-
Biodiversity
- The number and variety of organisms found in a certain region.
- Eg. Over 1.7 million species of animals, plants, and algae have been identified
-
Protect
- To legally guard a species from harm that is listed as being endangered, threatened or of special concern
- Eg. The blue whale is an endangered species, and is protected by the government
-
Biodiversity Hotspot
- A place in which there is an exceptionally large number of species in a relatively small area
- Eg. Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve
- Related terms. Biodiversity, Community
-
Community
- All the populations of different species that interact in a certain area or ecosystem.
- Eg. A forest
- Related terms. Ecosystem
-
Dominant Species
- Species that have the largest biomass of any community member.
- eg. grass
- In terrestrial ecosystems, primary producers are always the dominant species
- The removal of a dominant species will result in a decrease in biodiversity within the ecosystem
-
Keystone Species
- Species that can greatly affect populations and health of an ecosystem. They are generally not very abundant and can be plants or animals
- Eg. a wolf
-
Captive breeding
- The breeding of endangered or rare wildlife in a controlled setting to increase their population size
- Eg. Black-footed ferret
- Related terms. Population, Endangered
-
Ecosystem Engineer
- A species that causes such a dramatic change to landscapes that it can create a new ecosystem altogether.
- Eg. The beaver
- related terms. Keystone species
-
Succesion
- The series of changes after a disturbance in an ecosystem that occurs over time.
- Eg. A beaver pond
- Related terms. Habitat loss,
-
Habitat Loss
- The destruction of habitats, usually because of human activities.
- Eg. The oil sands
- Related terms. Deforestation
-
Deforestation
- The action of clearing out forests for logging or other human uses, and not replacing them.
- Eg. The oil sands
- Related terms. Deforestation, Overexpliotation
-
Alien Species
- A species that is either accidentally or deliberately introduced into a location where i does not previously exist
- Eg. Zebra mussels
- Related terms. Invasive species
-
Invasive Species
- An alien species that takes over and overcomes the habitat of native species.
- Eg.Zebra mussels
- Related terms. Alien species, Competition
-
Overexploitation
- The use or extraction of a resource faster than it can be replenished, until it is depleted.
- Eg. Passenger pigeons
- Related terms. Extinction, Population
-
Extinction
- The death of an entire population of species.
- Eg. the dinosaurs
- Related terms. Overexpliotation, Population
-
Biodiversity Crisis
- The current accelerated rate of extinctions caused by humans.
- related terms. Extinction, Biodiversity,
-
Restoration Ecology
- The restoration of degraded or destroyed ecosystems through deliberate and active human intervention.
- eg. Don Valley Brick Works
- Related terms. Reforestation
-
Reforestation
- The regrowth of a forest, whether it be through natural processes or through the planting of seeds and trees in a deforested area.
- Eg. The reforestation of red pines in eastern Canada
- Related terms. restoration ecology, deforestation
-
Biocontrol
- The use of a certain species to control the population growth of another species or the spread of an undesirable species.
- Eg. Parasitiod introduced to eat the Gypsy Moth
-
Bioremediation
- The process of using living organisms to clean up contaminated areas naturally
- Eg. Bacteria used to break down oil from oil spills
- Related terms. Restoration ecology, Bioaugmentaion
-
Bioaugmentaion
- The use of organisms to add essential nutrients back into the soil of depleted soils.
- eg. clovers used to replenish nitrogen levels in soil
- related terms. Bioremediation, restoration ecology
|
|
