.

fragmentation

An ecosystem that has been broken into patches too far apart for species to properly interact.

marginal

Trees found along the edges of a forest or cleared area.

cascading change

A top-down process where a change at the top of a food web affects the whole ecosystem.

ice shelves

Platforms of ice that extend over the edge of the land into the oceans.

sea ice

Ice that floats on the surface of the oceans and seas.

geyser

A hot spring that periodically sends up tall columns of water and steam.

hot spring

A source of ground water heated by underground volcanic activity.

CITES: convention of international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora

an international agreement that ensures that a sustainable trade in endangered species

IWC: international whaling commission

protects whales by establishing protected whale sanctuaries as no-fish and safe for breeding zones

European Union Common Fisheries

rules for fishing in EU waters

International Tropical Timber Organization

encourages sustainable tropical timber harvest and trade to promote conservation and sustainable forest management.

ICUN Red List

a tool to guide international actions for conservation of endangered and threatened species

EDGE program

the purpose is to raise funds and awareness of the need to protect species that have unique evolutionary history and genetic structure and are now threatened

Nature reserves and national parks

legally protected area for flora, fauna and the natural features

marine conservation zones

an area that protects marine species by establishing no take zones

endangered species act

a U.S. law enacted in 1973 aimed at protecting critically endangered species from extinction and conserving their habitats.

Captive breeding

breeding of endangered species in captibity to ensure the long-term survival