Water, food production, etc
aquaculture
Farming of aquatic organisms in coastal and inland areas in a controlled environment
biodiversity
a combination of the species diversity, genetic diversity and habitat diversity of an ecosystem
endemic species
the species which only occur in one specific area
niche
An organism's particular role in an ecosystem, or how it makes its living.
Cherynobyl
A city in Ukraine that was the site of a 1986 meltdown at a Soviet nuclear power plant.
Continental shelf
extensions of continents under seas and oceans
hotspots
an area of high biodiversity (which is under threat from human activities)
keystone species
detritivore
An organism that feeds on plant and animal remains and other dead matter
Silent Spring
Wrote by rachel carson, written to voice the concerns of environmentalists. Launched the environmentalist movement by pointing out the effects of civilization development.
What causes eutrophication?
CITES
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
indicator species
an organism whose presence, absence or abundance reflects a specific environmental condition.
positive feedback
Feedback that tends to magnify a process or increase its output.
Bhopal
Union Carbide plant in India leaked chemicals (MIC gases) killing approximately 20,000 people and injuring over half a million
Why could aquaculture be unsustainable?
mangroves destroyed, fish meal is produced from wild fish
variation
the differences, either physical or genetic, between individuals of a species
weedy species
the species (generally plant or animal) which are able to survive the environments we create e.g. urban rats, domesticated animals
zonation
The arrangement of ecosystems based on an environmental gradient
Al gore
Former vice-president, released Inconvenient Truth in 2006 that raised public awareness of global warning
What leads to salinization
Improper irrigation
habitat fragmentation
when a large area of habitat is broken into many smaller areas, often physically divided by roads, towns, factories, power lines etc - leads to the loss of biodiversity
charismatic species/ flagship
animal species that are large—in the relevant category that they represent—with symbolic value or widespread popular appeal, and are often used by environmental activists to gain public support for environmentalist goals
secondary sucession
Succession following a disturbance that destroys a community without destroying the soil
Fukishima Daichi
Happened in 2011. Earthquake set off tsunami causing damage at nuclear power plant. 3 reactors experienced meltdown. Water surrounding plant became radioaction. 1/3 of a million people evacuated • Reports found human error as cause: plant not built to withstand a tsunami despite its location