Concepts

Question 1

Define environment.

Answer 1

Living and non living elements of the Earth’s surface and atmosphere. It includes human changes to the Earth’s surface such as croplands, planted forests and roads.

Question 2

Define natural biome.

Answer 2

Community of life forms adapted into a natural area and not man-made. Tropical forests and deserts are examples.

Question 3

Define anthropogenic biome.

Answer 3

Global ecosystem unit defined by global patterns of sustained direct human interaction with ecosystems, creating a description of the terrestrial biosphere in its contemporary, human altered form.

Question 4

Define land cover change.

Answer 4

Refers to the changes that have taken place in natural environments due to a variety of natural and/or human induced causes.

Question 5

Define ecosystem structure.

Answer 5

The abiotic and biotic features of the ecosystem, their interactions and a source of energy make up the structure of an ecosystem.

Question 6

Define ecosystem dynamics.

Answer 6

The network of interactions within the ecosystem community, these could include nutrient cycles and energy flows.

Question 7

Define biodiversity.

Answer 7

The type, number and variety of living organisms within a given environment.

Question 8

Define biodiversity loss.

Answer 8

A decrease in species, genetic and/or ecosystem diversity.

Question 9

Define climate change.

Answer 9

The long term permanent shift in some or all parts of the weather conditions (rainfall, temperature, atmospheric composition and conditions)

Question 10

Define sustainability.

Answer 10

Meeting the needs of current and future generations through simultaneous environmental, social and economic adaptation and improvement.