Biodiversity and Environmental Impact

A collection of flashcards summarizing key concepts related to biodiversity, environmental challenges, and sustainability.

Biodiversity Benefits

The advantages of biodiversity, which include genetic diversity, ecosystem services to human life such as cleaning, purifying, pollinating, stabilizing, and pest controlling.

The Anthropocene

A proposed geological epoch characterized by significant human impact on Earth's geology and ecosystems, marked by human population growth and technological innovation.

Biomagnification

The process in which the concentration of toxins increases as they move up the food chain due to retention in the bodies of organisms.

Acidification

The process where pollution, particularly from sulfur and nitrogen oxides, leads to acid rain, affecting habitats and species.

Greenhouse Effect

The warming of Earth due to the trapping of sunlight in the atmosphere by greenhouse gases.

Coral Bleaching

The loss of color and health in corals due to rising ocean temperatures and changing pH levels.

Zoned Reserves

Protected areas that consist of a core habitat surrounded by a buffer zone with lower density human activity to promote biodiversity.

Biodiversity Hotspots

Regions that are rich in endemic species and crucial for conservation due to their high biological diversity.

Connectivity & Buffering

The principle that maintaining or restoring habitat connectivity allows for wildlife movement and gene flow between fragmented habitats.

Climate Change

Long-term alteration of temperature and typical weather patterns in a place, often accelerated by human activities.

Zoonoses

Diseases that are transmitted from animals to humans, often linked to environmental and biodiversity changes.

Sustainability

The ability to maintain ecological balance and avoid depletion of natural resources.

Extinction Vortex

A phenomenon whereby small populations face inbreeding and loss of genetic diversity, leading to increased susceptibility to extinction.

Endemic Species

Species that are native to a particular geographical area and not found naturally anywhere else.

Ecosystem Services

The benefits that humans derive from ecosystems, including resources and processes that sustain life.

Nonnative Species

Species that have been introduced to an area where they are not naturally found, often leading to ecological imbalance.

Habitat Destruction

The process in which natural habitat is rendered unable to support the species present, leading to biodiversity loss.

Population Regulation

The mechanisms that maintain animal populations at sustainable levels, impacted by environmental factors and human activity.

Globalization

The process of increased interconnectedness among countries, often resulting in ecological implications and biodiversity changes.

Pollution

The introduction of harmful substances or products into the environment, affecting ecosystems and human health.