Help
Options
Didn't know it?
click below
click below
Knew it?
click below
click below
Don't Know
Remaining cards (0)
Know
retry
shuffle
restart
0:00
Embed Code - If you would like this activity on your web page, copy the script below and paste it into your web page.
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Normal Size Small Size show me how
2-7: Human Impacts
Human impact on ecosystems
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| human activities | Things people do that affect the environment, like farming, building cities, and using natural resources. |
| urbanization | The growth of cities as more people move into them, often changing the land and environment. |
| dams | Structures built to block rivers, usually to store water or make electricity, but they can also affect ecosystems. |
| invasive species | Plants or animals that are brought to a new place where they don’t belong and can harm the local environment. |
| solutions | Ideas or actions that help fix environmental problems. |
| simulations | Models or computer programs that show what might happen in real life, used to study ecosystems or test solutions. |
| technological innovations | New tools or machines created by people to solve problems or make life easier, sometimes used to help the environment. |
| legislation | Laws made by governments to protect the environment or control human activities. |
| anthropogenic changes | Changes in the environment that are caused by humans, like pollution or deforestation. |
| habitat destruction | When natural areas where animals and plants live are damaged or removed, often by building or farming. |
| pollution | Harmful substances added to the air, water, or land that can hurt living things. |
| overexploitation | Using natural resources too much or too quickly, like overfishing or cutting down too many trees. |
| climate change | Long-term changes in Earth’s temperature and weather patterns, mostly caused by human activities like burning fossil fuels. |
| disrupt | To interrupt or mess up how something normally works, like when pollution impacts a food chain. |
| speciation | The process where new species form over time, usually because of changes in the environment or isolation. |
| extinction | When a species completely dies out and no longer exists. |
| overpopulation | When there are too many individuals in one area, which can lead to a lack of resources like food and water. |
| productivity | How much energy or food is made by plants and passed through an ecosystem. |
| recreational | Activities people do for fun, like hiking or fishing, which can affect the environment if not managed well. |
| constraints | Limits or challenges that make it harder to solve a problem, like not having enough money or space. |
| cost | How much money, time, or resources something takes to do or build. |
| safety | How well something protects people and the environment from harm. |
| reliability | How well something works over time without failing. |
| aesthetics | How nice or attractive something looks, which can matter when designing parks or green spaces. |
| social impacts | How a decision or action affects people and communities. |
| cultural impacts | Activities people do for fun, like hiking or fishing, which can affect the environment if not managed well. |
| environmental impacts | How a decision or action affects nature, including animals, plants, air, water, and land. |
| Habitat fragmentation | the breaking up of a large habitat into smaller, separated areas that can make it harder for organisms to survive |
| Zoning | laws that control how land can be used, such as for homes, businesses, farms, or parks |
| Wildlife corridors | strips of habitat that connect separated natural areas and allow animals to move safely between them |
| Exotic pets | animals kept as pets that are not native to the area where they are being kept |
| Native plants | plants that naturally grow in a particular region without being introduced by people |
| Biomagnification | the process by which harmful chemicals become more concentrated in organisms at higher levels of a food chain |
| Microplastics | tiny pieces of plastic, usually smaller than 5 millimeters, that can pollute the environment and harm living things |
| pesticide | a chemical used to kill or control insects, weeds, fungi, or other pests |
| Nonrenewable resources | natural resources that cannot be replaced quickly once they are used, such as coal, oil, and natural gas |
| Renewable resources | natural resources that can be replaced naturally over time, such as sunlight, wind, and trees |
| Urban planning | the process of designing and organizing cities and towns to meet the needs of people and the environment |
| Renewable energy sources | sources of energy that are naturally replenished, such as solar, wind, hydroelectric, and geothermal energy |
| Managing waste | the process of reducing, collecting, reusing, recycling, and safely disposing of waste materials |
| poaching | the illegal hunting, capturing, or killing of wild animals |
| remediation | the process of cleaning up or improving a damaged or polluted environment |
Created by:
user-1948443
Popular Biology sets