Ecology and Environmental Concepts

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Ecosystem

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A community of organisms and their abiotic, or nonliving, environment.

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Biodiversity

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The number and variety of organisms in a given area during a specific period of time.

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Disturbance

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In ecology, an event that changes a community by removing or destroying organisms or by altering resource availability.

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Succession

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The replacement of one type of community by another at a single location over a period of time.

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Ecosystem Service

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A benefit that humans obtain from ecosystems.

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Habitat Destruction

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The ruin or alteration of a place inhabited by an ecological community.

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Habitat Fragmentation

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The breakup of a continuous area of habitat into several smaller, scattered, and isolated areas.

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Negative Impact

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It could hurt plants, animals, or even tiny organisms. It might make them sick, unable to find food or shelter, or there might be fewer of them.

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Human Influence

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Think about all the things people do: We build houses and roads. We grow food on farms. We drive cars and fly airplanes. We use electricity and create new technologies. We sometimes pollute the air and water. We cut down forests and build cities. All of these actions, big and small, have an effect on the Earth.

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Species

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A group of living things that are very similar to each other and can usually reproduce to make more of the same kind.