Definitions

Climate Change: The shift in the average conditions in a region over a long period of time.

Extirpation: When members of a species die out completely in one area, but exist in other places.

Extinction: When all members of a species die out completely.

Fossil fuels: Fuels made from the remains of ancient organisms.

Habitat Loss: The process by which a natural habitat becomes incapable of supporting its native species.

Impact: To have a strong effect on someone or something.

Invasive species: New organisms to an area that begin to force out what was already living there.

Native species: Organisms that have been living in an area for many, many years.

Natural Environment: Encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally.

Pollution: The presence of a thing that has harmful or poisonous effects on something.