Unit 5 APES Vocab

The Tragedy of the Commons

A situation in a shared resource system in which individual users act according to their own self interest.

Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY)

The maximum amount of a resource that can be harvested without compromising the future availability of that resource

Rangelands

dry, open, uncultivated grasslands, shrublands, woodlands, or deserts that support grazing and browsing animals (both livestock and wildlife). 

Forests

 land dominated by trees and other woody vegetation, sometimes used for commercial logging

Clear-cutting

Removal of all or almost all trees in an area

Selective Cutting

Removal of single or a few trees

Sustainable forestry

managing forests to provide economic, social, and ecological benefits long-term

Tree Plantation

Clearcut and typically replaced with single, fast growing species

Mechanization

Heavy machinery and large plots of land, large upfront expenditure justified by profits from increased production, small farms cannot afford the upfront costs

The Green Revolution

Describes the shift to mechanization, fertilization, irrigation, and improved crop varieties over the last 100 years

Industrialized agriculture

The large scale, intensive management of forest land ro maximize the production of commercially valuable timber, pulp, or fuel wood

Hydroponic Agriculture

the method of growing plants without soil, using mineral-rich water solutions to deliver essential nutrients directly to the roots

Waterlogging

occurs when too much water is left to sit in the soil raising the water table; plants are unable to obtain oxygen through their roots

Salinization

when the salinity in the soil is increased to the point crops cannot grow (more of a concern with methods that allow for lots of evaporation)

Monocropping

Planting only one species or variety of crop across a broad expanse of land

Polycropping

Growing multiple crop species together in the same field simultaneously

Drip Irrigation

uses perforated hoses to release small quantity of water directly to plant roots; most efficient but expensive

Flood Irrigation

 flooding an agricultural field with water; some lost to evaporation and runoff, AND it can lead to waterlogging

Furrow Irrigation

cutting furrows between rows of crops and filling them with water; about ⅓ of the water is lost to evaporation and runoff, but is an inexpensive method

Spray Irrigation

pumping groundwater into spray nozzles across an agricultural field; ¼ of water lost to runoff and evaporation, but are typically more expensive and require energy to run

Synthetic Fertilizer

human-made, inorganic substances manufactured to provide concentrated, readily available plant nutrients (like N, P, K) for rapid growth

Organic Fertilizer

derived from natural, once-living sources like compost, manure, or bone meal, providing nutrients (N, P, K) while improving soil health and structure

Pesticide

A chemical or biological substance used to kill, repel, or control pests (such as insects, weeds, fungi, or rodents) that threaten crops or human health; pesticides can cause environmental pollution, bioaccumulation, biomagnification, and harm non-target species.

Insecticide

A type of pesticide specifically designed to kill or control insect pests that damage crops or spread disease; insecticides can negatively affect non-target species, lead to pesticide resistance, and contaminate soil and water.

Herbicide

a type of pesticide specifically designed to kill or inhibit the growth of unwanted plants (weeds) that compete with cultivated crops or desired vegetation

Broad-Spectrum Pesticide

harmful to many species, even those that it was not intended to kill

Narrow-Spectrum Pesticide

effective against a narrowly defined range of organisms

Persistence

the amount of time a chemical remains active in the environment

Pesticide Treadmill

a cycle where pests evolve resistance to pesticides, forcing farmers to use stronger or more of the chemicals, leading to increased costs, environmental harm, and the development of "superpests" (like superweeds), creating a self-perpetuating loop of escalating chemical dependency

Genetically Modified Organism (GMOs)

Process of removing a desired trait from one organism and inserting it into the genetic material of another

Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO)

Live on feedlots or large buildings called concentrated animal feeding operations - CAFOs (pigs, calves, chickens, and turkeys raised this way)

Antibiotic Resistance

when microbes (like bacteria) evolve to survive drugs designed to kill them, often through mutation or gaining resistance genes from other microbes, driven by overuse of antibiotics, making infections harder to treat and a major global health threat

Aquaculture

the controlled farming and harvesting of aquatic organisms like fish, shellfish, algae, and plants in freshwater or saltwater environments

Fishery

Concentration of a particular wild aquatic species suitable for commercial harvesting

Fishery Collapse

a drastic decline (usually 90% or more) in a commercially harvested fish population, often from overfishing and unsustainable methods like bottom trawling

Commercial Extinction

No longer profitable to harvest the fish species

Drift Net

a large, unanchored fishing net that hangs vertically in the water, drifting with currents, used to catch pelagic (open ocean) fish

Trawling

A fishing method that drags large nets along the ocean floor or through the water, often damaging habitats and capturing non-target species. produces high bycatch

Bycatch

The unintentional capture of non-target species (such as dolphins, turtles, or juvenile fish) during fishing.

Desertification

The process by which fertile land becomes dry and unproductive due to climate change, overgrazing, deforestation, or poor farming practices.

Soil Compaction

The compression of soil particles, reducing pore space and limiting water infiltration and root growth.

Perennial Plant

A plant that lives for more than two years and regrows each growing season.

Annual Plant

A plant that completes its entire life cycle in one growing season.

Intercropping

Growing two or more crops together to improve soil health, reduce pests, and increase yields.

Crop Rotation

Alternating different crops in a field across seasons to reduce soil depletion and pest buildup.

Contour Plowing

Plowing across a slope along natural contours to reduce soil erosion and runoff.

No-till Farming

An agricultural method where crops are planted without plowing, reducing erosion and improving soil structure.

Windbreaks

Rows of trees or shrubs planted to reduce wind erosion and protect crops.

Sustainable Agriculture

Farming practices that meet current food needs while conserving resources and minimizing environmental harm.

Strip Cropping

Planting alternating strips of crops to reduce erosion and slow water runoff.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

A pest control strategy that combines biological, cultural, physical, and limited chemical methods to minimize environmental impact.

Organic agriculture

Farming that avoids synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and GMOs, relying on natural processes to maintain soil fertility.

Surface mining

The removal of soil and rock to access mineral deposits near Earth’s surface.

Subsurface Mining

Mining that occurs underground through tunnels and shafts to reach deeper deposits.

Acid Mind Drainage

Acidic runoff formed when exposed sulfide minerals react with water and oxygen, contaminating waterways.

Pit Mining

A type of surface mining where minerals are extracted from large open pits.

Strip Mining

A surface mining method that removes layers of soil and rock to access shallow mineral seams.

Mountain-top Removal

A form of strip mining that removes the tops of mountains to access coal, causing severe habitat destruction.

Placer Mining

Mining that extracts valuable minerals from river sediments using water-based methods.

Ore Metals

Metal-containing rocks that can be mined profitably.

Reserve

The known quantity of a resource that can be economically extracted using current technology.

Mining Law of 1872

A U.S. law that allows individuals and companies to mine public lands for minerals at little cost.

Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977

A U.S. law that regulates surface coal mining and requires land restoration after mining.

Ecological Footprint

A measure of how much land and water area a person or population requires to produce the resources it consumes and absorb its waste.

Sustainability

The ability to meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

Urbanization

The growth of cities due to population movement from rural to urban areas.

Agroforestry

A land-use system that integrates trees with crops or livestock to improve sustainability and productivity.

Purse Seine

A fishing method that uses a large net to encircle a school of fish; the bottom is drawn closed like a purse, often used for tuna and sardines and can result in bycatch.

longline

A commercial fishing technique using a long main line with hundreds or thousands of baited hooks; catches tuna and swordfish in open water, commonly causes bycatch of seabirds, turtles, and sharks.

gill net

A net that hangs vertically in the water not visible to fish and captures fish by their gills; non-selective and can entangle non-target species.

Sonar / Radar

Technology used to locate schools of fish using sound waves (sonar) or radio waves (radar), increasing fishing efficiency and risk of overfishing.

Pots (Traps)

Cages or containers baited to attract organisms such as crabs or lobsters; more selective and generally causes less bycatch than nets.

Bottom Culture

An aquaculture method where organisms (such as clams or oysters) are grown directly on the seafloor; can disturb sediments and habitats.

off-bottom culture

Aquaculture that raises organisms above the seafloor using racks, cages, or ropes; reduces sediment disturbance and improves water flow.

Pens (Net Pens)

Enclosures placed in natural bodies of water to raise fish; allow waste, disease, and chemicals to enter surrounding ecosystems.

Ponds

Man-made or natural bodies of water used to raise fish; can lead to nutrient pollution if wastewater is not treated.

Raceways

Long, narrow channels with flowing water used in aquaculture; require large amounts of water and can pollute downstream ecosystems.

Recirculating Tanks (RAS)

Indoor aquaculture systems that filter and reuse water; highly efficient, reduce pollution and disease spread, but are energy-intensive.

Pelagic

organisms or processes that occur in the open water column of oceans or lakes, away from the bottom and shore (e.g., pelagic fish like tuna).

Benthic

organisms or processes that occur on or near the bottom of a body of water, including the seafloor or lakebed (e.g., clams, crabs, bottom-dwelling plants).