Nature & Animals

20 words

1. 1

   biomenoun/ˈbaɪəʊm/

   a major ecological community type defined by climate and predominant vegetation

   “Tropical rainforests and deserts are different biomes with distinct climates.”

2. 2

   nichenoun/niːʃ/

   the role or position of an organism within its environment, including how it gets its food and interacts with others

   “Each species occupies a specific ecological niche in the forest community.”

3. 3

   anthropogenicadjective/ˌænθrəpəˈdʒɛnɪk/

   caused by or resulting from human activity

   “The report links rising temperatures to anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions.”

4. 4

   ariditynoun/əˈrɪdɪti/

   the state of being very dry; lack of moisture over a long period

   “The aridity of the region prevents intensive crop cultivation.”

5. 5

   permafrostnoun/ˈpɜːməfrɒst/

   ground (soil or rock) that remains permanently frozen for at least two consecutive years

   “Thawing permafrost can release large amounts of methane.”

6. 6

   salinizationnoun/ˌsælɪnaɪˈzeɪʃən/

   the process by which water-soluble salts accumulate in the soil, often reducing fertility

   “Excessive irrigation without drainage often leads to salinization of arable land.”

7. 7

   Anthropocenenoun/ˈænθrəpəˌsiːn/

   the proposed geological epoch marked by significant human impact on Earth's geology and ecosystems

   “Many scientists argue that the Anthropocene began with the Industrial Revolution.”

8. 8

   keystoneadjective/noun/ˈkiːstəʊn/

   having a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance (often used in 'keystone species')

   “Sea otters are considered a keystone species because they control sea urchin populations.”

9. 9

   mitigationnoun/mɪtɪˈɡeɪʃ(ə)n/

   actions or policies that reduce the severity or harmfulness of something (e.g. climate change)

   “International cooperation on mitigation is essential to limit global warming.”

10. 10

    biospherenoun/ˈbaɪəʊsfɪə(r)/

    the global zone of life on Earth, including land, oceans and the lower atmosphere

    “Human activities are changing the biosphere faster than many scientists expected.”

11. 11

    sequestrationnoun/ˌsiːkwɛˈstreɪʃən/

    the process of storing a substance (especially carbon dioxide) so it is removed from the atmosphere for a long period

    “Carbon sequestration by forests can offset some fossil fuel emissions.”

12. 12

    estuarynoun/ˈɛstjʊəri/

    the wide part of a river where it flows into the sea, often a mix of fresh and salt water and biologically rich

    “The estuary supports many migratory birds every winter.”

13. 13

    biomagnificationnoun/ˌbaɪəʊˌmæɡnɪfɪˈkeɪʃ(ə)n/

    the increasing concentration of toxins in organisms at higher trophic levels in a food chain

    “Mercury undergoes biomagnification, which is why large predatory fish often contain the highest levels.”

14. 14

    eutrophicationnoun/juːˌtrɒfɪˈkeɪʃ(ə)n/

    the process by which a body of water becomes overly enriched with nutrients, causing dense plant growth and oxygen depletion

    “Eutrophication from agricultural runoff has damaged many lakes.”

15. 15

    trophicadjective/ˈtrɒfɪk/

    relating to feeding or nutrition in ecological food chains (as in 'trophic level')

    “Changes at one trophic level can cascade to others.”

16. 16

    resiliencenoun/rɪˈzɪljəns/

    the ability of a system, community, or organism to recover after disturbance

    “Community resilience after the flood was remarkable; most residents rebuilt within months.”

17. 17

    sedimentationnoun/ˌsɛdɪmenˈteɪʃ(ə)n/

    the process by which particles settle out of water or air and accumulate as sediment

    “Increased erosion leads to more sedimentation in rivers and reservoirs.”

18. 18

    successionnoun/səkˈsɛʃ(ə)n/

    the gradual process by which ecosystems change and develop over time, especially after disturbance

    “After the fire the area underwent secondary succession, with grasses colonising first.”

19. 19

    decompositionnoun/ˌdiːkəmˈpəʊzɪʃ(ə)n/

    the process by which organic matter is broken down into simpler substances by organisms or chemical processes

    “Warm, moist conditions accelerate the decomposition of leaf litter.”

20. 20

    stewardshipnoun/ˈstjuːədʃɪp/

    the responsible management and care of something, especially the environment or resources

    “Corporate environmental stewardship includes reducing waste and supporting restoration projects.”