benthos a region including the bottom of the sea and the littoral zonesbioculture is the scientific exploration of the relationships between human biology and culture bioclimatic of or concerned with the relations of climate and living organisms biodegradable capable of being decomposed by e.g. bacteria biodiversity the diversity of plant and animal life in a particular habitat (or in the world as a whole) biome a major biotic community characterized by the dominant forms of plant life and the prevailing climate

bionomics the branch of biology concerned with the relations between organisms and their environment biopiracy biological theft; illegal collection of indigenous plants by corporations who patent them for their own use bioremediation the branch of biotechnology that uses biological process to overcome environmental problems biosphere the regions of the surface and atmosphere of the Earth (or other planet) where living organisms exist bog wet spongy ground of decomposing vegetation; has poorer drainage than a swamp; soil is unfit for cultivation but can be cut and dried and used for fuel boreal toward or located in the north botany the branch of biology that studies plants

deforest remove the trees from the forest desertification the gradual transformation of habitable land into desert; is usually caused by climate change or by destructive use of the land dispersion spreading widely or driving off (The noun dispersion means the process of distributing something over an area. A combination of your yearly planting of new bulbs and their natural tendency to spread has led to the dispersion of daffodils over your entire back yard.)

ecosystem a system formed by the interaction of a community of organisms with their physical environment ecoterrorism violence carried out to further the political or social objectives of the environmentalists ecotourism tourism to exotic or threatened ecosystems to observe wildlife or to help preserve nature

environment the totality of surrounding conditions environmentalist someone who works to protect the environment from destruction or pollution EPA an independent federal agency established to coordinate programs aimed at reducing pollution and protecting the environment eutrophic (ecology) of a lake or other body of water rich in nutrients and subject to eutrophication eutrophication excessive nutrients in a lake or other body of water, usually caused by runoff of nutrients (animal waste, fertilizers, sewage) evergreens trees that keep their foliage throughout the year