fw104 vocab

ACTIVE MANAGEMENT

direct manipulation of animal populations (e.g., translocation, hunt)

ABIOTIC

nonliving components of the environment

ADAPTATION

genetically controlled structural, physiological, or behavioral characteristics that enhance the chances for members of a population to survive and reproduce in their environment

AESTHETIC (esthetics)

possessing qualities that are appreciated for their beauty or emotional values

ALLELE

one of two or more alternative forms of a gene that occupies the same relative position or locus on homologous chromosomes. In a diploid organism, each individual inherits one allele from each parent.

ANTHROPOMORPHIC

described or thought of as having a human form or human attributes; ascribing human characteristics to nonhuman things

AUTOTROPHS

producers; organisms that are capable of converting solar energy to chemical energy (sugar) by photosynthesis

BAG LIMIT

number of animals that can be taken in a unit of time, usually a day; called "creel limit" for anglers (e.g., "6 trout per day")

BIOACCUMULATION

increase or build-up of a chemical substance in an organism or part of an organism BIOMAGNIFICATION (bioamplification) - increase or build-up of a chemical substance in a food chain

BIODIVERSITY

diversity of life; includes genetic, species, community, and ecosystem diversity as well as ecological processes BIOLOGY -- study of living organisms and their vital processes (Webster)

BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES

movement of elements or compounds through living organisms and nonliving environments in a more or less circular pathway

BIOMASS

total quantity of living organisms per unit of space

BIOTA

all the plants and animals within an area or region

BIOTIC

life or act of living

BIOTIC POTENTIAL

maximum rate at which population can grow when no resources are limiting (rm)

BIRTH OR NATALITY RATE

number of births per number of individuals over a specified time period

BOTTOM-UP CONTROL

when the abundance of trophic groups in nature are determined by the amount of energy available from the producers in a community

BYCATCH

captured marine organisms, including fish, shellfish, oceanic birds, and marine mammals that are not the target species

CARNIVORES

organisms that feeds on animal tissue from all consumer levels

CARRYING CAPACITY (K)

maximum population size that a habitat can support (a characteristic of habitat)

CATADROMOUS

a fish that grows to sexual maturity in fresh water but migrates to the ocean for spawning

CHROMOSOMES

compact structures consisting of long strands of DNA that are wound around proteins

CODON

a series of three base pairs, code for a gene

COEVOLUTION

two or more species interacting over a long period of time that have a close ecological relationship, through reciprocal selective pressures, changes in one species can lead to changes in another

COMMENSALISM

interaction between two species where one species benefits and the other species is unaffected

COMMUNITY

coexisting, interdependent populations of different species

COMPETITION

interaction between individuals that share a required resource that is limited; between organisms of the same species is intraspecific and between organisms of different species is interspecific

CONSERVATION

sustained use of a resource (and so much more!)

CONSUMERS OR HETEROTROPHS

organisms, which obtain organic nutrients by feeding on dead or live tissues

COVER

any structural resource of the environment that enhances survival of an organism ( e.g., hiding or nesting cover)

CRITICAL HABITAT

specific geographic areas with physical and biological features essential to the conservation of a listed species

DENSITY

number of organisms per unit area

DENSITY-DEPENDENT FACTORS

factors that cause higher mortality or reduced birth rates as a population becomes more dense

DENSITY-INDEPENDENT FACTORS

factors that operate independent of population density

DETRITIVORES

organisms that feed on dead organic matter and waste products that are collectively known as detritus

DIPLOID

having two haploid sets of homologous chromosomes

DISPERSAL

movement of individuals from regions of birth or activity for another location (synonymous with emigration, i.e., a one- way movement)

DISPERSION

distribution of organisms within a population over an area (e.g., random, clumped or uniformly spaced)

DIURNAL

active during daylight

DNA

genetic code or blueprint for life; uses four types of molecules called bases (GACT)

ECOLOGY

study of interrelationships among living systems, and their environments

ECOSYSTEM

the biotic community and its abiotic environment functioning as a system

ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT

guardianship that emphasizes ecological systems as functional units for land and resource management and emphasizes the long-term sustainability of those systems - See Grumbine Handout

ECOSYSTEM SERVICES

processes through which ecosystems and their biota benefit humans (e.g., welfare factors, but also flood control, food production, commerce, etc)

EDGE EFFECT

response of organisms, animals in particular, to environmental conditions created by the edge

EMIGRATION

movement of part of a population permanently out of an area

EMIGRATION RATE

number of animals leaving the population over a specified time period

ENDANGERED

any species in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range; legally endangered when status is declared by U.S. Dept. of the Interior

ENVIRONMENT

the sum total of all physical and biological conditions of an organism's surroundings that may influence them

EVOLUTION

a change in allele frequency over time resulting from natural selection and producing cumulative changes in characteristics of a population

EXPONENTIAL GROWTH

a constant rate of growth applied to a continuously growing base over a period of time; population growth that exceeds the carrying capacity until population numbers saturate the habitat

FEATURED SPECIES

species selected for management emphasis because of their high value to humans

FECUNDITY

potential ability of an organism to produce eggs or young; rate of production of young by a female

FERTILITY

the potential capability of an organism to produce young; percent of eggs that are fertile

FOOD CHAIN

pathways over which energy flows through an ecosystem from green plants to consumer organisms at each trophic level

FOOD WEBS

network of complex feeding relationships, interlocking pattern formed by a series of interconnecting food chains

GENERALIST

species that can live anywhere and eat many different types of food

GENES

part of DNA that is usually located on a chromosome and that contains chemical information needed to make a particular protein controlling or influencing an inherited bodily trait

GENETIC VARIABILITY

amount by which individuals in a population differ from one another due to their genetic makeup

GENOTYPE

genetic constitution of an organism

HABITAT

place where an organism lives; suitable habitat must exist within an organism's environment; the habitat provides food, water, cover, and special needs; habitat is species specific

HABITAT COMPONENTS (welfare factors)

life requirements for healthy, productive wild animals; provided by the animal's habitat; (food, water, cover, space, oxygen in aquatic systems, special factors)

HAPLOID

having the gametic number of chromosomes or half the number characteristic of somatic cells

HERBIVORES

primary consumers (plant-eaters) that feed directly on producers

HETEROTROPH

organism that is unable to manufacture its own food from simple chemical compounds and consumes other organisms for its source of energy

HETEROZYGOUS TRAITS

have different alleles from each parent (Tt)

HOME RANGE

the total area occupied by an animal during its life cycle, that is the area required for feeding, breeding, and securing refuge

HOMOZYGOUS TRAITS

have identical alleles from each parent (TT or tt)

IMMIGRATION

arrival of new individuals into a given area or population (vs. "emigration" out of an area)

IMMIGRATION RATE

number of animals entering the population over a specified time period

INDICATOR SPECIES

species that indicate certain environmental conditions, seral stages, or treatments; can serve as an early warning that a community or an ecosystem is changing or being damaged

INVASIVE SPECIES

a non-native species whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health

KEYSTONE SPECIES

a species whose activities have a significant role in determining community structure

LAW OF THE MINIMUM

refers to limiting effects of availability of resources required by organisms

2nd Law of Thermodynamics

as food is passed from one organism to another, the potential energy contained in the food supply is reduced step by step until all the energy in the system becomes dissipated as heat

LAWS OF TOLERANCE (SHELFORD)

the presence and success of an organism depends on the extent to which a qualitative or quantitative deficiency or access of any one of several factors may approach the limits of tolerance for that organism

LEK

a site where birds (primarily grouse) traditionally gather for sexual display and courtship

LIFE HISTORY STRATEGY

r & K specialists use suites of reproductive adaptations to fit their environment. For example, r-selected species have many, smaller young with little or no parental care while K-selected species produce fewer, larger young that receive extended parental care.

LIMITING FACTOR

factor or condition greater than or outweighing other factors in limiting wildlife population growth

LOGISTIC GROWTH

growth of a population that approaches and remains near carrying capacity, rate of growth becomes zero or near zero (density dependence)

MANAGEMENT

manipulation of populations or habitats to achieve desired goals by people

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED YIELD

the largest number of fish or wildlife that can be removed without destroying a population's reproductive capability; ideal MSY is ½ K, but not always practical due to dynamic nature

MEIOSIS

the cellular process that results in the number of chromosomes in gamete-producing cells being reduced to one half and that involves a reduction division in which one of each pair of homologous chromosomes passes to each daughter cell and a mitotic division

MIGRATION

intentional, directional, usually seasonal movement of animals between two regions or habitats; round-trip journey

MITOSIS

a process that takes place in the nucleus of a dividing cell, involves typically a series of steps consisting of prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase, and results in the formation of two new nuclei each having the same number of chromosomes as the parent nucleus

MONOGAMY

mating of one male and one female for one reproductive cycle (serial), one season (annual), or life

MORTALITY OR DEATH RATE

proportion of a population dying per unit of time

MUTATIONS

random change (in DNA sequence) that makes up genes

MUTUALISM

a relationship between two species where both benefit

NATALITY

births; production of new individuals in a population

NATURAL HISTORY

biology, ecology, habits, and other characteristics of a species

NATURAL RESOURCE

product and/or experiences provided by the Earth that have values to humans (renewable and non- renewable)

NATURAL SELECTION

the process of genetically different individuals with a higher survival potential in a given environment leaving more progeny; differential survival and reproduction of organisms based on genetic differences

NICHE

functional role of a species in the community, including activities and relationships

FUNDAMENTAL NICHE

total range of environmental conditions under which a species can survive

REALIZED NICHE

portion of fundamental niche actually occupied by a species because of competition from populations of other species; environmental conditions under which a population survives and reproduces in nature

OMNIVORE

an animal that eats a varied diet of plants and animal matter

PASSIVE MANAGEMENT

no direct action is allocated toward the manipulation of wildlife populations, also called inactive management

PARASITISM

symbiotic relationship where the host is harmed and the parasite benefits

PHENOTYPE

physical expression of a characteristic of an organism as determined by genetic constitution and environment