Glossary
- Biodiversity
-
The variety of living species on Earth (plants, animals, bacteria and fungi).
- Biodiversity hotspots
-
Regions that contain high level of species diversity, many endemic species and a significant number of threatened or endangered species
- Biomagnification
-
Bioaccumulation
- Cascade effects
-
An inevitable and sometimes unforeseen chain of events due to an act affecting a system.
- Climate change
-
Long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns
- Ecosystem
-
A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.
- Genetic
-
Relating to genes or heredity.
- Habitat corridors
-
An area of habitat connecting wildlife populations separated by human activities or structures (such as roads, development, or logging)
- Habitat destruction
-
Occurs when a natural habitat is no longer able to support its native species
- Habitat fragmentation
-
Divides once large and widespread wildlife populations into several smaller subpopulations.
- Habitat loss
-
The outright destruction of natural ecosystems
- Overexploitation
-
The excessive use of natural resources at rates far greater than they are able to replenish themselves.
- Overharvesting
-
Harvesting a renewable resource to the point of diminishing returns.
- Pollutants
-
Harmful materials that cause pollution
- Pollution
-
The introduction of harmful materials in to the environment.
- Rehabilitation
-
The partial or full replacement of the ecosystem's structural and functional characteristics.
- Restoration
-
The process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged or destroyed back to its original condition
- Species
-
A group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals
