Glossary terms Flashcards
What is a Biome?
A community of plants and animals occupying a large area of the earth’s surface.
What is an aquatic ecosystem?
A water-based community of plants and animals.
What is a Terrestrial ecosystem?
A land-based community of plants and animals.
What is Biodiversity?
Biodiversity is the variety of plants, animals, microorganisms, terrestrials, marines, and freshwater ecosystems.
What is Land Degradation?
Decline in the quality of soil due to human activities.
What is Salinity, and what are the two types?
Salinity is the presence of salts and bicarbonates, in soil and water.
There are two main types of salinity:
primary—naturally occurring salinity
secondary—resulting from human activities.
What is Deforestation?
Removal of trees and other plant life from a forested area, either by cutting down or burning, usually carried out for farming.
What is Desertification?
The transformation of fertile land into a relatively dry desert.
What is an Invasive alien species (IAS)?
Plants, animals or other organisms that are not native to an area, that can harm their new environment.
What is Leaching?
Water that moves down through the soil, dissolving and carrying away some of the nutrients plants use.
What is Soil Erosion?
Soil erosion is the wearing away of topsoil: the top layer of soil contains the most organic, nutrient-rich materials.
What are Crop Yields
A measurement of the amount of a crop harvested per unit of land
What is Competition for land?
Individuals or corporations taking over productive land, using it for purposes other than agriculture.
What is Subsistence farming?
When farmersgrow food crops to feed themselves and their families.
What is Intensive farming?
Can supply large volumes of produce in a relatively small area, such as poultry or vegetable farms.
