Primary Succession
type of succession that occurs in an environment that never had soil (after lava flow, retreating glacier, etc)
Secondary Succession
type of ecological succession where soil and vegetation were present; usually occurs after a disturbance (old farmland, natural disasters, etc)
Exponential growth
a type of growth whose rate becomes more and more rapid because there are no/few limiting factors
Logistic growth
a type of growth whose rate starts out rapid and then levels off because of limiting factors which cause the population to reach a carrying capacity
Deforestation
clearing or removal of trees
Greenhouse gas
a gas (carbon dioxide and chlorofluorocarbons) that contributes to the warming of the Earth by absorbing radiation
Acid rain
rainfall that has become acidic because of atmospheric pollution (burning of coal and other fossil fuels); causes environmental harm
Non-native species/invasive species
any organism that is not from an area; can cause harm to that area
Endangered species
a species of animal or plant that is at a serious risk of extinction