English for Science & Nature Glossary of Terms - B

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beach closure - the closing of a beach to swimming, usually because of pollution.

bill - a proposed law, to be debated and voted on.

biodegradable - waste material composed primarily of naturally-occurring constituent parts, able to be broken down and absorbed into the ecosystem. Wood, for example, is biodegradable, for example, while plastics are not.

biodiversity - a large number and wide range of species of animals, plants, fungi, and microorganisms. Ecologically, wide biodiversity is conducive to the development of all species.

biomass - (1) the amount of living matter in an area, including plants, large animals and insects; (2) plant materials and animal waste used as fuel.

biosphere - (1) the part of the earth and its atmosphere in which living organisms exist or that is capable of supporting life; (2) the living organisms and their environment composing the biosphere.

Biosphere Reserve - a part of an international network of preserved areas designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Biosphere Reserves are vital centers of biodiversity where research and monitoring activities are conducted, with the participation of local communities, to protect and preserve healthy natural systems threatened by development. The global system currently includes 324 reserves in 83 countries.

biotic - of or relating to life.

birth control - preventing birth or reducing frequency of birth, primarily by preventing conception.

birth defects - unhealthy defects found in newborns, often caused by the mother's exposure to environmental hazards or the intake of drugs or alcohol during pregnancy.

birth rate - the number of babies born annually per 1,000 women of reproductive age in any given set of people.

bloc - a group of people with the same interest or goal (usually used to describe a voting bloc, a group of representatives intending to vote the same way).

blood lead levels - the amount of lead in the blood. Human exposure to lead in blood can cause brain damage, especially in children.

bottled water - purchased water sold in bottles.

bycatch - fish and/or other marine life that are incidentally caught with the targeted species. Most of the time bycatch is discarded at sea.