Day 3-Biodiversity and Human Dependence on the Natural Environment-II

Ecosystem

A community of living organisms and their nonliving environment, interacting as a system.

Freshwater Ecosystems

Relatively small areas of water that support many species of life, including fish, amphibians, insects, and plants.

Terrestrial Ecosystems

Various types of ecosystems found on land, such as tropical rainforests, savannas, deserts, deciduous forests, temperate grasslands, coniferous forests, and tundra.

Ocean Ecosystems

Large areas of the Earth covered by oceans, supporting a diverse range of marine life.

Abiotic Components

Nonliving elements and compounds found in an ecosystem, such as minerals, water, soil, and light conditions.

Biotic Components

Living organisms present in an ecosystem, including producers (green plants and trees), consumers (herbivores, carnivores, and top carnivores), and decomposers (bacteria and fungi).

Carbon Cycle

The process by which carbon is fixed in organic matter, released into the atmosphere through respiration, utilized by plants for food production, and returned to the atmosphere through decomposition and industrial fuel usage.

Nitrogen Cycle

The cycle in which nitrogen is fixed by bacteria, converted into nitrates, utilized by plants for protein synthesis, transferred to animals through consumption, and returned to the soil through decomposition.

Phosphorus Cycle

The cycle in which phosphorus is sourced from phosphate rocks, absorbed by plants, transferred to animals, and returned to the soil through decomposition and geological upheavals.

Parasitism

A relationship between organisms where one organism feeds on another organism, known as the parasite, while the organism being fed upon is called the host.

Mutualism

A relationship between organisms where both organisms benefit from each other.

Commensalism

A relationship between organisms where one organism benefits while the other is not affected.

Predation

A relationship where one organism hunts and feeds on another organism for food.

Competition

A relationship between organisms where multiple organisms compete for the same resources.

Ex-situ Conservation

Conservation methods that involve removing species from their natural habitats and protecting them in controlled environments, such as botanical gardens, zoos, and seed banks.

In-situ Conservation

Conservation methods that involve protecting species within their natural habitats, such as wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, and biosphere reserves.

World Heritage Site

A place of special cultural or physical significance that is listed by UNESCO for protection and preservation.

Sustainable use

Using resources at a rate that allows for replacement or recycling while preserving the long-term environmental health of the biosphere.

Biodiversity

The variety of genes and species in an ecosystem.

Captive Breeding Programs

Breeding species in captivity with the goal of reintroducing them into their native habitats.

Saving Germplasm

Saving genetic material (seeds, eggs, DNA) for possible future use.

Endangered Species

Species that are at risk of extinction.

Endemism

The confinement of a particular species, genus, or group of plants and animals to a specific area.

Biodiversity Hotspots

Areas with high levels of species richness and endemism that require protection.

International Day on Biological Diversity

A day dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of biodiversity.

Neo-endemism

A taxon that is evolutionarily young and not yet spread over a new area.

Palaeo-endemism

A taxon that is currently restricted but was once widely distributed.