Land and Water Use

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to land and water use, sustainability, agriculture, and environmental science.

The Tragedy of the Commons

An essay by Garrett Hardin that discusses the problems of resource depletion and pollution as individuals exploit shared resources for personal gain.

Clear-cutting

A logging practice where all trees in a designated area are cut down at once, leading to ecological changes and loss of biodiversity.

Deforestation

The conversion of forested areas to non-forested areas through processes such as logging, agriculture, or urban development.

Green Revolution

A period of agricultural transformation that increased food production through high-yield crops, fertilizers, and improved farming techniques.

Aquaculture

The farming of aquatic organisms like fish, crustaceans, and aquatic plants.

Urbanization

The movement of populations from rural areas to urban centers, resulting in changes in land use, infrastructure, and social dynamics.

Sustainability

The ability to maintain ecological balance by ensuring that resources are not depleted faster than they can be replenished.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

An ecological approach to pest control that combines multiple strategies to reduce reliance on chemical pesticides.

Soil Erosion

The removal of topsoil by wind and water, often exacerbated by human activity such as agriculture and deforestation.

Monoculture

The agricultural practice of growing a single crop over a wide area for multiple years, leading to reduced biodiversity.

Desertification

The degradation of land in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid areas resulting from various factors, including climatic variations and human activities.

Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs)

Large-scale animal feeding operations where animals are confined and raised for meat and dairy production.

Biological Control

The use of living organisms, such as predators, parasites, or pathogens, to control pest populations.

Salinization

The accumulation of salts in soil, often due to improper irrigation practices, which can diminish soil fertility.

Eutrophication

The process where water bodies receive excess nutrients that stimulate excessive plant growth, leading to oxygen depletion and harm to aquatic life.

Edge Effects

Changes in population or community structures that occur at the boundary of two habitats.

Pesticides

Chemicals used to kill or control pests, which can have adverse effects on non-target organisms and ecosystems.

Urban Sprawl

The uncontrolled expansion of urban areas into surrounding regions, leading to increased reliance on automobiles and loss of agricultural land.

Irrigation

The controlled application of water to crops to assist in production.

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)

Organisms whose genetic material has been altered in a laboratory for specific benefits, such as increased resistance to pests.

Agroforestry

A land-use management system where trees or shrubs are grown around or among crops or pastureland.

Cover Crops

Crops planted to cover the soil rather than for the purpose of being harvested, primarily for conservation and protection of soil.