Chapter 1 Vocabulary Flashcards
quiz tuesday MEMORIZE!
system
a set of components that interact and function as a whole
poverty
a condition in which people cannot meet their basic needs for adequate food, clothing, shelter, education, or health
highly developed countries,
countries with complex industrial bases, low rates of population growth, and high per capita incomes
moderately developed countries
developing countries with a medium level of industrialization and average per capita incomes that are lower than those of highly developed countries
less developed countries
developing countries with a low level of industrialization, a high fertility rate, a high infant morality rate, and a low per capita income
nonrenewable resources
minerals and fossil fuels that are present in limited supplies, depleted by use, and natural processes do not replenish them
renewable resources
natural resources that can be replenished by natural processes, and can be used forever as long as they are not overexploited
consumption
human use of materials and energy
model
a representation of a system; describes the system as it exists and predicts how changes in one part of the system will affect the rest of the system
sustainability
the ability to meet current human economic and social needs without comprising the ability of the environment to support future generations
common-pool resources
those parts of our environment available to everyone but for which no single individual has responsibility
sustainable development
economic development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
ecology
the branch of biology that studies the interrelationships between organisms and their environment
environmental science
the interdisciplinary study of humanity’s relationship with other organisms and the nonliving physical environment
dynamic equilibrium
the rate of change in one direction is the same rate of change in the opposite direction
