General

• Abiotic components

  Non-living environmental factors that have influence over the ecosystem (e.g. climate, light exposure, soil type)
• Altitude


  A measurement of the height of the land (usually as height above sea level)
• Altitudinal zonation


  • The presence of distinct bands of different vegetation types at different elevations, caused by the change of environmental conditions with altitude
• Biome


  Also known as a global-scale ecosystem; a large, distinct region of the Earth with similar climate, soil, plants and animals
• Biosphere


  The living layer of Earth between the atmosphere (air) and the lithosphere (crust) where all plants and animals are found
• Biotic components


  Living organisms that interact with the environment and other organisms within an ecosystem
• Boserupian theory


  The theory that the demands of the growing population will always be met, as humans will continue to invent new ways to increase resource supply
• Carbon sequestration


  The long-term capture and storage of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
• Coniferous forest biome (taiga/boreal)


  • A biome located at high latitudes, characterised by conifer trees and a cold climate
• Consumers


  Organisms that receive energy from consuming (i.e. eating) living organisms
• Decomposers


  Organisms that break down organic material and release the nutrients back into the ecosystem
• Desert biome


  • A biome located around 30° north and south of the equator, characterised by extremely low precipitation levels and extreme daily temperature fluctuations
• Ecosystem


  A natural system in which a community of plants and animals interact with each other and their physical environment
• Eutrophication


  The growth of algae in a body of water due to excess nutrients, leading to the depletion of oxygen in an aquatic ecosystem
• Food chain


  A linear relationship showing the biotic interactions within an ecosystem, from a producer to a final consumer
• Hydrological cycle


  The continuous transfer of water throughout Earth
• Indigenous peoples


  The earliest known settlers in an area
• Industrialisation


  The development of the industrial sector in a country or region
• Malthusian theory


  The theory that population growth increases exponentially but resource supply only increases linearly
• Mediterranean biome

  • A biome located 40-45° north of the equator (and in isolated spots south of the equator), characterised by mild, moist winters and hot, dry summers
• Nutrient cycling


  The transfer of nutrients through an ecosystem, from the decay of organic material into the production and energy of living organisms
• Producers


  Organisms that convert energy from the environment (mainly sunlight) into sugars (glucose)
• Savanna biome


  • A biome located around 15-30° north and south of the equator, characterised by high temperatures, very dry summers and very wet winters
• Temperate deciduous forest biome

  • A biome located around 40-50° north and south of the equator, characterised by deciduous trees (trees that shed their leaves) and moderate precipitation
• Temperate grassland biome


  • A biome located in non-coastal areas around 30-40° north and south of the equator, characterised by low precipitation and grasses as the major vegetation
• Transpiration

  The evaporation of water from plants
• Tropical rainforest biome


  • A biome located near the equator, characterised by very high precipitation and sustained warm temperatures
• Tundra biome


  • A biome located in the far northern hemisphere, characterised by very cold conditions and permanently frozen soils
• Urbanisation

  The increase in the proportion of the population living in urban areas