Chapter 11 Summary

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OpenAI. (2025). ChatGPT. [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat
Prompt: Summarize the following content into six key takeaways.

Abiotic
Non-living components of an ecosystem, such as air, water, soil, and climate.

Algal bloom
A rapid increase or accumulation of algae in water systems, often resulting from high nutrient levels.

Biological diversity (Biodiversity)
The variety of life on Earth, including genetic diversity, species diversity, and ecosystem diversity.

Biomagnification
The process by which toxic chemicals accumulate and become more concentrated in organisms at each successive trophic level of a food chain.

Captive breeding
Raising individuals of a species in controlled environments with the goal of increasing population numbers and potentially reintroducing them to the wild.

Climate change
Long-term shifts in global temperatures and weather patterns, primarily caused by increased greenhouse gas concentrations due to human activities.

Conservation biology
The science of protecting biodiversity by preserving ecological relationships and ecosystems.

Decomposition
The breakdown of organic material by fungi, bacteria, and other decomposers, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.

Ecosystem
A community of living organisms and their interactions with the non-living components (abiotic factors) of their environment.

Ecosystem diversity
The variety of different ecosystems found within a particular region or area.

Ecosystem restoration
The process of repairing and revitalizing degraded or destroyed ecosystems to restore native species, ecological processes, and ecosystem services.

Ecosystem services
Natural processes performed by ecosystems that directly or indirectly benefit humans, such as pollination, air and water purification, nutrient cycling, and climate regulation.

Fragmentation (Habitat fragmentation)
Breaking habitats into smaller, isolated patches, making it difficult for species to find food, reproduce, and migrate.

Genetic diversity
Variation in the genetic composition of individuals within a species or population, enabling adaptation and survival.

Greenhouse effect
The warming of Earth’s surface due to atmospheric gases (greenhouse gases like CO₂ and methane) trapping heat from the sun.

Habitat destruction
The process by which natural habitats are damaged or eliminated, often due to human activities like agriculture, urban development, or resource extraction.

Invasive species
Non-native species introduced to an area that cause harm by outcompeting native organisms, altering habitats, or disrupting ecosystems.

Keystone species
A species that has a disproportionately large influence on the structure and function of an ecosystem, where its removal significantly affects other species.

Legislation
Laws or international agreements created to regulate human activities and protect biodiversity.

Living Planet Index
A measure that tracks the population trends of thousands of vertebrate species globally, used to indicate the health of ecosystems and biodiversity trends.

Overexploitation
Harvesting species from the wild at rates faster than their populations can naturally recover, leading to population declines or extinction.

Pollination
The transfer of pollen from one plant to another, enabling plant reproduction, often facilitated by animals like insects, birds, and bats.

Pollution
Harmful substances released into the environment by human activities, negatively impacting ecosystems and species.

Protected areas
Regions designated for the preservation of biodiversity, with restricted human activities to protect ecosystems and species.

Reintroduction
Returning individuals of a species to areas where the species previously existed but has disappeared.

Species diversity
The variety of different species within a particular region or ecosystem, encompassing both species richness and evenness.

Species evenness
How evenly individuals are distributed among the different species in an ecosystem.

Species richness
The number of different species present in an ecosystem or region.

Sustainability
Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, supporting ecological balance and long-term well-being.

Trophic level
The position of an organism in a food chain, reflecting its source of energy and feeding relationships within an ecosystem.

Text Description

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OpenAI. (2025). ChatGPT. [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat
Prompt: Provide definitions for all the bolded terms in the shared content and list all the terms in alphabetical order.