| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| biodiversity | The variety of all living organisms and species within an ecosystem, region, or the entire planet. |
| generalist species | Species that can survive and reproduce in a wide variety of environmental conditions and food sources, and tend to be advantaged in changing habitats. |
| genetic diversity | The variation in genes within a population, which enables the population to respond to environmental stressors. |
| habitat diversity | The variety of different habitats or environments within an ecosystem. |
| population bottleneck | A drastic reduction in population size that leads to a loss of genetic diversity. |
| specialist species | Species that are adapted to specific environmental conditions and have narrow habitat requirements. |
| species diversity | The variety of different species present in an ecosystem. |
| species richness | The number of different species present in an ecosystem. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| anthropogenic activities | Human actions and processes that cause changes to the environment, including industrial production, agriculture, and resource extraction. |
| cultural services | Ecosystem services that provide non-material benefits to humans, including recreation, spiritual value, and aesthetic enjoyment. |
| ecological consequences | The effects on natural systems and organisms resulting from disruptions to ecosystem services, such as biodiversity loss or habitat degradation. |
| economic consequences | The financial and material impacts resulting from changes to ecosystem services, such as loss of resources or increased costs for environmental management. |
| ecosystem services | The benefits that humans receive from natural ecosystems, including resources, regulation of environmental processes, and cultural values. |
| human disruptions | Changes or disturbances to ecosystems caused by human activities that alter natural processes and functions. |
| provisioning services | Ecosystem services that provide direct material benefits to humans, such as food, water, timber, and other natural resources. |
| regulating services | Ecosystem services that maintain environmental conditions necessary for life, such as climate regulation, water purification, and pollination. |
| supporting services | Ecosystem services that maintain the conditions for all other ecosystem services, such as nutrient cycling and soil formation. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| colonization | The process by which new species arrive and establish themselves on islands from other locations. |
| community structures | The composition and organization of populations of different species living together on islands. |
| distribution of organisms | The spatial arrangement and presence of different species across islands. |
| ecological relationships | The interactions and connections between organisms and their environment on islands. |
| evolution | The process of change in species over time through adaptation and natural selection. |
| generalist species | Species that can survive and reproduce in a wide variety of environmental conditions and food sources, and tend to be advantaged in changing habitats. |
| invasive species | Non-native organisms introduced to an ecosystem that outcompete native species for resources and can disrupt ecological balance. |
| island biogeography | The study of the distribution, diversity, and evolution of species on islands and how island characteristics affect species composition and adaptation. |
| specialist species | Species that are adapted to specific environmental conditions and have narrow habitat requirements. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| ecological tolerance | The range of environmental conditions, such as temperature, salinity, flow rate, and sunlight, that an organism can endure before injury or death occurs. |
| flow rate | The speed at which water or other fluids move through an environment, affecting organism survival and habitat suitability. |
| salinity | The concentration of dissolved salts in water, affecting the distribution of aquatic organisms. |
| sunlight | Light energy from the sun that organisms require for various biological processes and survival. |
| temperature | A measure of thermal energy that affects organism survival and is a key factor in ecological tolerance. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Earth system processes | Large-scale natural processes that operate across the planet, including climate, water cycles, and geological changes. |
| Earth's climate | The long-term patterns of temperature, precipitation, and atmospheric conditions that characterize different regions of the planet. |
| ecosystem | A community of living organisms interacting with each other and their physical environment. |
| environmental consequences | The effects or impacts that result from disruptions or changes to natural systems. |
| episodic processes | Earth system processes that occur irregularly or at unpredictable intervals. |
| geological time | The vast timescale spanning millions to billions of years over which Earth's physical features and climate have changed. |
| glacial ice | Large accumulations of frozen water on land that affect sea level when they form or melt. |
| habitat | The specific environment or place where an organism or species naturally lives and obtains the resources it needs to survive. |
| migration | The movement of wildlife populations from one location to another, often in response to environmental changes or seasonal patterns. |
| natural disruptions | Events or processes that occur naturally in ecosystems and cause significant changes to environmental conditions, species populations, or habitat structure. |
| periodic processes | Earth system processes that occur at regular, predictable intervals. |
| random processes | Earth system processes that occur without predictable patterns or regular timing. |
| sea level | The average height of the ocean's surface, which can change due to climate change and affect coastal habitats. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| adapt | The process by which organisms develop traits or behaviors that allow them to survive and reproduce in their environment. |
| environmental changes | Alterations in conditions or factors in an organism's surroundings, such as climate, food availability, or habitat composition. |
| genetic level | Changes that occur in the DNA or genes of organisms, which can be passed on to offspring. |
| incremental changes | Small, gradual modifications that accumulate over time to produce larger adaptations. |
| species' survival | The continued existence and reproduction of a population of organisms over time. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| biomass | The total mass of living organisms in an ecosystem. |
| ecological succession | The process of change in species composition and ecosystem structure over time following a disturbance or in unoccupied habitat. |
| indicator species | A plant or animal whose presence, abundance, scarcity, or chemical composition demonstrates distinctive aspects of an ecosystem's character or quality. |
| keystone species | A species whose activities have a particularly significant role in determining the structure and composition of its community. |
| net productivity | The rate at which an ecosystem accumulates biomass after accounting for energy used in respiration. |
| pioneer species | Early successional species that are the first to colonize unoccupied or disturbed habitats. |
| primary succession | Ecological succession that occurs in an area with no pre-existing soil or community, such as on bare rock or newly formed land. |
| secondary succession | Ecological succession that occurs in an area where soil and some species already exist, following a disturbance that removes the existing community. |
| species richness | The number of different species present in an ecosystem. |