Unit 15 Flashcards
Environmental science
The branch of science concerned with the physical, chemical, and biological conditions of the environment and their effect on life
Ecological pyramid
A graphical representation of the tropic relationship between organisms
Climate
The weather conditions prevailing in an area over a long period of time
Wind
The movement of air in a specific direction
Soil
The upper layer of the surface of the Earth that contains a mixture of the remains of decomposed organisms, minerals, sand, silt, clay, and small rock particles
Conservation biology
The study of how to protect nature and fix damage that has been done
Biodiversity
The wide range of all forms of life on earth or in a specific region
Natural resources
Materials in nature that are needed for a wide variety of life to be sustained
Direct value
There is a specific product directly obtained as a result of biodiversity
Indirect value
Something other than a specific product that is obtained as a result of biodiversity, including aesthetic, culture, education, ethics, or spiritual value
Pollution
The presence or introduction of a substance that is harmful to the environment
Sustainability
An approach where the level of natural resources is maintained so the ecosystem remains in balance across future generations
Climate change
A chance in global or regional weather patterns over a long period of time
Renewable resources
A natural resource that can be used in a way that assures it will not be exhausted
