The Living World: Biodiversity (2)
What is Adaptation?
inherited characteristic that increases an organism's chance of survival
What is slash and burn agriculture ?
A method of growing food in which wild/forested land is clear cut and the remaining vegetation is burned
What are two examples of nonrenewable energy sources?
nuclear, coal, oil, and natural gas
What does WHO stand for?
World health organization
What is salinization?
The process by which water-soluble salts accumulate in the soil
What is species richness?
the number of different species in a community
What was the green revolution ?
A shift to new agricultural strategies and practices in order to increase food production
What are two examples of renewable energy sources?
biomass, hydroelectric, solar, wind, waves, and geothermal
What is soil permeability?
The rate at which air and water can move from the upper to lower layers, through the pores of soil
What does IUCN stand for?
International Union for Conservation of Nature.
What is a specialist species?
Species with a narrow ecological niche. They may be able to live in only one type of habitat, tolerate only a narrow range of climatic and other environmental conditions, or use only one type or a few types of food.
What are genetically modified organisms ?
plant/animal whos genetic makeup has been modified in a lab
What is the difference between nonrenewable and renewable energy sources?
Renewable energy sources can be replaced naturally at current consumption rates, whereas nonrenewable energy sources cannot be replaced easily.
What did the Green Revolution do?
Increased yield and helped farmers feed a growing population
What is a disturbance in an ecosystem?
Events caused by physical, chemical, or biological agents that results in changes in population size or community composition in ecosystem
What is a population bottleneck?
A period during which only a few individuals of a normally large population survive.
What is the tragedy of the commons?
The tendency of a shared, limited resource to become depleted as people act from self-interest for short-term gain from overuse.
What is fracking?
The pumping of water at high pressure to break apart rocks in order to release natural gas
What is a range of tolerance?
the limits to the abiotic conditions that a species can tolerate
What can people do to prevent soil eroision?
Plant vegetation along the edge
What is secondary succession?
Succession following a disturbance that destroys a community without destroying the soil
What are two negative consequences of irrigation?
Waterlogging, Soil salinization
What is required to turn geothermal energy into electricity?
Groundwater
What did the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 do?
Established drinking water standards for tap water safety, and requires rules for groundwater protection from underground injection
What is population density?
The number of individuals per unit area at a given time