Global Change Bio Chat 1-2 vocab

Anthropocene

Human activites are primarily changing the Earth’s climate and environment

Scientific Ecological Knowledge (SEK)

Knowledge generated through empirical observation, data collection, and experimentation; focuses on objectivity and measurable outcomes.

Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK)

Traditional Indigenous knowledge about the land, learned over generations, focused on caring for it and using it responsibly

Ways of Knowing

There are many ways to understand nature science, tradition, spirituality, or experience and each gives useful knowledge.

Interdisciplinary Science

A combination of multiple science fields (Ecology, Genetics, etc) to understand complex global change issues

Systems Thinking

Understanding ecosystems as interconnected, dynamic networks rather than isolated parts. Key to predicting feedback loops and indirect effects.

Feedback Loop

A process in which the output of a system influences its own operation (positive = amplifying change; negative = stabilizing).

Resilience

The capacity of an ecosystem to absorb disturbance and reorganize while retaining its essential functions.

Baseline Data

Reference information on natural conditions used to assess change over time.

Abiogenesis

The process by which life arose naturally from non-living matter on early Earth.

Evolutionary Forces

Mechanisms driving genetic and species-level change like mutation, gene flow, natural selection, and genetic drift.

Natural Selection

Species with more favorable traits survive and reproduce, while those with less favorable traits die off.

Adaptation

A trait that an organism can pass to its offspring that helps it survive or reproduce better in its environment.

Fitness

The reproductive success of an organism relative to others in its population.

Biodiversity

The variety of life across all levels (genes, species, ecosystems). Central to the study of global change impacts.

Speciation

Formation of new species through reproductive isolation and genetic divergence.

Extinction

The permanent loss of a species due to both natural and human-accelerated causes.

Ecological Niches

The functional role of an organism within an ecosystem (it’s habitat, food source, and interactions with other species)

Equilibrium Ecology

Stable balance between species and environment

Non-Equilibrium Ecology

Constant change due to disturbance and feedbacks loops.

Disturbance Ecology

The study of how disruptions (fires, floods, human activity) influence diversity and shape community structure.

Sucession

how ecosystems recover after disturbance (natural or human caused), starting with pioneer species (fast growing, short lived) and ending with climax species(slow growing but long lived).