IB Environmental systems and societies 3.2 Human Impact on Biodiversity Key Definitions

Biodiversity refers to the variety of life in an ecosystem, encompassing different levels of biological organization.

A biogeographic region that has exceptionally high levels of species richness and endemism but is also under significant threat from human activity.

Biosphere integrity refers to the capacity of ecosystems to maintain biodiversity (genes, species, functions) and continue providing essential ecological services.

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.

Ecosystem resilience refers to an ecosystem’s ability to recover from disturbances and return to its original state or adapt to a new equilibrium.

Endemism refers to species that exist only in one geographic location, such as an island, mountain range, or isolated ecosystem.

Invasive alien species are non-native organisms that, when introduced to a new ecosystem, can cause significant harm to local biodiversity.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is the global authority on the conservation status of species.

Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) are sites that have been prioritized for conservation due to their exceptional ecological value.

Microplastics are small plastic particles, typically less than 5 millimeters in diameter, that result from the breakdown of larger plastic waste or are intentionally manufactured at that size.

Parasitism is a symbiotic relationship where one organism (the parasite) benefits by living on or within another organism (the host) and obtaining nutrients from it, usually without immediately killing the host.

Phytoplankton are microscopic organisms capable of photosynthesis

Sustainable development refers to meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

A tipping point is a critical threshold where small changes trigger dramatic, often irreversible shifts in an ecosystem.

Traditional Indigenous land management refers to ecologically sustainable practices that ensure long-term environmental balance through cultural knowledge, adaptive management, and minimal ecological disturbance.

The tragedy of the commons is a concept that describes the overexploitation of shared resources due to the tension between individual self-interest and the collective good of sustainable management.