FW104 Terms and Definitions - Fall 2026

Vocabulary flashcards covering ecological and wildlife management terms and definitions from FW104 Fall 2026.

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

ADDITIVE MORTALITY

A concept in which the effect of one kind of mortality is added to those of other sources of mortality

ADULT

An animal that has reached sexual maturity and is capable of reproduction

AGE STRUCTURE

Distribution of the number of individuals of various ages

AESTHETIC (esthetics)

Possessing qualities that are appreciated for their beauty or emotional values

AESTIVATION

The shutting down of metabolic processes during the summer in response to hot or dry conditions

ALLELE

One of two or more alternative forms of a gene that occupies the same relative position or locus on homologous chromosomes

NON-NATIVE Species

Any species, including its seeds, eggs, spores, or other biological material capable of propagating that species, that is not native to that ecosystem

ALTRICIAL

Born or hatched relatively undeveloped and remaining in the nest for a substantial period (vs. "precocial")

AMENSALISM

Relationship between two species where one is inhibited or harmed and one is unaffected

ANADROMOUS

Fish that begin life in freshwater, travel to and mature in the sea, and return to their native stream to reproduce

ANTHROPOMORPHIC

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

APHOTIC ZONE

No sunlight, no photosynthesis

AQUIFER

A subterranean layer of porous water-bearing rock, gravel, or sand

AUTOTROPHS

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

ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION

Reproduction (as cell division, spore formation, fission, or budding) without union of individuals or gametes

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")

BEFORE-AFTER-CONTROL-IMPACT (BACI) STUDY

Collection of data before and after an event to determine ecological impact

BENTHIC

Pertaining to the lowermost region of an aquatic system

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

BIOMES

Large, relatively distinct ecological systems characterized by particular climate, soil, plants, and animals

BIOSPHERE

Zone of air, land, and water where organisms exist

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 ($r_m$)

BIRTH OR NATALITY RATE

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

BROOD

A family of young birds from a single mother; sometimes applied to fish and reptiles

BYCATCH

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

CANDIDATE SPECIES

Species that warrant listing but are precluded by higher workload priorities

CATHEMERAL

Active at irregular intervals during both daytime and nighttime

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

CLIMATE FORCINGS

An event that can change the balance between incoming and outgoing energy in the climate system, both natural and anthropogenic

CLIMAX

"Final" stage of ecological succession that remains in dynamic equilibrium for a relatively long time

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

COHORT

A group of individuals in a population born during a particular time period, such as a year

COMMENSALISM

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

COMMUNITY

Coexisting, interdependent populations of different species

COMPENSATORY MORTALITY

The concept that one kind of mortality largely replaces another kind of mortality in animal populations, an animal dying from one cause (e.g., hunting or disease) cannot die from another cause (e.g., predation or starvation), so one source of mortality compensates for the other.

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!)

CONSERVATION BIOLOGY

An integrative approach to the protection and management of biodiversity

CONSERVATION EASEMENTS

Land essentially "donated to conservation-binding legal agreement not to develop the land (owner can still ranch, farm, recreate, etc.)

CONSUMERS OR HETEROTROPHS

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

COPROPHAGY

Feeding on feces, this in some species allows them to recover nutrients from their droppings that escaped initial digestion

COVER

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

CREPUSCULAR

Active during twilight, i.e., at dusk or at dawn

CRITICAL HABITAT

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

DECIMATING FACTORS

Immediate causes of death; often a result of limiting conditions or welfare factors (e.g., starvation, accidents, parasites, disease, predation, hunting)

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

DISEASE

Any deviation from normal state of health (e.g., malnutrition, infection, parasites, and deformities)

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)

DISTURBANCE

Periodic change, destruction, or removal of ecosystem components

DIURNAL

Active during daylight

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)

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

DISPHOTIC ZONE

Decreasing sunlight, little to no photosynthesis

ECOLOGY

Study of interrelationships among living systems, and their environments

ECOSYSTEM

The biotic community and its abiotic environment functioning as a system

ECOSYSTEM ENGINEERS

Organisms that directly or indirectly modulate the availability of resources to other species, by causing physical state changes in biotic or abiotic materials

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, water filtration, commerce, etc)

ECOTONE

Transition zone between two structurally different communities

EDGE

Place where two or more vegetation types meet (abundance & variety of wildlife is often great in edge)

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

ENTROPY

Disorder or randomness in any system

ENVIRONMENT

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

ENVIRONMENTAL DNA (eDNA)

Organismal DNA that can be found in the environment

ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS

Philosophical discipline that considers the moral and ethical relationship of human beings to the environment

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.

ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY

An individual’s understanding, skills and motivation to make responsible decisions that considers his or her relationships to natural systems, communities and future generations

ESTUARY

Highly productive zone that is partially enclosed, where freshwater and seawater meet and mix

ETHICS

Encompasses our moral principles and values into codes or systems -belief of what is right and wrong

EUPHOTIC ZONE

Sunlight penetrates (down 200 m), photosynthesis possible

EUTROPHICATION

Process of nutrient enrichment in aquatic ecosystems

EVOLUTION

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

EXOTIC

Species of wildlife or fish that are not native to an area but introduced

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

EXTINCTION

State of a species no longer represented by living individuals

FEATURED SPECIES

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

FECUNDITY

The physical capacity of a female to produce eggs/young; how many total eggs or offspring (does not consider fertile eggs or survival of offspring)

FERAL

A previously domestic animal that has become established in the wild (e.g., feral cats, feral horses)

FERTILITY

The potential capability of an organism to produce young capable of developing (more than just the total number); percent of eggs that are fertile

FITNESS

The relative ability of an individual or population to survive, reproduce, and pass on genetic material in an environment