Unit 1 and 2
the nonliving factors in an ecosystem
Abiotic
the maximum population size that can be supported by the available resources in a region
Carrying Capacity (K)
the emigration of people out of the city and into the atmosphere
Urban Sprawl
a hydrocarbon deposit, such as petroleum, coal, or natural gas, derived from living matter of a previous geological time and used for fuel
Fossil Fuel
the shift the global climate is undergoing, that is, by consensus, almost certainly in large part due to human contributions
Climate Change
a species that has a narrow niche and can only live in a certain habitat
Specialist
the Earth's soil
Pedosphere
the energy of motion
Kinetic Energy
microorganisms that can cause disease
Pathogens
decrease in pH of the oceans that's primarily an effect of the increased carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere
Ocean Acidification
the surface of open ocean water; the region that extends to the depth that sunlight can penetrate
Limnetic Zone
how easily fluids such as water and air move through a given soil
unwanted or unanticipated consequences of using resources
Externalities
the density of suspended particles in the water; water clarity/cloudiness
Turbidity
an international treaty that required the participating 38 developed countries to cut their greenhouse gas emissions back to 5% below 1990 levels
Kyoto Protocol
water, food, medicinal resources, raw materials, energy, and ornaments provided to humans by functioning ecosystems
Provisioning Services
the amount that the population would grow if there were unlimited resources in its environment
Biotic Potential
a semiconductor device that converts solar energy into electric energy
Photovoltaic Cell (PV Cell)
a virus transmitted to humans via bites from infected mosquitoes that is closely related to the viruses that cause zika, dengue, and yellow fever
West Nile Virus
a highly diverse region that faces severe threats and has already lost 70% of its orginal habitat by area
Biodiversity Hot Spot
the amount of sugar that the plants produce during photosynthesis
Gross Primary Productivity (GPP)
a system of vertical and horizontal air circulation that creates major patterns, predominantly in tropical and subtropical regions
Hadley Cell
bedrock; the soil horizon below the C layer which constitutes a layer of consolidated, unweathered rock
R Horizon
the primary U.S. federal law governing water pollution, enacted in 1972, governing water quality standards, regulation of point-source pollution, and water uses
Clean Water Act (CWA)
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)