ConBio Final

Concepts & Terms List

Adaptive Management

flexible “learn as you go” approach where conservation strategies are adjusted based on ongoing monitoring and results

Agroecology/Agroecological Farming

Integration of farms into surrounding landcape to conserve/manage biodiversity

Artificial Insemination

sperm is manually introduced to assist breeding, often used in endangered species conservation

Assurance Colonies

captive populations maintained as a safeguard against extinction in the wild

Behavioral Training (and give examples)

teaching captive animals survival skills before release into the wild

• Ex: hunting, avoiding predators

• Ex: california condor and gloves

Bioremediation

using living organisms (like bacteria or plants) to clean up polluted environments

Biocontrol

using natural predators, parasites, or pathogens to control pest species

Buffer zones of reserves/refuges

areas surrounding protected zones where limited human activity is allowed to reduce pressure on core habitats

Coarse-filter scale biodiversity

conservation approach that protects entire ecosystems or habitats to indirectly conserve many species

Conversation networks

systems of protected areas connected across landscapes to allow species movement and genetic flow

Core area

most protected, least disturbed region w/in a conservation area

Core areas of reserves/refuges

strictly protected zones w/ minimal human interference, focused on preserving biodiversity

Diversified farming

agriculture systems that include a variety of crops/livestock to enhance resilience and biodiversity

Ecological corridors

natural or managed pathways that connect fragmented habitats and allow species movement

Ecological extinction

when a species is so reduced in number that it no longer plays a significant ecological role

Ecological restoration

assisting the recovery of degraded ecosystems to a more natural state

Edge effects

changes in population or environmental conditions at habitat boundaries

Emigrant

individual leaving a population

Ex-situ conservation

“Off-site conservation”

protecting species outside their natural habitat by removing part of the population and placing it in a new spot

Extinction vortex

downward spiral where small populations face increasing risks, leading to extinction

Extirpation

local extinction of a species in a specific area, though it exists elsewhere

Fine-filter scale biodiversity

conservation focusing on specific species, especially rare or endangered ones

Fragmentation

breaking large habitats into smaller, isolated patches

Habitat degradation

decline in habitat quality

Habitat destruction

complete loss of habitat

Habitat dissection

large habitat split into sections by barriers

Habitat perforation

habitat w/ small clearings or holes w/in it

Head-starting

raising young animals in captivity until they are less vulnerable, then releasing them

Hotspots

areas w/ exceptionally high biodiversity and high threat levels

Immigrant

individual entering a population

In-situ conservation

“On-site conservation”

protecting species w/in their natural habitats

Irreplaceability

uniqueness of a habitat or area that cannot be substituted if lost

Island biogeography

the study of species richness on “islands” (isolated habitats), influenced by size and distance

Land sparing farming

intensive agriculture in one area to leave other areas completely natural

Landscape corridors

broad habitat connections across large regions

Linear corridors

narrow strips of habitat connecting patches

Meta-populations

group of spatially separated populations that interact through migration or other forms of dispersal

Minimum Dynamic Area (MDA)

smallest area needed to maintain ecosystem processes and biodiversity

Minimum viable population (MVP)

smallest population size needed to survive long-term without extinction

Natural corridors

naturally occurring habitat connections

Novel ecosystems

“emerging ecosystems” comprise new species assemblages & are difficult to restore due to significant alterations

Organic farming

agriculture avoiding synthetic chemicals, emphasizing natural processes

Plasticity

ability of an organism to change its behavior, physiology, or traits in response to the environment

Population estimates

calculations of the number of indivs in a population

Population viability analysis (PVA)

a model used to predict the likelihood a species will persist over time

Protected areas

regions designated for conservation

Rarity

a species w/ low population size, limited range, or specialized habitat

Rehabilitation

restoring injured or displaced wildlife to health for release

Reintroduction

releasing a species into an area where it previously existed but disappeared after its fixed

Reinforcement

adding individuals to an existing popn to increase its size or genetic diversity

Relocation

moving organisms to a new area for conservation or safety

Remediation

cleaning or restoring damaged environments

Rescue effects

when immigration helps prevent a local population from going extinct

Resistance

the ability of an ecosystem to remain unchanged despite disturbance

Resilience

the ability of an ecosystem to recover after disturbance

Sink Populations

populations that decline w/o immigration (death rate exceeds birth rate)

SLOSS debate

“Single Large Or Several Small” reserves

• Debate over which better conserves biodiversity

Soft release

gradual release of animals w/ support (food, shelter) to improve survival

Source populations

Popns w/ surplus individuals that can disperse to other areas

Species-area relationship

larger areas tend to support more species

Stepping stone corridors

small habitat patches that species use to move between larger habitats

Sub-populations

smaller groups w/in a larger population, often separated geographically

Sustainably intensified farming

increasing agriculture output while minimizing environmental impact

Translocation

moving organisms from one location to another

Transition zones of reserves/refuges

outer areas where sustainable human activity is allowed alongside conservation

Trophic rewilding

restoring ecosystems by reintroducing key species (often large predators or herbivores) to rebuild food webs