IB Environmental systems and societies 4.3D Impact on Freshwater and Marine Ecosystems Key Definitions

Aquaculture is the controlled farming of aquatic organisms like salmon, tilapia, catfish, oysters and mussels.

Carbon sequestration is the process of capturing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) and storing it in solid or liquid form.

Citizen science is the involvement of the general public in scientific research, particularly in collecting, analyzing, and reporting data on environmental systems.

Coral bleaching is when corals expel the symbiotic algae living within their tissues due to stress from heat, pollution, or acidification, causing them to turn white.

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are designated regions of the ocean where human activities, such as fishing and resource extraction, are restricted or prohibited to conserve marine ecosystems and biodiversity.

Ocean acidification is the process by which the ocean becomes more acidic due to increased levels of dissolved carbon dioxide.