Environmental science (key terms)

• abiotic factor

  physical factors such as light, temperature and water.
• Albedo

  A measure of the reflectivity of a surface. More reflective surfaces have high

  albedos. A surface that reflects all light has an albedo of 100%, while one that

  absorbs all light has an albedo of 0%.
• Anaerobic process 


  A process that takes place in the absence of oxygen.
• Antarctic treaty (1959)


  An international agreement signed by many countries to protect and manage

  Antarctica. Aspects of the treaty include control of military activities, waste

  disposal, mineral exploitation, wildlife conservation and tourism.
• Atmosphere

  The gases surrounding the Earth. Different layers are characterised by their

  temperature, density, turbulence and composition.
• Biocapacity 


  A measure of the biological productivity of an area.
• Biodegradable 


  A material that can be broken down by living organisms, usually bacteria.
• Biodiversity 


  A measure of the variety and abundance of wildlife species.

  A common quantitative method of measuring biodiversity is Simpson’s Diversity

  Index.
• Biogeochemical cycle 


  A series of linked processes which use and re-use elements such as carbon,

  nitrogen, phosphorus, iron and sulfur, as they move between biotic and abiotic

  reservoirs.
• Biological corridors

  A habitat that links other habitats so that animals can move between them.
• Biomass

  The total mass of living, or recently living material in an area.
• Biome 


  A large geographical region with particular climatic features, in which a

  characteristic, unique community of species lives eg Taiga, coral reefs,

  temperate grasslands, tundra, tropical rainforest. Don’t confuse the terms biome

  and ecosystem. Biome refers to the total area where the community of species is

  found, whereas ecosystem refers to a particular community and its interactions.

  So, there are many tropical rainforest ecosystems but only one biome.
• Captive breeding and release programmes (CBR) 


  A method of boosting wild populations by keeping a breeding population in

  captivity. Some of the offspring produced may be released to join the wild

  population.
• Carbon capture and storage (CCS)

  A method to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, by removing the gases and storing

  them in underground geological structures.
• Carbon sequestration

  Any process which removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, such as

  afforestation or underground storage (carbon capture).
• Carrying capacity

  The greatest population that can be supported sustainably in an area.
• Coppicing 


  The process of regularly cutting down tree branches close to ground level. The

  regrowth produces thin straight branches. It was traditionally done on a cycle of

  six to ten years for making fence panels and wall panels. Short-rotation willow

  coppice is now used as a biofuel.
• CSS

  Countryside and stewardship scheme.
• detritivores

  These are heterotrophic animals that ingest and digest dead organic matter.

  Examples include: earthworms, millipedes, woodlice, dung beetles and slugs.

  They often break up the dead organic matter into smaller pieces, providing

  access to decomposers.
• Dynamic equilibrium

  A balance created by active processes whose impacts cancel each other out.
• Ecosystem 


  The community of organisms living in an area, their inter-relationships and

  interactions with their abiotic environment eg tropical rainforest, savannah

  grassland, coral reef. Do not confuse the term ‘ecosystem’ with ‘biome’.
• EDGE species (Evolutionary Distinct and Globally endangered)


  These are species that are threatened with extinction and have few relatives that

  are genetically similar. This genetic uniqueness means they should be a high

  priority for conservation.
• El Niño


  The name given to events when the wind and ocean currents in the equatorial

  Pacific Ocean slow significantly or reverse. It alters heat distribution and weather

  patterns around the Pacific area and elsewhere in the world.

  El Niño events are caused by natural processes, but may be made more frequent

  by human activities.

  It is also called ENSO: El Niño Southern Oscillation.
• Eutrophication 


  The process by which nutrient levels in a water body increase to excessive levels

  such that the growth and subsequent die-off of plants and algae cause

  deoxygenation.
• Ex-situ conservation 


  The conservation of a species in an area which is not its natural habitat.
• flagship species

  High-profile species that can be used to raise support for the conservation of

  their habitat and all the other species that live there.
• Homeostasis 


  The maintenance of a state of equilibrium.
• Hard release 


  The release of animals from captivity where they are not provided with post-

  release support such as food.
• Hydrosphere

  All the water on Earth, found in solid, liquid or gaseous form in a variety of

  reservoirs, including the oceans, ice caps, rivers and lakes, soil, groundwater,

  atmosphere and living organisms.
• In-situ conservation 


  The conservation of a species in its natural environment.
• Insolation

  Sunlight that reaches a particular location.
• Keystone species 


  A species that has much more important ecological functions within their

  ecosystem than their abundance might suggest. Such roles may include the

  control of the populations of other species, the provision of food or species that

  control structural habitat features, such as beavers creating dams.
• Kick sampling 


  A method of sampling aquatic invertebrates by disturbing the substrate.
• K selected species

  Species that have a relatively low breeding capacity: they often mature at a later

  age and have few young.
• La Niña


  The name given to events when the wind and ocean currents in the equatorial Pacific Ocean increase in strength.
• Lincoln index 


  A catch, mark, release, recapture method of estimating animal populations.
• Lithosphere 


  The relatively hard outer layer of the Earth comprising the crust and upper layer of the mantle. It is the source of mineral resources such as metal ores and affects soil formation and properties.
• Local nature reserve (LNR)

  LNRs are designated under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act

  (1949) for their local importance for wildlife, geology, education or public

  enjoyment. They are controlled or owned by local authorities.
• Marine conservation zone (MCZ) 


  MCZs are designated under UK law to protect a range of nationally important

  marine wildlife, habitats, geology and geomorphology, and can be designated

  anywhere in English and Welsh territorial and offshore waters.
• Marine nature reserve (MNR)


  MNRs were designated under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) by Natural England (or CCW).

  Lundy Island and Skomer Island were MNRs. They have been re-designated as Marine Conservation Zones.