Test 1 Chapter 2 Definitions Flashcards
Anthropogenic
- human induced changes on natural environment
Biotic
Living factors in an environment
Abiotic
Non living factors in an ecosystem
For example, climatic features such as sunlight and humidity, organic substances such as water and protein
Environments
Refers to everything around them, both living (biotic) and non living (abiotic)
Ecosystems
- all the organisms in a given area
- as well as the abiotic factors they interact
- can also interact with one or more communities and the physical environment around them
Natural biome
Large scale concept and tends to focus on the biotic element of an area
Forest environments
- forests cover about 1/3 of the world
- store much of the worlds carbon
- contain 80% of worlds terrestrial biodiversity
Agricultural environments
- defined as plant and farming in order to sustain and enhance life
Urban environments.
- characterised by a city with large urban buildings in a limited place
Anthropogenic biomes
Human biomes showing human impact on the terrestrial biosphere
Growth of human impact has been rapid, expansive and has a large impact on natural biomes
Land cover change
- changes taken place in natural environments as a result of human and natural induced causes
Urbanisation
- proportion of the people living in urban areas will see more of the worlds population living in metropolitan areas or cities
Deforestation
- removal or clearing of forests for urban and agricultural development
- types include, fires, logging for timber, and degradation from climate change
Sustainability
Meeting the needs of the present without disrupting the ability for future generations to meet their needs
Biodiversity loss
- diminishing of species within an ecosystem
- the species that make up the ecosystem determine its productivity, affect nutrient cycles and soil content
- species also influence environmental conditions, such as water cycles, weather patterns, climate and non biotic aspects
- loss of one species affects many others causing an imbalance
Ecosystem services
- benefits people and communities that derive from an ecosystem
- flood, disease control, food, water, cultural services and supporting the nutrient cycle
Climate change
Change in statistical distributions of weather patterns when that change lasts for an extended period of time
Mixed market economy
- Means the economy, like Australia has a mixture of capitalism and socialism
World population
- rapidly growing between 1900 and 2000 and has multiplied three times faster than the rest of human history
Caring for country
- the environmental, cultural heritage and natural resource management by indigenous communities
- includes cultural practices and rituals, seasonal use of resources, use of fire to receive optimal environmental conditions
