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Science Module 8

Terms in this set (16)

bioaccumulation.
If toxic chemicals are introduced into an ecosystem or to a specific species, that substance may be passed along the food chain as well. The toxic substance accumulates in the organism as it continues to eat, causing toxic levels to increase in the organism
biomagnification.
The process whereby toxins accumulate in ever greater quantities moving up a food chain
DDT
Dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane
Acid rain
describes any form of precipitation with high levels of nitric and sulfuric acidsIt can also occur in the form of snow, fog, and tiny bits of dry material that settle on Earth.
Sustainability
means the ability of humans to meet the needs of the present population without compromising the needs of future generations.
true or false, earth is a closed ecosystem
true
Environmental stewardship
is an ethic wherein citizens assume responsibility for natural resources by using fewer of them (by reducing your ecological footprint), and by actively attempting to maintain healthy ecosystems and restore damaged ones.
ecological footprint
it's the impact of a person or community on the environment, expressed as the amount of land required to sustain their use of natural resources.
A number of estimates suggest that the world's ecological footprint exceeds what is available on the Earth. What does this imply?
We are using up Earth's resources faster than the planet can regenerate them
The Convention on Biological Diversity, which has been signed by 161 countries including Canada, uses two broad strategies with which to conserve biodiversity. Which is one of those strategies?
Protect species in human-made environments such as zoos
What is usually the first stage in creating an action plan to restore an ecosystem?
Identify the specific causes of the ecosystem's problems
Which is the best definition of environmental stewardship?
The cooperative planning and management of resources by organizations, communities and individuals to preserve habitat and sustainability
Pesticides are most likely to be found in runoff from what source?
farm fields
To maintain biodiversity, we need to use ecosystems in a sustainable way. What does it mean to use an ecosystem in a sustainable way?
not overusing the resources in the ecosystem, so future generations can also meet their needs
What term describes the splitting of large ecosystems into smaller, disconnected pieces when land is used for farming and suburban development?
habitat fragmentation
When human actions cause habitats to change, the organisms that normally would live in these areas are forced to move, or may die and even become extinct. What term refers to the organisms that would normally live in a habitat?
native species
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