the living world geography
ecosystem
living and non living parts of the environment and the relationships that exist between them
biome
global scale ecosystem
adaptations
the way plants evolve to cope with certain environmental conditions
producers
organisms thag obtain their energy from primary sources
consumers
organisms that obtain their energy by eating other organisms
food chain
line of linkages between producers and consumers
food web
lots of food chains linked together
scavengers
organisms that consume dead animals or plants
decomposer
an organism that breaks down and obtains energy from dead organic matter
biotic
living things
abitotic
non living things
nutrient cycling
set of processes whereby organisms extract minerals necessary for growth from soil or water, before passing them on through the food chain- and then back to the soul and water
global ecosystem
very large ecological areas on the earths surface with flora and fauna adapting to their environment.
biodiversity
variety of life in the world or a particular habitat
commercial farming
farming to sell produce for a profit to retailers or food processing companies
ecotourism
responsible travel to natural areas that conservee the environment sustains the welbeing of the local people and may involve education. it is usually carrier out in small groups and has minimal impact on the local ecosystem
logging
the business of cutting down trees and transporting logs to sawmills
mineral extraction
the removal of solid minerwl resources from the earth
selective logging
the cutting out of trees which are mature or inferior to encourage growth of the remaining trees in a forest or wood
soil erosion
removal of topsoil faster than it can be replaced due to natural, animal and human activity
topsoil
top layer of soil- most fertile becayse it contains the most organic, nutrient rich materials
subsistence farming
a type of agriculture producing food and materials for the benefit only of the farmer and his family
desertification
the process by which the land becones drier and degraded, as a result of climate change, human activities or both
over-cultivisation
exhausting the soil by over-cropping the land
overgrazing
grazing too many livestock for too long on the land so it is unable to recover its vegetation
sustainability
actions and forms of progress that meet the needs of the present without reducing the ability of future generations to meet their needs
appropriate texhnology
texhnology that is suited to the needs, skills, knowledge and wealth of local people in the environment in which they live. it usually combinee simple ideas with cheap and readily availabke materials, especially for use in poorer countries, and it is environmentally friendly
debt reduction
countries that are relieved of some of their debt in return for protecting their rainforests
deforestation
chopping down and removal of trees to clear an area of forest