click below
click below
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Ecological Issues
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Natural resources | any natural materials that are used by humans, such as water, petroleum, mineral, forests, and animals |
| Renewable resources | can be replaced relatively quickly by natural process |
| Nonrenewable resources | form at a slower rate than they are consumed (used up) |
| Pollution | an undesirable change in the natural environment |
| Biodegradable | can be broken down by natural processes |
| Nonbiodegradable | can't be broken down by natural processes |
| Biodiversity | the variety of organisms in a given area |
| Ecological footprint | calculations that show the productive area of Earth needed to support on person |
| Sustainability | the condition in which human needs are met in such a way that a human population can survive indefinitely |