APES Unit 5 Vocab Land and Water Use

Tragedy of the Commons

Overuse of shared resources because individuals act in self-interest rather than long-term sustainability.

Sustainability

Using resources in ways that meet current needs without harming future generations.

Old Growth Forest

Forests that have never been logged and contain mature, biodiverse ecosystems.

Floodplains

Flat areas next to rivers that naturally flood and deposit nutrient-rich sediment.

Levees/Dikes/Embankments

Raised structures built to prevent rivers from flooding surrounding land.

Slash and burn agriculture

Cutting and burning vegetation to clear land and release nutrients for farming.

Industrialized agriculture/Agribusiness

Large-scale farming using machines, synthetic chemicals, and monocultures.

The Green Revolution

Global increase in food production through high-yield crops, fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation.

Mechanization

Use of machines in agriculture to increase efficiency and reduce labor.

GMOs

Organisms whose genes have been altered to improve traits like yield or pest resistance.

CAFO (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation)/Feedlots

High-density animal farming systems used to maximize meat production.

Free-range animal operations

Farming where animals roam outdoors and are not confined to feedlots.

Rotational grazing

Moving livestock between pastures to reduce overgrazing and improve soil health.

Dust Bowl

1930s event where poor farming practices and drought caused massive soil erosion.

Contour plowing

Plowing along natural land contours to reduce erosion.

Windbreaks

Rows of trees or shrubs planted to block wind and reduce soil erosion.

Perennial crops

Crops that live for multiple years and reduce the need for replanting.

Terracing

Creating step-like fields on slopes to reduce runoff and soil erosion.

Crop rotation

Growing different crops in succession on the same field to maintain soil nutrients.

Monoculture

Growing only one crop over a large area, increasing pest and disease risks.

Polyculture

Growing multiple crops together to increase biodiversity and resilience.

Cover crops

Plants grown between main crops to prevent erosion and improve soil health.

Intercropping/Strip cropping

Planting different crops in alternating rows to reduce pests and erosion.

Arable land

Land suitable for crop production.

Tilling

Turning over soil to prepare for planting, often increasing erosion and carbon release.

Waterlogging

Soil oversaturated with water, suffocating plant roots.

Aquifer

Underground layer of rock or sediment that stores groundwater.

Water Table

The upper level of groundwater saturation in soil or rock.

Fertilizer (organic & inorganic)

Substances that supply nutrients to plants; organic from natural sources, inorganic from synthetic chemicals.

Pesticide

Chemicals used to kill pests such as insects, weeds, or fungi.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Pest control that combines biological, physical, and chemical methods to minimize pesticide use.

Pesticide resistance

When pests evolve to survive exposure to a pesticide.

Pesticide treadmill

Cycle where increasing pesticide use leads to resistance and even more pesticide use.

Biological Control

Using natural predators or organisms to reduce pest populations.

Crop dusting

Spraying pesticides or fertilizers from aircraft.

Aquaculture

Farming of fish, shellfish, or aquatic plants.

Overburden

Soil and rock removed to access mineral deposits in mining.

Acid mine drainage

Acidic water formed when mine waste reacts with air and water, polluting streams.

Tailings & slag

Waste materials left after mineral extraction and smelting.

Leachate

Contaminated water that drains through waste, often from landfills or mines.

Reclamation

Restoring mined or disturbed land to a usable state.

Urban heat island effect

Cities becoming warmer than surrounding areas due to concrete, asphalt, and reduced vegetation.

Urbanization

Growth of cities as people move from rural to urban areas.

Urban sprawl

Spread of low-density development outward from a city.

Impervious surfaces

Surfaces like concrete that do not absorb water, increasing runoff.

Urban blight

Deterioration of urban areas due to neglect, population loss, or economic decline.

Brownfields

Contaminated former industrial or commercial sites requiring cleanup.

Saltwater intrusion

Movement of saltwater into freshwater aquifers, often from over-pumping groundwater.

Ecological footprint

Measure of how much land and resources a person or population consumes.

Anthropogenic

Caused or influenced by human activity.