Environment Basics

The surroundings in which an organism lives including both natural and human-made factors.

The study of the relationships between living organisms and their environment.

A biological community of interacting organisms and their environment.

The variety of life forms in a habitat or on Earth including species

The natural environment in which a species lives.

The role or function of an organism within an ecosystem.

The ability to maintain ecological balance without depleting resources.

The decline of the environment through resource depletion pollution

The protection and preservation of natural resources and ecosystems.

Energy from sources that are naturally replenished such as wind

Energy from sources that cannot be replaced once depleted like fossil fuels.

Long-term changes in temperature precipitation

The increase in Earth’s average temperature due to greenhouse gases.

Gases that trap heat in Earth’s atmosphere such as CO2

The trapping of heat in Earth’s atmosphere by greenhouse gases.

The total amount of greenhouse gases emitted by human activities.

The large-scale removal of forests often for agriculture or development.

The process of fertile land turning into desert due to drought or human activity.

The removal of topsoil by wind or water reducing soil fertility.

Catching fish faster than they can reproduce leading to population decline.

The introduction of harmful substances into the environment.

Harmful substances in the air such as chemicals and particulate matter.

Contamination of water bodies with harmful substances.

The contamination of land with waste or chemicals.