Biodiversity loss refers to the decline in the variety and variability of life forms within a given ecosystem, leading to reduced ecosystem services and resilience. It is primarily driven by human activities such as habitat destruction, pollution, climate change, and over-exploitation of resources, posing significant threats to environmental stability and human well-being.
Erosion is the process by which natural forces like water, wind, and ice wear away rocks and soil, gradually transporting them from one location to another. This geological phenomenon plays a crucial role in shaping landscapes, influencing ecosystems, and impacting human activities such as agriculture and construction.
Component aging refers to the gradual degradation of a component's performance or reliability over time due to environmental factors, usage, and inherent material properties. Understanding and mitigating component aging is crucial for maintaining system integrity and extending the operational lifespan of devices and machinery.
Microautophagy is a cellular process where the lysosome directly engulfs cytoplasmic material by invagination or protrusion of its membrane, facilitating the degradation and recycling of cellular components. This process is crucial for maintaining cellular homeostasis and responding to nutrient availability and stress conditions.