Wildlife Ecology

ABIOTIC

Nonliving components of the environment.

ACCLIMATION

An environmentally induced change through long-term exposure in an individual’s physiological rate or ability to perform a function.

ACTIVE MANAGEMENT

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

ADAPTATION

Genetically controlled structural, physiological, or behavioral characteristics that enhance the survival and reproduction of a population.

ADDITIVE MORTALITY

Concept where the effect of one type of mortality is added to others.

AGE STRUCTURE

Distribution of the number of individuals of various ages in a population.

AESTHETIC

Possessing qualities appreciated for beauty or emotional value.

AESTIVATION

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

ALLELE

One of two or more alternative forms of a gene at the same relative position on homologous chromosomes.

ALTRICIAL

Born or hatched relatively undeveloped and remaining in the nest for a substantial period.

AMENSALISM

Relationship where one species is inhibited or harmed while the other is unaffected.

ANADROMOUS

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

ANTHROPOMORPHIC

Describing nonhuman things as having human form or attributes.

AQUIFER

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

AUTOTROPHS

Producers; organisms that convert solar energy to chemical energy through photosynthesis.

BAG LIMIT

Number of animals that can be taken in a unit of time, usually a day.

BENTHIC

Pertaining to the lowermost region of an aquatic system.

BIOACCUMULATION

Increase or build-up of a chemical substance in an organism.

BIOMAGNIFICATION

Increase of a chemical substance in a food chain.

BIODIVERSITY

Diversity of life, including genetic, species, community, and ecosystem diversity.

BIOLOGY

The study of living organisms and their vital processes.

BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES

Movement of elements or compounds through living organisms and nonliving environments.

BIOMASS

Total quantity of living organisms per unit of space.

BIOMES

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

BIOTA

All the plants and animals within an area.

BIOTIC

Relating to life or the act of living.

BIOTIC POTENTIAL

Maximum rate at which a population can grow when no resources are limiting.

BIRTH OR NATALITY RATE

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

BOTTOM-UP CONTROL

When the abundance of trophic groups is determined by energy from producers.

BROOD

A family of young birds from a single mother.

BYCATCH

Captured marine organisms that are not the target species.

CARNIVORES

Organisms that feed on animal tissue.

CARRYING CAPACITY (K)

Maximum population size that a habitat can support.

CATADROMOUS

Fish that grow in freshwater but migrate to the ocean for spawning.

CHROMOSOMES

Compact structures of DNA wound around proteins.

CLIMATE FORCINGS

Events that change the balance of incoming and outgoing energy in the climate system.

CLIMAX

Final stage of ecological succession in dynamic equilibrium.

CODON

A series of three base pairs that code for a gene.

COEVOLUTION

Two or more species evolving together due to reciprocal selective pressures.

COHORT

A group of individuals in a population born during a specific time period.

COMMENSALISM

Interaction where one species benefits and the other is unaffected.

COMMUNITY

Coexisting, interdependent populations of different species.

COMPENSATORY MORTALITY

The concept that one kind of mortality replaces another in populations.

COMPETITION

Interaction between individuals that share a limited resource.

CONSERVATION

Sustained use of a resource.

CONSERVATION BIOLOGY

Approach to the protection and management of biodiversity.

CONSUMERS OR HETEROTROPHS

Organisms that obtain organic nutrients by feeding on other organisms.

COPROPHAGY

Feeding on feces to recover nutrients from droppings.

COVER

Structural resources of the environment that enhance survival.

CREPUSCULAR

Active during twilight.

CRITICAL HABITAT

Specific areas essential for conservation of a listed species.

DECIMATING FACTORS

Immediate causes of death often due to limiting conditions.

DENSITY

Number of organisms per unit area.

DENSITY-DEPENDENT FACTORS

Factors causing higher mortality as population density increases.

DENSITY-INDEPENDENT FACTORS

Factors that operate independently of population density.

DETRITIVORES

Organisms that feed on dead organic matter and waste.

DIPLOID

Having two haploid sets of homologous chromosomes.

DISEASE

Deviation from normal health.

DISPERSAL

Movement of individuals from regions of birth to another location.

DISPERSION

Distribution of organisms within a population.

DISTURBANCE

Periodic change or removal of ecosystem components.

DIURNAL

Active during daylight.

DNA

Genetic code or blueprint for life.

ECOLOGY

Study of interrelationships among living systems and their environments.

ECOSYSTEM

Biotic community and its abiotic environment functioning as a system.

ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT

Guardianship emphasizing ecological systems for land and resource management.

ECOSYSTEM SERVICES

Processes through which ecosystems benefit humans.

ECOTONE

Transition zone between two different communities.

EDGE

Place where two vegetation types meet.

EDGE EFFECT

Response of organisms to conditions created by an edge.

EMIGRATION

Movement of part of a population permanently out of an area.

EMIGRATION RATE

Number of animals leaving a population over a specified time.

ENDANGERED

Any species in danger of extinction throughout a significant portion of its range.

ENTROPY

Disorder or randomness in a system.

ENVIRONMENT

Total physical and biological conditions influencing an organism.

ESTUARY

Highly productive zone where fresh and saltwater meet.

EUTROPHICATION

Process of nutrient enrichment in aquatic ecosystems.

EVOLUTION

Change in allele frequency over time due to natural selection.

EXOTIC

Species introduced to an area, not native.

EXPONENTIAL GROWTH

Constant growth rate applied to a continuously growing base.

EXTINCTION

State of a species no longer represented by living individuals.

FEATURED SPECIES

Species selected for management due to their high value to humans.

FECUNDITY

Potential ability of an organism to produce young.

FERAL

Previously domestic animals established in the wild.

FERTILITY

Potential capability of an organism to produce young.

FOOD CHAIN

Pathways for energy flow from producers to consumers.

FOOD WEBS

Network of complex feeding relationships in an ecosystem.

FRAGMENTATION

Reduction of a large habitat into small, scattered remnants.

FRY

Larval fish that become fingerlings in their first year.

GENERALIST

Species that can thrive in various habitats and diets.

GENES

Part of DNA containing information for protein production.

GENETIC VARIABILITY

Differences among individuals in a population due to genetic makeup.

GENOTYPE

Genetic constitution of an organism.

GESTATION

The embryo development period within a mammal's uterus.

GRAVID

Term for females containing ripening eggs.

HABITAT

Place where an organism lives, providing food and cover.

HABITAT COMPONENTS

Life requirements for healthy wild animals provided by habitat.

HABITAT FRAGMENTATION

Breaking up of contiguous wildlife habitat.

HAPLOID

Having half the number of chromosomes characteristic of somatic cells.

HERBIVORES

Primary consumers that feed on producers.