Overview: Biomes Flashcards
(10 cards)
1
Q
Define Environments
A
- the living & nonliving elements of earth’s surface and atmosphere
- includes human changes to earth’s surface
eg. croplands, planted forests, buildings and roads
2
Q
Define Natural Biomes
A
- community of life forms adapted to a large natural area
- not had sustained, direct human interaction
eg. aquatic, desert, grassland, forests, tundra
3
Q
Define Anthropogenic Biomes
A
- the result of sustained, direct human interaction with ecosystems
- increased as human societys have evolved, population increased
- 75% affected by people
eg. urban, rural or villages, croplands
4
Q
Define Land Cover Change
A
- the changes taken place in natural environments due to a variety of natural / human induced causes
eg. UN –> 10m ha of forests is removed and replaced crops and grasses
5
Q
What are the 4 key processes of LCC
A
- deforestation
- extent and intensification of agriculture
- growth of urban sprawl
- mining
6
Q
Define Ecosystem
A
- community of plants and animals in a non-living environment
- made up of abiotic and biotic elements
7
Q
Define Ecosystem dynamics
A
- relationships between biotic and abiotic elements
- nutrient cycles and energy flows
8
Q
Define biodiversity loss
A
- extinction of species world wide
- local reduction loss of species in a certain habitat
- can be result of human or natural causes
- avg rate before humans 0.1/ million species/year
- current = 1000 times background
9
Q
Define climate change
A
- long term change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods of time that range from decades to years
- eg. greater or fewer extreme weather
- 1990 temp risen by an avg of 1.2c
10
Q
Define sustainability
A
- meeting the needs of current and future generations through simultaneous environmental, social, and economic adaptation and improvement