Shifting Baselines

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Pronunciation: /ˈʃɪftɪŋ ˈbeɪslɪnz/

Definitions of shifting baselines

noun a word that refers to 'shifting baselines' which is a concept in ecology that describes the way in which each generation perceives the state of the environment based on the conditions they grew up with, leading to a gradual decline in environmental standa

Example Sentences

A1 Shifting baselines refer to changes in perception over time.

A2 People often don't notice shifting baselines until it's too late.

B1 The concept of shifting baselines is important in understanding environmental degradation.

B2 Scientists study shifting baselines to track changes in ecosystems.

C1 Policy makers need to consider shifting baselines when making decisions about conservation.

C2 Awareness of shifting baselines can help prevent further loss of biodiversity.

Examples of shifting baselines in a Sentence

formal The concept of shifting baselines refers to the changing perception of what is considered normal in terms of environmental conditions over time.

informal Shifting baselines can make it hard to notice gradual changes in the environment because we get used to them.

slang Yo, have you noticed how our idea of what's normal in nature keeps shifting? It's like we're always playing catch-up.

figurative Just like how our taste in music evolves over time, shifting baselines can alter our perception of what is acceptable in the environment.

Grammatical Forms of shifting baselines

past tense

shifted

plural

shifting baselines

comparative

more shifting

superlative

most shifting

present tense

shift

future tense

will shift

perfect tense

have shifted

continuous tense

is shifting

singular

shifting baseline

positive degree

shifted

infinitive

to shift

gerund

shifting

participle

shifted

Origin and Evolution of shifting baselines

First Known Use: 1990 year
Language of Origin: English
Story behind the word: The term 'shifting baselines' was coined by fisheries scientist Daniel Pauly in the 1990s.
Evolution of the word: Originally used in the context of fisheries management, the term has since been applied to various fields to describe the phenomenon of each generation accepting a degraded or diminished standard as the new normal.