Define terms and key concepts related to natural resources, ecology, and environmental sciences.

Definitions may include, but are not limited to,

  • abiotic and biotic factors
  • adaptation
  • atmosphere
  • biodiversity
  • biome
  • carnivore
  • carrying capacity
  • climate
  • communities
  • competition
  • conservation
  • consumptive and non-consumptive uses
  • distribution
  • domestication
  • dominant species
  • ecology
  • ecosystem
  • emigration
  • environment
  • food web
  • habitat
  • herbivore
  • homeostasis
  • immigration
  • invasive species
  • minerals
  • mortality
  • natality
  • natural resources
  • niche
  • non-renewable natural resources
  • omnivore
  • pollution
  • population and population density
  • predation
  • preservation
  • recycling
  • renewable natural resources
  • reusing
  • selection
  • species diversity
  • succession
  • sustainability
  • terrestrial communities
  • water cycle
  • weather
  • wildlife.

Process/Skill Questions:

  • What is the difference between renewable and non-renewable natural resources? What are examples of each?
  • What factors affect the water cycle?
  • What is the difference between sustainability and viability?
  • Why is biodiversity important?
  • What role do recycling, reusing, and reducing play in our daily lives, and what is the effect of these life choices?
  • What are the major differences between preservation and conservation, and what influence do they have on our lives today and in the future?
  • What role does carrying capacity play in the environment and in agriculture production?
  • What effect does an invasive species have on a native species? Immediately? In the long term?
  • What are the components of a food web?
  • How does population density play a role in an ecosystem?
  • What is the implication of natality and mortality on an ecosystem?
  • What is the difference between abiotic and biotic?