IB Environmental systems and societies 3.3 Conservation and Regeneration Key Definitions

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

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

A critical threshold is the moment at which a system crosses a boundary, triggering rapid state change.

Genetic diversity is the variety of genes within a species, allowing for adaptation to environmental changes.

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

A keystone species is an organism that has a disproportionately large impact on its ecosystem relative to its population size.

Nutrient cycling is the movement of nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon through the soil, plants, and atmosphere.

Positive feedback loops are processes that exacerbate the effects of a small disturbance.

Rewilding is a conservation strategy aimed at restoring natural processes and ecosystem functions by reducing human intervention and allowing nature to regenerate.