{"id":315,"date":"2026-05-27T11:13:38","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T11:13:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/staging.routledgelearning.com\/sustainabilityprinciplesandpractice\/?page_id=315"},"modified":"2026-05-27T11:13:39","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T11:13:39","slug":"ecosystems","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/staging.routledgelearning.com\/sustainabilityprinciplesandpractice\/ecosystems\/","title":{"rendered":"Ecosystems"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-left is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-69934ac2 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-base-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/staging.routledgelearning.com\/sustainabilityprinciplesandpractice\/flashcards\/\" style=\"background-color:#409750;font-style:normal;font-weight:300\">Back to all Flashcards<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<!-- Swiper -->\n<div class=\"swiper mySwiper\" id=\"swiper-block_01ac5ad360b616407572d896b3ae44b0\">\n    <div class=\"swiper-wrapper\">\n\n        \n        <!-- Swiper Slide -->\n        <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\n          <!-- Flashcard -->\n           <button class=\"flip-card\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" data-front=\"Anthropocene\" data-back=\"An informal term for the most recent period in Earth\u2019s history during which human activities have had significant impact on climate and ecosystems.\">\n            <div class=\"flip-card-inner\">\n              <div class=\"flip-card-front\">\n                <p><p>Anthropocene<\/p>\n<\/p>\n                <div id=\"flashcard-instruction-block_01ac5ad360b616407572d896b3ae44b0\" class=\"flashcard-instruction\">Click to Flip<\/div>\n              <\/div>\n              <div class=\"flip-card-back\"><p>An informal term for the most recent period in Earth\u2019s history during which human activities have had significant impact on climate and ecosystems.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/button>\n        <\/div>\n\n        \n        <!-- Swiper Slide -->\n        <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\n          <!-- Flashcard -->\n           <button class=\"flip-card\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" data-front=\"background rate of extinction\" data-back=\"The normal rate at which species go extinct in the absence of human factors.\">\n            <div class=\"flip-card-inner\">\n              <div class=\"flip-card-front\">\n                <p><p>background rate of extinction<\/p>\n<\/p>\n                <div id=\"flashcard-instruction-block_01ac5ad360b616407572d896b3ae44b0\" class=\"flashcard-instruction\">Click to Flip<\/div>\n              <\/div>\n              <div class=\"flip-card-back\"><p>The normal rate at which species go extinct in the absence of human factors.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/button>\n        <\/div>\n\n        \n        <!-- Swiper Slide -->\n        <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\n          <!-- Flashcard -->\n           <button class=\"flip-card\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" data-front=\"biodiversity hotspot\" data-back=\"One of several areas that contains an especially great diversity of endemic species facing a high risk of extinction.\">\n            <div class=\"flip-card-inner\">\n              <div class=\"flip-card-front\">\n                <p><p>biodiversity hotspot<\/p>\n<\/p>\n                <div id=\"flashcard-instruction-block_01ac5ad360b616407572d896b3ae44b0\" class=\"flashcard-instruction\">Click to Flip<\/div>\n              <\/div>\n              <div class=\"flip-card-back\"><p>One of several areas that contains an especially great diversity of endemic species facing a high risk of extinction.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/button>\n        <\/div>\n\n        \n        <!-- Swiper Slide -->\n        <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\n          <!-- Flashcard -->\n           <button class=\"flip-card\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" data-front=\"biodiversity\" data-back=\"The variety of genes, species and ecosystems found in a particular area.\">\n            <div class=\"flip-card-inner\">\n              <div class=\"flip-card-front\">\n                <p><p>biodiversity  <\/p>\n<\/p>\n                <div id=\"flashcard-instruction-block_01ac5ad360b616407572d896b3ae44b0\" class=\"flashcard-instruction\">Click to Flip<\/div>\n              <\/div>\n              <div class=\"flip-card-back\"><p>The variety of genes, species and ecosystems found in a particular area.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/button>\n        <\/div>\n\n        \n        <!-- Swiper Slide -->\n        <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\n          <!-- Flashcard -->\n           <button class=\"flip-card\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" data-front=\"brood parasite\" data-back=\"A bird that lays its eggs in the nest of another bird, which then cares for the offspring.\">\n            <div class=\"flip-card-inner\">\n              <div class=\"flip-card-front\">\n                <p><p>brood parasite<\/p>\n<\/p>\n                <div id=\"flashcard-instruction-block_01ac5ad360b616407572d896b3ae44b0\" class=\"flashcard-instruction\">Click to Flip<\/div>\n              <\/div>\n              <div class=\"flip-card-back\"><p>A bird that lays its eggs in the nest of another bird, which then cares for the offspring.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/button>\n        <\/div>\n\n        \n        <!-- Swiper Slide -->\n        <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\n          <!-- Flashcard -->\n           <button class=\"flip-card\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" data-front=\"conservation\" data-back=\"Activity to maintain biodiversity and ecosystem function in a particular area.\">\n            <div class=\"flip-card-inner\">\n              <div class=\"flip-card-front\">\n                <p><p>conservation<\/p>\n<\/p>\n                <div id=\"flashcard-instruction-block_01ac5ad360b616407572d896b3ae44b0\" class=\"flashcard-instruction\">Click to Flip<\/div>\n              <\/div>\n              <div class=\"flip-card-back\"><p>Activity to maintain biodiversity and ecosystem function in a particular area. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/button>\n        <\/div>\n\n        \n        <!-- Swiper Slide -->\n        <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\n          <!-- Flashcard -->\n           <button class=\"flip-card\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" data-front=\"conservation easement\" data-back=\"A legal agreement in which a landowner retains ownership of their property but permanently relinquishes the right to build on or develop the property, often in exchange for financial or tax benefit.\">\n            <div class=\"flip-card-inner\">\n              <div class=\"flip-card-front\">\n                <p><p>conservation easement<\/p>\n<\/p>\n                <div id=\"flashcard-instruction-block_01ac5ad360b616407572d896b3ae44b0\" class=\"flashcard-instruction\">Click to Flip<\/div>\n              <\/div>\n              <div class=\"flip-card-back\"><p>A legal agreement in which a landowner retains ownership of their property but permanently relinquishes the right to build on or develop the property, often in exchange for financial or tax benefit.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/button>\n        <\/div>\n\n        \n        <!-- Swiper Slide -->\n        <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\n          <!-- Flashcard -->\n           <button class=\"flip-card\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" data-front=\"daylighting\" data-back=\"The act of returning a buried stream to the surface and allowing it to flow aboveground.\">\n            <div class=\"flip-card-inner\">\n              <div class=\"flip-card-front\">\n                <p><p>daylighting<\/p>\n<\/p>\n                <div id=\"flashcard-instruction-block_01ac5ad360b616407572d896b3ae44b0\" class=\"flashcard-instruction\">Click to Flip<\/div>\n              <\/div>\n              <div class=\"flip-card-back\"><p>The act of returning a buried stream to the surface and allowing it to flow aboveground.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/button>\n        <\/div>\n\n        \n        <!-- Swiper Slide -->\n        <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\n          <!-- Flashcard -->\n           <button class=\"flip-card\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" data-front=\"de-listing\" data-back=\"The removal of a formerly endangered species from the list of endangered species.\">\n            <div class=\"flip-card-inner\">\n              <div class=\"flip-card-front\">\n                <p><p>de-listing  <\/p>\n<\/p>\n                <div id=\"flashcard-instruction-block_01ac5ad360b616407572d896b3ae44b0\" class=\"flashcard-instruction\">Click to Flip<\/div>\n              <\/div>\n              <div class=\"flip-card-back\"><p>The removal of a formerly endangered species from the list of endangered species.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/button>\n        <\/div>\n\n        \n        <!-- Swiper Slide -->\n        <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\n          <!-- Flashcard -->\n           <button class=\"flip-card\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" data-front=\"ecological restoration\" data-back=\"Activity to assist the recovery of degraded biodiversity and ecosystem function in a particular area.\">\n            <div class=\"flip-card-inner\">\n              <div class=\"flip-card-front\">\n                <p><p>ecological restoration<\/p>\n<\/p>\n                <div id=\"flashcard-instruction-block_01ac5ad360b616407572d896b3ae44b0\" class=\"flashcard-instruction\">Click to Flip<\/div>\n              <\/div>\n              <div class=\"flip-card-back\"><p>Activity to assist the recovery of degraded biodiversity and ecosystem function in a particular area.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/button>\n        <\/div>\n\n        \n        <!-- Swiper Slide -->\n        <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\n          <!-- Flashcard -->\n           <button class=\"flip-card\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" data-front=\"edge effects\" data-back=\"Altered environmental conditions that impact organisms living near the edge of a fragmented habitat.\">\n            <div class=\"flip-card-inner\">\n              <div class=\"flip-card-front\">\n                <p><p>edge effects<\/p>\n<\/p>\n                <div id=\"flashcard-instruction-block_01ac5ad360b616407572d896b3ae44b0\" class=\"flashcard-instruction\">Click to Flip<\/div>\n              <\/div>\n              <div class=\"flip-card-back\"><p>Altered environmental conditions that impact organisms living near the edge of a fragmented habitat.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/button>\n        <\/div>\n\n        \n        <!-- Swiper Slide -->\n        <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\n          <!-- Flashcard -->\n           <button class=\"flip-card\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" data-front=\"endangered species\" data-back=\"A species considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future.\">\n            <div class=\"flip-card-inner\">\n              <div class=\"flip-card-front\">\n                <p><p>endangered species<\/p>\n<\/p>\n                <div id=\"flashcard-instruction-block_01ac5ad360b616407572d896b3ae44b0\" class=\"flashcard-instruction\">Click to Flip<\/div>\n              <\/div>\n              <div class=\"flip-card-back\"><p>A species considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/button>\n        <\/div>\n\n        \n        <!-- Swiper Slide -->\n        <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\n          <!-- Flashcard -->\n           <button class=\"flip-card\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" data-front=\"fragmentation\" data-back=\"The breaking up of a habitat patch into two or more smaller pieces, usually by human activities such as agriculture, urban development, or roads.\">\n            <div class=\"flip-card-inner\">\n              <div class=\"flip-card-front\">\n                <p><p>fragmentation<\/p>\n<\/p>\n                <div id=\"flashcard-instruction-block_01ac5ad360b616407572d896b3ae44b0\" class=\"flashcard-instruction\">Click to Flip<\/div>\n              <\/div>\n              <div class=\"flip-card-back\"><p>The breaking up of a habitat patch into two or more smaller pieces, usually by human activities such as agriculture, urban development, or roads.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/button>\n        <\/div>\n\n        \n        <!-- Swiper Slide -->\n        <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\n          <!-- Flashcard -->\n           <button class=\"flip-card\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" data-front=\"genetic drift\" data-back=\"The gradual loss of genetic variation in a small population due to random events.\">\n            <div class=\"flip-card-inner\">\n              <div class=\"flip-card-front\">\n                <p><p>genetic drift<\/p>\n<\/p>\n                <div id=\"flashcard-instruction-block_01ac5ad360b616407572d896b3ae44b0\" class=\"flashcard-instruction\">Click to Flip<\/div>\n              <\/div>\n              <div class=\"flip-card-back\"><p>The gradual loss of genetic variation in a small population due to random events.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/button>\n        <\/div>\n\n        \n        <!-- Swiper Slide -->\n        <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\n          <!-- Flashcard -->\n           <button class=\"flip-card\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" data-front=\"invasive species\" data-back=\"A species introduced outside its normal distribution which increases in abundance at the expense of native species, interfering with an ecosystem\u2019s normal functioning.\">\n            <div class=\"flip-card-inner\">\n              <div class=\"flip-card-front\">\n                <p><p>invasive species<\/p>\n<\/p>\n                <div id=\"flashcard-instruction-block_01ac5ad360b616407572d896b3ae44b0\" class=\"flashcard-instruction\">Click to Flip<\/div>\n              <\/div>\n              <div class=\"flip-card-back\"><p>A species introduced outside its normal distribution which increases in abundance at the expense of native species, interfering with an ecosystem\u2019s normal functioning.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/button>\n        <\/div>\n\n        \n        <!-- Swiper Slide -->\n        <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\n          <!-- Flashcard -->\n           <button class=\"flip-card\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" data-front=\"land trust\" data-back=\"A nonprofit organization that works to acquire land, to help others acquire land or conservation easements, and to provide stewardship.\">\n            <div class=\"flip-card-inner\">\n              <div class=\"flip-card-front\">\n                <p><p>land trust<\/p>\n<\/p>\n                <div id=\"flashcard-instruction-block_01ac5ad360b616407572d896b3ae44b0\" class=\"flashcard-instruction\">Click to Flip<\/div>\n              <\/div>\n              <div class=\"flip-card-back\"><p>A nonprofit organization that works to acquire land, to help others acquire land or conservation easements, and to provide stewardship.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/button>\n        <\/div>\n\n        \n        <!-- Swiper Slide -->\n        <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\n          <!-- Flashcard -->\n           <button class=\"flip-card\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" data-front=\"listing\" data-back=\"The addition of a species considered to be facing a high risk of extinction to a list of endangered species such as the international IUCN Red List or the lists maintained by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service, mandated by the U.S. Endangered Species Act.\">\n            <div class=\"flip-card-inner\">\n              <div class=\"flip-card-front\">\n                <p><p>listing  <\/p>\n<\/p>\n                <div id=\"flashcard-instruction-block_01ac5ad360b616407572d896b3ae44b0\" class=\"flashcard-instruction\">Click to Flip<\/div>\n              <\/div>\n              <div class=\"flip-card-back\"><p>The addition of a species considered to be facing a high risk of extinction to a list of endangered species such as the international IUCN Red List or the lists maintained by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service, mandated by the U.S. Endangered Species Act.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/button>\n        <\/div>\n\n        \n        <!-- Swiper Slide -->\n        <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\n          <!-- Flashcard -->\n           <button class=\"flip-card\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" data-front=\"metapopulation\" data-back=\"A collection of local populations of the same species linked by some degree of migration; a &quot; population of populations.&quot;\">\n            <div class=\"flip-card-inner\">\n              <div class=\"flip-card-front\">\n                <p><p>metapopulation<\/p>\n<\/p>\n                <div id=\"flashcard-instruction-block_01ac5ad360b616407572d896b3ae44b0\" class=\"flashcard-instruction\">Click to Flip<\/div>\n              <\/div>\n              <div class=\"flip-card-back\"><p>A collection of local populations of the same species linked by some degree of migration; a &quot; population of populations.&quot; <\/p>\n<\/div>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/button>\n        <\/div>\n\n        \n        <!-- Swiper Slide -->\n        <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\n          <!-- Flashcard -->\n           <button class=\"flip-card\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" data-front=\"microtopography\" data-back=\"Small-scale variations in the shape of the surface of the land, resulting in a diversity of microhabitats.\">\n            <div class=\"flip-card-inner\">\n              <div class=\"flip-card-front\">\n                <p><p>microtopography  <\/p>\n<\/p>\n                <div id=\"flashcard-instruction-block_01ac5ad360b616407572d896b3ae44b0\" class=\"flashcard-instruction\">Click to Flip<\/div>\n              <\/div>\n              <div class=\"flip-card-back\"><p>Small-scale variations in the shape of the surface of the land, resulting in a diversity of microhabitats.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/button>\n        <\/div>\n\n        \n        <!-- Swiper Slide -->\n        <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\n          <!-- Flashcard -->\n           <button class=\"flip-card\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" data-front=\"mitigation (in conservation)\" data-back=\"A mechanism in which a damaged habitat is rehabilitated or an intact habitat area is set aside to compensate for habitat that is destroyed elsewhere.\">\n            <div class=\"flip-card-inner\">\n              <div class=\"flip-card-front\">\n                <p><p>mitigation (in conservation)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n                <div id=\"flashcard-instruction-block_01ac5ad360b616407572d896b3ae44b0\" class=\"flashcard-instruction\">Click to Flip<\/div>\n              <\/div>\n              <div class=\"flip-card-back\"><p>A mechanism in which a damaged habitat is rehabilitated or an intact habitat area is set aside to compensate for habitat that is destroyed elsewhere.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/button>\n        <\/div>\n\n        \n        <!-- Swiper Slide -->\n        <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\n          <!-- Flashcard -->\n           <button class=\"flip-card\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" data-front=\"native species\" data-back=\"Species that developed in the place where they live and are adapted to conditions there.\">\n            <div class=\"flip-card-inner\">\n              <div class=\"flip-card-front\">\n                <p><p>native species<\/p>\n<\/p>\n                <div id=\"flashcard-instruction-block_01ac5ad360b616407572d896b3ae44b0\" class=\"flashcard-instruction\">Click to Flip<\/div>\n              <\/div>\n              <div class=\"flip-card-back\"><p>Species that developed in the place where they live and are adapted to conditions there.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/button>\n        <\/div>\n\n        \n        <!-- Swiper Slide -->\n        <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\n          <!-- Flashcard -->\n           <button class=\"flip-card\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" data-front=\"nest predation\" data-back=\"The action of predators who eat juvenile birds in the nest.\">\n            <div class=\"flip-card-inner\">\n              <div class=\"flip-card-front\">\n                <p><p>nest predation<\/p>\n<\/p>\n                <div id=\"flashcard-instruction-block_01ac5ad360b616407572d896b3ae44b0\" class=\"flashcard-instruction\">Click to Flip<\/div>\n              <\/div>\n              <div class=\"flip-card-back\"><p>The action of predators who eat juvenile birds in the nest.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/button>\n        <\/div>\n\n        \n        <!-- Swiper Slide -->\n        <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\n          <!-- Flashcard -->\n           <button class=\"flip-card\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" data-front=\"novel ecosystem\" data-back=\"A self-organizing ecosystem composed of species and their interactions that differ from those that prevailed historically, resulting from human influence.\">\n            <div class=\"flip-card-inner\">\n              <div class=\"flip-card-front\">\n                <p><p>novel ecosystem <\/p>\n<\/p>\n                <div id=\"flashcard-instruction-block_01ac5ad360b616407572d896b3ae44b0\" class=\"flashcard-instruction\">Click to Flip<\/div>\n              <\/div>\n              <div class=\"flip-card-back\"><p>A self-organizing ecosystem composed of species and their interactions that differ from those that prevailed historically, resulting from human influence.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/button>\n        <\/div>\n\n        \n        <!-- Swiper Slide -->\n        <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\n          <!-- Flashcard -->\n           <button class=\"flip-card\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" data-front=\"population ecology\" data-back=\"The study of the growth, decline, and changes in populations of organisms.\">\n            <div class=\"flip-card-inner\">\n              <div class=\"flip-card-front\">\n                <p><p>population ecology <\/p>\n<\/p>\n                <div id=\"flashcard-instruction-block_01ac5ad360b616407572d896b3ae44b0\" class=\"flashcard-instruction\">Click to Flip<\/div>\n              <\/div>\n              <div class=\"flip-card-back\"><p>The study of the growth, decline, and changes in populations of organisms.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/button>\n        <\/div>\n\n        \n        <!-- Swiper Slide -->\n        <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\n          <!-- Flashcard -->\n           <button class=\"flip-card\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" data-front=\"reconciliation ecology\" data-back=\"An approach to restoration that deliberately shares the places where humans live with other species.\">\n            <div class=\"flip-card-inner\">\n              <div class=\"flip-card-front\">\n                <p><p>reconciliation ecology<\/p>\n<\/p>\n                <div id=\"flashcard-instruction-block_01ac5ad360b616407572d896b3ae44b0\" class=\"flashcard-instruction\">Click to Flip<\/div>\n              <\/div>\n              <div class=\"flip-card-back\"><p>An approach to restoration that deliberately shares the places where humans live with other species.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/button>\n        <\/div>\n\n        \n        <div id=\"flashcard-instruction-block_01ac5ad360b616407572d896b3ae44b0\" class=\"sr-only\">Press Enter or Space to flip the card<\/div>\n       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