WWF-UK: Glossary
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Glossary
Scientists use lots of different words when they speak about the environment or animals, but what do they all mean? This is Go Wild's low-down on scientific terms.
Climate change
A term used to describe the global change in our weather patterns, which is being brought about by the release of certain pollutants. This pollution is causing the atmosphere to trap more of the sun's energy and is resulting in a rise in global temperatures and other climatic changes.
Consumption
'Consumption' describes the use of the Earth's natural resources - such as water, minerals and trees. For instance, it could include using the Earth's oil and gas supplies to make energy or using trees to make furniture and paper.
Deforestation
This is the removal or destruction of areas of forest, with no plans to restore it. There are many reasons for deforestation including clearing the land to make way for farmland or housing as well as natural causes such as forest fires.
Ecological footprint
An ecological footprint is a way of measuring how a person or community impacts on the planet. It calculates how much land and sea is needed to feed us and provide all the energy, water and materials we use in our everyday lives. It also calculates the pollution generated from the energy we use and determines how much land is needed to absorb our waste.
Ecology
Ecology is the study of the distribution and number of living organisms and their interaction with the environment. The word "ecology" is also often used to refer more generally to the natural environment.
Endangered
An animal or plant is said to be endangered when its numbers are so low or it is facing such severe threats that it may become extinct and disappear from planet Earth altogether.
Fossil fuels
Fossil fuels are natural materials that were formed in the ground millions of years ago from plant and animal remains and are used to produce heat or power. The three main types of fossil fuel are coal, oil and natural gas.
Global warming
This is the term used to describe the increases in the average temperature of the Earth's atmosphere and oceans. It is one element of the more general term 'climate change', which is used to describe all the climatic changes being caused by human activities and other factors.
Habitat
A habitat is the natural environment in which a plant or animal lives - essentially it is its home.
Illegal logging
When someone does something which is illegal it means they are doing something that is not allowed by law. So illegal logging is the unlawful removal of trees from a forest.
Poacher
A person who catches or kills animals illegally.
Prey
Prey is the word used to describe an animal that is hunted or killed by another for food. So for instance, a polar bear's favourite prey is seals.
Species
A species is a group of similar animals or plants that can breed with each other. A species is usually given a two-part latin name. For example, modern day humans as a species are called Homo sapiens.
A term used to describe the global change in our weather patterns, which is being brought about by the release of certain pollutants. This pollution is causing the atmosphere to trap more of the sun's energy and is resulting in a rise in global temperatures and other climatic changes.
Consumption
'Consumption' describes the use of the Earth's natural resources - such as water, minerals and trees. For instance, it could include using the Earth's oil and gas supplies to make energy or using trees to make furniture and paper.
Deforestation
This is the removal or destruction of areas of forest, with no plans to restore it. There are many reasons for deforestation including clearing the land to make way for farmland or housing as well as natural causes such as forest fires.
Ecological footprint
An ecological footprint is a way of measuring how a person or community impacts on the planet. It calculates how much land and sea is needed to feed us and provide all the energy, water and materials we use in our everyday lives. It also calculates the pollution generated from the energy we use and determines how much land is needed to absorb our waste.
Ecology
Ecology is the study of the distribution and number of living organisms and their interaction with the environment. The word "ecology" is also often used to refer more generally to the natural environment.
Endangered
An animal or plant is said to be endangered when its numbers are so low or it is facing such severe threats that it may become extinct and disappear from planet Earth altogether.
Fossil fuels
Fossil fuels are natural materials that were formed in the ground millions of years ago from plant and animal remains and are used to produce heat or power. The three main types of fossil fuel are coal, oil and natural gas.
Global warming
This is the term used to describe the increases in the average temperature of the Earth's atmosphere and oceans. It is one element of the more general term 'climate change', which is used to describe all the climatic changes being caused by human activities and other factors.
Habitat
A habitat is the natural environment in which a plant or animal lives - essentially it is its home.
Illegal logging
When someone does something which is illegal it means they are doing something that is not allowed by law. So illegal logging is the unlawful removal of trees from a forest.
Poacher
A person who catches or kills animals illegally.
Prey
Prey is the word used to describe an animal that is hunted or killed by another for food. So for instance, a polar bear's favourite prey is seals.
Species
A species is a group of similar animals or plants that can breed with each other. A species is usually given a two-part latin name. For example, modern day humans as a species are called Homo sapiens.