Chapter 5 Vocabulary Flashcards
Extinction
When the last member of a species dies
Biodiversity
The variety of life in an area that is determined by the number of different species in that area
Background extinction
The gradual process of species becoming extinct
Mass extinction
An event in which a large percentage of all living species become extinct in a relatively short period of time
Overexploitation
The excessive use of species that have economic value
Habitat fragmentation
The separation of an ecosystem into small pieces of land
Edge effects
The different environmental conditions that occur along the boundaries of an ecosystem
Biological Magnification
The increasing concentration of toxic substances in organisms as trophic levels increase in a food chain or food web
Eutrophication
Destroys underwater habitats for fish and other species
