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Ecol-4
Human Impacts on the Environment
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| point source | pollution where the exact origin of the problem can be specifically defined, as a particular smokestack or pipe, for example. |
| nonpoint source | pollution that comes from many sources, often spread by wind or water to a wide area. |
| pollutant | any substance or condition that makes the environment less suitable for living things. |
| eutrophication | problem in which too many nutrients are added to a body of water, causing an algal bloom that leads to a lack of oxygen in the water |
| biomagnification | problem in which a toxin builds up as it moves through trophic levels, resulting in severe problems for the top consumers |
| overexploitation | problem in which humans harvest too many of a particular species, leaving the population unable to recover |
| extinct | describes a species that no longer exists |
| endangered | describes a species that is likely to become extinct if the current trend continues |
| fragmentation | habitat loss caused when humans divide habitat into disconnected areas that are too small to support some species |
| degradation | habitat loss caused when humans change the environment so that it is no longer fit for living things |
Created by:
Jennifer_Clough