Maintaining Biodiversity MS-LS2-5

Biodiversity

Number and variety of species living in an area. Biodiversity. Biodiversity is the range of different living things in a place, showing how many species are there and how varied they are.

Conservation

The careful management and use of resources. Conservation. Conservation means protecting and saving natural resources so they last longer and stay healthy for future use.

Ecosystem

All the living and nonliving things interacting in an area. Ecosystem. An ecosystem is a community where plants, animals, and their environment work together.

Endangered

Close to becoming extinct. Endangered. An endangered species is a type of animal or plant that is at serious risk of disappearing forever.

Nonrenewable resource

A natural resource that is consumed faster than it can be created. Nonrenewable resource. A nonrenewable resource is something we use from nature that takes a very long time to form and won't quickly come back once it's used up.

Renewable resource

A resource that is replaced by nature more quickly than it is consumed. Renewable resource. A renewable resource is something we can keep using because nature restores it faster than we use it, like sunlight or wind.