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Adaptive radiation
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the evolution of a single ancestor species into
several new species within a relatively short period of time and in a
certain geographic area. The plants and animals of the Galápagos Islands
are a result of adaptive radiation, where one plant or one animal species
diversified into many species that fill a variety of ecological roles. For
example, more than a dozen species of finches evolved from a single
founding species that colonized the islands from the mainland of South
America.
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Arboreal
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living predominantly or entirely in trees
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Atoll
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a ring-shaped coral reef or string of coral
islands, usually enclosing a shallow lagoon
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Biodiversity
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the variety of life on Earth and the
interconnections among living things
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Biogeography
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the study of living systems and their
distribution. Biogeography is important to the study of the Earth’s
biodiversity because it helps with understanding where animals and plants
live, where they don’t, and why.
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Biotic
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refers to the living components of the
environment (such as plants, animals, and fungi) that affect ecological
functions
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Boreal
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pertaining to the north
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Brackish
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slightly salty or briny. Brackish water is
saltier than fresh water but less salty than seawater.
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Bycatch
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fishes, or any other animals, that are
accidentally caught in fishing gear
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Community
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a characteristic group of plants and animals
living and interacting with one another in a specific region under similar
environmental conditions
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Deforestation
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the large-scale removal of trees from a habitat
dominated by forest
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Echolocation
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the sonar-like ability used by bats, dolphins,
and other animals to detect objects. Using echolocation, the animal emits
high-pitched sounds that reflect off of an object and return to the ears
or other sensory receptors.
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Ecological or ecosystem
services
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valuable services provided by natural systems.
Examples of ecological services include flood control, air purification,
and climate control.
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Ecoregion
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a geographically distinct area of land that is
characterized by a distinctive climate, ecological features, and plant and
animal communities. The Klamath-Siskiyou Coniferous Forests in the U.S.
Pacific Northwest is an example of an ecoregion.
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Ecosystem
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a community of plants, animals, and
microorganisms that are linked by energy and nutrient flows and that
interact with each other and with the physical environment. Rain forests,
deserts, coral reefs, grasslands, and a rotting log are all examples of
ecosystems.
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Endangered species
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a species threatened with extinction. The
Florida panther and the California condor are endangered species.
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Endemic species
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species that naturally occurs in only one area
or region. For example, the redfin darter is a fish endemic to the rivers
of the Ozark forests, and the Joshua tree is a plant endemic to the Mojave
Desert.
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Ephemeral
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lasting for a very short time
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Evolution
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the process of change in the traits of
organisms or populations over time. Evolution, through the process of
natural selection, can lead to the formation of new species.
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Extinct
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refers to a species that no longer exists.
Local extinction occurs when every member of a particular population has
died. Global extinction occurs when every member of a species has died.
The passenger pigeon and the dodo are examples of globally extinct birds.
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Fauna
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the animals that live in a particular area
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Flora
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the plants that live in a particular area
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Fragmentation
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the breaking up of large habitats into smaller,
isolated chunks. Fragmentation is one of the main forms of habitat
destruction, which is the primary reason biodiversity is in decline.
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Geography
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the science of space and place that brings
together Earth’s physical and human dimensions in the integrated study
of people, places, and environments
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Global warming
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the process by which the Earth’s atmosphere
is warming because of the release of “greenhouse gases,” such as
carbon dioxide. These gases are released into the air from burning gas,
oil, coal, wood, and other resources and trap heat in an action similar to
that of the walls of a greenhouse.
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Grasslands
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areas of abundant grasses and shrubs with very
few trees, like prairies or meadows. Grasslands can be found in many
places. Large temperate grasslands occur naturally in central North
America (prairies), southern South America (pampas), central Asia
(steppes), southern Africa (savannas), and Australia.
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Greenhouse effect
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the trapping of heat in the Earth’s
atmosphere by certain gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous
oxide. Some scientists predict that the temperature and sea level rise
associated with global warming could adversely affect biodiversity.
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Guano
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manure from animals like birds and bats
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Habitat
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the area in which an animal, plant, or
microorganism lives and finds the nutrients, water, sunlight, shelter,
living space, and other essentials it needs to survive. Habitat loss,
which includes the destruction, degradation, and fragmentation of
habitats, is the primary cause of biodiversity loss.
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Introduced species
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a species that does not naturally occur in an
area. Also called alien, exotic, or non-native species, these invaders can
cause major problems for native plants and animals.
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Invertebrate
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an organism that does not have a backbone
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Migration
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the movement of animals in response to seasonal
changes or changes in the food supply. Examples of animals that migrate
include ruby-throated hummingbirds, salmon, monarch butterflies, buffalo,
and elephants.
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Montane
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pertaining to a mountainous region
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Native species
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a species that occurs naturally in an area or
habitat. Also called indigenous species.
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Natural selection
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the process by which genetic traits are passed
on to each successive generation. Over time, natural selection helps
species become better adapted to their environment. Also known as
“survival of the fittest,” natural selection is the driving force
behind the process of evolution.
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Pesticides
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chemicals that kill or inhibit the growth of organisms that
people consider undesirable. Fungicides (which kill fungi), herbicides
(which kill plants), and insecticides (which kill insects) are types of
pesticides.
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Phenomena
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unusual and/or significant occurrences. For example, the
yearly migration of monarch butterflies from central Mexico into the
United States and Canada is a natural phenomenon.
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Phytoplankton
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the plant plankton and primary producers in aquatic
ecosystems
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Pioneer plant
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a plant species that appears early in the cycle
of vegetation succession. These pioneer plants have characteristics that
particularly suit their role in the early stages of succession, such as a
rapid growth rate and the ability to produce large amounts of small,
easily dispersed seeds.
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Poaching
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hunting, trapping, or fishing illegally
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Range
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the area in which an organism may travel in its
lifetime. Range also refers to the geographic distribution of a particular
species.
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Realm
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a region of the Earth that harbors similar
groups of species based on a shared biogeographical history. For example,
while primates are found in many parts of the world, all monkeys found
with prehensile tails are only found in the Neotropic realm. The Earth is
made up of eight realms.
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Reintroduce
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to return members of a species to their
historical range. This strategy is sometimes used when a species has
become locally extinct or if its population is threatened.
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Relict species
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a species that has survived while other related
ones have become extinct. A relict species may be one that had a wider
range but is now found only in particular areas (like the European white
elm tree in western Siberia), or it may have survived relatively unchanged
from an older period when other kinds of species went extinct (such as
horseshoe crabs).
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Restoration
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the repair of ecological damage to an ecosystem
so that it is close to the natural condition prior to a disturbance and it
can function as a normal self-regulating system. This is done through
processes such as chemical cleanups, revegetation, and the reintroduction
of native species.
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Riparian
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pertaining to the banks of a river or other
body of fresh water
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Savanna
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a type of grassland with widely spaced trees
and a blanket of grasses that require a lot of light. Rainfall usually
occurs in the warmer, summer months with a dry period of between two to
eight months. Fires are typical across savannas during drier months and
occur at intervals from one to 50 years.
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Slash and burn
agriculture
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an agricultural system in which farmers
periodically clear land for farming by cutting and burning patches of
forest. Traditionally, patches used for agriculture were allowed to revert
to forests for a number of years before being replanted, causing minimal
impact. Today, however, intensive slash and burn agriculture damages many
tropical forest ecosystems.
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Specialist species
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a species that has a narrow ecological niche.
For example, they may be able to live in only one type of habitat,
tolerate only specific environmental conditions, or eat only a few types
of food. The panda is a specialist species because over 95 percent of its
diet consists only of bamboo.
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Speciation
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the process by which one or more populations of
a species become genetically different enough to form a new species. The
process often requires populations to be isolated for a long period of
time.
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Species
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(1) a group of organisms that have a unique set
of characteristics (like body shape and behavior) that distinguishes them
from other organisms. If they reproduce, individuals within the same
species can produce fertile offspring. (2) the basic unit of biological
classification. Scientists refer to species using both their genus and
species name. The house cat, for example, is called Felis catus.
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Sustainable
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meeting the needs of the present without
diminishing the ability of people, other species, or future generations to
survive.
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Taiga
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a type of coniferous evergreen forest, found in
the subarctic areas of North America and Eurasia. Also known as a boreal
forest
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Temperate rain
forest
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a type of forest found in only a few places
around the world, such as the Pacific temperate rain forest on the west
coast of North America. These forests are often dominated by conifer trees
adapted to wet climates and cool temperatures.
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Tropical dry
forest
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a type of forest found near the Equator that
has distinct rainy and dry seasons. Many tropical dry forest plants are
adapted to withstand high temperatures and seasonal droughts.
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Tropical rain forest
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a type of wet forest found near the Equator
that harbors the richest diversity of terrestrial plant and animal
species.
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Upwelling
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an upward flow of cold, heavy deep-sea water
caused as offshore currents draw away warm surface water. The deep-sea
water of upwellings is generally rich in nutrients.
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Wetlands
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areas that, at least periodically, have
waterlogged soils or are covered with a relatively shallow layer of water.
Bogs, freshwater and saltwater marshes, and freshwater and saltwater
swamps are examples of wetlands.
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