Page 717 - Environment: The Science Behind the Stories

autotroph (primary producer) An organism wood from trees, charcoal from burned wood, biotechnology The material application of bio-
that can use the energy from sunlight to pro- and combustible animal waste products, such logical science to create products derived from
duce its own food. Includes green plants, algae, as cattle manure. Fossil fuels are not consid- organisms. The creation of transgenic organ-
and cyanobacteria. ered biomass energy sources because their isms is one type of biotechnology.
organic matter has not been part of living or- biotic potential An organism’s capacity to
ganisms for millions of years and has under-
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) A naturally occur- gone considerable chemical alteration since produce offspring.
ring soil bacterium that produces a protein that that time. birth control The effort to control the number
kills many pests, including caterpillars and the of children one bears, particularly by reducing
larvae of some flies and beetles. biofuel Fuel produced from biomass energy the frequency of pregnancy. Compare contra-
sources and used primarily to power automo-
background rate of extinction The average biles. Examples include ethanol and biodiesel. ception, family planning.
rate of extinction that occurred before the ap- bitumen A thick and heavy form of petroleum
pearance of humans. For example, the fossil biogas Methane-rich gas produced by bacterial rich in carbon and poor in hydrogen. The fos-
record indicates that for both birds and mam- action in anaerobic digestion facilities. Can be sil-fuel component of oil sands.
mals, one species in the world typically became burned in a power plant to generate electricity.
extinct every 500–1,000 years. Compare mass biogenic Type of natural gas created at shal- bog A type of wetland in which a pond is
extinction event. low depths by the anaerobic decomposition of thoroughly covered with a thick floating mat
baghouse A system of large filters that physi- organic matter by bacteria. Consists of nearly of vegetation. Compare freshwater marsh;
swamp.
cally removes particulate matter from incin- pure methane. Compare thermogenic.
erator emissions. biogeochemical cycle See nutrient cycle. boreal forest A biome of northern coniferous
barrier island A long thin island that parallels biological control (biocontrol) Control of forest that stretches in a broad band across
much of Canada, Alaska, Russia, and Scan-
a shoreline. Generally of sand or coral reef, pests and weeds with organisms that prey on dinavia. Also known as taiga, boreal forest
barrier islands protect coasts from storms. or parasitize them, rather than with pesticides. consists of a limited number of species of ever-
basic The property of a solution in which the biological hazard Human health hazards that green trees, such as black spruce, that dominate
–
concentration of hydroxide (OH ) ions is result from ecological interactions among or- large regions of forests interspersed with oc-
+
greater than the concentration of hydrogen (H ) ganisms. These include parasitism by viruses, casional bogs and lakes.
ions. Compare acidic.
bacteria, or other pathogens. Compare infec- Borlaug, Norman (1914–2009) American
bathymetry The study of ocean depths. tious disease; chemical hazard; cultural haz- agricultural scientist who introduced specially
ard; physical hazard. bred crops to developing nations in the 20th
bedrock The continuous mass of solid rock that century, helping to spur the Green Revolution.
makes up Earth’s crust. biological diversity See biodiversity.
bottleneck A step in a process that limits the
benthic Of, relating to, or living on the bottom biomagnification The magnification of the
of a water body. Compare pelagic. concentration of toxicants in an organism progress of the overall process.
benthic zone The bottom layer of a water caused by its consumption of other organisms bottom-trawling Fishing practice that involves
body. Compare littoral zone; limnetic zone; in which toxicants have bioaccumulated. dragging weighted nets across the seafloor to
profundal zone. biomass (1) In ecology, organic material that catch benthic organisms. Trawling crushes
many organisms in its path and leaves long
bioaccumulation The buildup of toxicants in makes up living organisms; the collective mass swaths of damaged sea bottom.
the tissues of an animal. of living matter in a given place and time. (2)
In energy, organic material derived from living braided river A river that flows as an intercon-
biocapacity A term in ecological footprint ac- or recently living organisms, containing chemi- nected series of watercourses because it runs
counting meaning the amount of biologically cal energy that originated with photosynthesis. through a steeply sloped region or carries a
productive land and sea available to us. great deal of sediment. Compare meandering
biomass energy See bioenergy.
biocentrism A philosophy that ascribes relative river.
values to actions, entities, or properties on the biome A major regional complex of similar breakdown product A compound that results
basis of their effects on all living things or on plant communities; a large ecological unit de- from the degradation of a toxicant.
the integrity of the biotic realm in general. The fined by its dominant plant type and vegetation
biocentrist evaluates an action in terms of its structure. brownfield An area of land whose redevelop-
overall impact on living things, including—but biophilia An inherent love for and fascination ment or reuse is complicated by the presence or
not exclusively focusing on—human beings. with nature and an instinctive desire people potential presence of hazardous material.
Compare anthropocentrism and ecocentrism. have to affiliate with other living things. De- building-related illness Any sickness caused
biodiesel Diesel fuel produced by mixing veg- fined by biologist E.O. Wilson as “the connec- by indoor pollution.
etable oil, used cooking grease, or animal fat tions that human beings subconsciously seek bycatch (1) The accidental capture of nontar-
with small amounts of ethanol or methanol with the rest of life.” get organisms while fishing for target species.
(wood alcohol) in the presence of a chemical biopower Power attained by combusting bioen- (2) That portion of a commercial fishing catch
catalyst. ergy sources to generate electricity. consisting of animals caught unintentionally.
biodiversity (biological diversity) The va- biosphere The sum total of all the planet’s liv- Bycatch kills many thousands of fish, sharks,
riety of life across all levels of biological or- ing organisms and the abiotic portions of the marine mammals, and birds each year.
ganization, including the diversity of species, environment with which they interact.
their genes, their populations, and their com-
munities. biosphere reserve A tract of land with excep- cap-and-trade A permit trading system in
tional biodiversity that couples preservation which government determines an acceptable
biodiversity hotspot An area that supports an with sustainable development to benefit local level of pollution and then issues polluting
especially great diversity of species, particu- people. Biosphere reserves are designated by parties permits to pollute. A company receives
larly species that are endemic to the area. UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, credit for amounts it does not emit and can then
bioenergy (biomass energy) Energy har- Scientific, and Cultural Organization) follow- sell this credit to other companies. A type of
G-2 nessed from plant and animal matter, including ing application by local stakeholders. emissions trading system.

Z06_WITH7428_05_SE_Gloss.indd 2 13/12/14 10:53 AM