Key Terms Flashcards
What is an environment?
Refers to all living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components in the natural and human world that support and enrich life.
Define natural environments.
Examples include forests, deserts, and coral reefs.
Define human environments.
Examples include cities, towns, and farmlands.
What are biotic components?
Living components, such as flora and fauna.
What are abiotic components?
Non-living components, such as temperature and rainfall.
Fill in the blank: Another term for non-living is _______.
abiotic
Fill in the blank: Another word for living is _______.
biotic
What is an ecosystem?
A community or group of living organisms that live in and interact with each other and other non-biotic features in a specific environment.
What is a food web?
A system of interconnected food chains within an ecosystem.
True or False: Environmental processes affect humans positively and negatively.
True
True or False: Human processes have no effect on the environment.
False
What are the four spheres of the environment?
- Atmosphere
- Lithosphere
- Hydrosphere
- Biosphere
Define atmosphere.
The layer of gases enveloping the Earth.
Define lithosphere.
All the rocks, soils, and crust on the Earth’s surface.
Define hydrosphere.
All the water on Earth, including oceans, lakes, rivers, and glaciers.
Define biosphere.
All living things on Earth, such as plants and animals.
By what year is the global population predicted to reach 9 billion?
2040
What is the ecological footprint?
The impact of a population on environmental resources.
What is the purpose of the local site study using Google Maps?
To identify the closest waterway and trace its path to the ocean.
Fill in the blank: The processes within the spheres help ______ life on Earth.
sustain/support
