GEOGRAPHY & SOCIETY

3. The introduction of harmful substances into the environment, leading to adverse effects on ecosystems.
6. Balance A stable state in an ecosystem where species and resources exist in harmony, often disrupted by human activity.
13. Protection Agency A U.S. government agency responsible for enforcing regulations to protect human health and the environment.
14. Ecology is the study of the relationship between humans and their natural, social, and built environments.
15. The natural surroundings, including air, water, and land, in which all living organisms exist.

1. The branch of biology that examines the relationships between organisms and their environments.
2. Environment The cultural, social, and economic conditions that influence individuals and communities.
4. The ideal number of people that can be sustained by available resources without environmental degradation.
5. of Diminishing Returns An economic principle stating that increased input in a single factor will yield reduced incremental returns.
7. The scientific study of population characteristics, such as birth and death rates, migration, and growth patterns.
8. Environment The physical world not created by humans, including ecosystems, plants, and animals.
9. Protocol An international agreement that sets binding emission reduction targets to combat climate change.
10. A systematic collection of data about a population, typically covering demographics, housing, employment, and more.
11. The study of Earth’s physical features, climate, and human-environment interactions.
12. The profit or yield from an investment or resource, central to economic theories on resource allocation.
16. Theory A theory proposing that population growth will eventually outstrip food supply, leading to societal crises.