Unit 2 Science Vocab Words

Distrubance

A disturbance is a temporary change in the environment that can affect a population or community, often caused by events such as natural disasters or human activities. Disturbances can alter the structure and function of ecosystems.

Resistance

The ability of an ecosystem or organism to withstand disturbances and recover from changes, maintaining its structure and function.

Resilience

The capacity of an ecosystem or organism to recover quickly from disturbances, returning to its original state or function.

Restoration ecology

The scientific study of repairing and restoring ecosystems that have been degraded or destroyed, aiming to return them to a healthy state.

Ecological succession

The process by which ecological communities change and develop over time, typically following a disturbance, leading to a stable ecosystem.

Primary Succession

The series of ecological changes that occur in an area where no soil exists, such as on bare rock, leading to the establishment of a stable ecosystem.

Secondary succession

The process of ecological succession that occurs in an area where a disturbance has destroyed an existing community but left the soil intact, allowing for the regrowth of organisms.

Species richness

The number of different species represented in a given ecological community, contributing to its biodiversity.

Species evenness

Refers to how evenly individuals are distributed among the various species in a community, indicating the relative abundance of each species.

Theory of island biogeography

A theory that explains the number of species found on islands based on island size and distance from mainland. It suggests that larger islands closer to the mainland have higher species diversity due to easier access and greater habitat variety.

Intermediate disturbance hypothesis

This hypothesis suggests that moderate levels of disturbance can promote greater species diversity in a community by preventing competitive exclusion and allowing less dominant species to thrive.

Evolution

The process through which species change over time due to genetic variation and natural selection, leading to adaptation and the formation of new species.

Mutation

A change in the DNA sequence of an organism's genome, which can lead to genetic diversity and potentially contribute to evolution.

Recombination

The genetic process by which DNA sequences are rearranged during meiosis, leading to new combinations of alleles in offspring.

Evolution by artificial selection

The process by which humans intentionally breed organisms for desired traits, resulting in changes in the genetic makeup of a population over successive generations.

Evolution by natural selection

The process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring. This mechanism drives the gradual change in species over time.

Fitness

The ability of an organism to survive and reproduce in its environment. Higher fitness increases the likelihood of passing genes to the next generation.

Adaptation

A trait that increases an organism's chances of survival and reproduction in a specific environment. Adaptations can be structural, behavioral, or physiological.

Gene Flow

The transfer of genetic material between populations, which can introduce new genetic variation. It affects the allele frequencies of a population over time.

Genetic Drift

The change in the frequency of a gene variant in a population due to random sampling of organisms. This can lead to significant changes in the genetic makeup of small populations over time.

Bottleneck effect

A severe reduction in population size due to environmental events or human activity, leading to reduced genetic diversity. This can result in increased inbreeding and loss of alleles.

Extinction

The permanent loss of a species from Earth, often due to environmental changes, habitat destruction, or human activities.

Founder effect

The genetic variation that results when a small group of individuals breaks off from a larger population to establish a new population. This phenomenon can lead to decreased genetic diversity and the prominence of certain traits.

Genetically modified organisms

(GMOs) are living organisms whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques to introduce desirable traits, such as resistance to pests or improved nutritional content.

Range of tolerance

The range of tolerance refers to the limits of environmental conditions that a species can withstand while maintaining a stable population. It includes factors such as temperature, humidity, and resource availability.

Fundamental niche

The fundamental niche is the full range of environmental conditions and resources where an organism can survive, grow, and reproduce, without the presence of competitors or predators.

Realized niche

is the actual conditions and resources in which a species exists, taking into account the effects of competition and predation. Dist

Distribution

refers to the way individuals of a species are spread out across a given area, influenced by environmental factors, resources, and interactions with other species.

Niche generalist

A species that can thrive in a variety of environmental conditions and utilize a wide range of resources, often adapting to different habitats.

Niche specialist

A species that has a narrow ecological niche, often requiring specific environmental conditions and resources to survive. M

mass extinction

A species that is susceptible to extinction due to specific habitat or resource needs, making it less adaptable to environmental changes or competition.

Threatened species

A species that is at risk of becoming endangered in the near future, typically due to declining population numbers or habitat loss.

Near-threatened species

A species that is close to qualifying as endangered or is at risk of becoming endangered in the foreseeable future, often facing specific threats to its population or habitat.

Least concern species

A species that is currently widespread and abundant, with low risk of extinction, and does not qualify for a threatened category.

Least concern species

Species that are abundant and stable in their populations, not facing significant threats. I

Intrinsic value

The inherent worth of a species or ecosystem, regardless of its usefulness to humans, reflecting the importance of biodiversity for its own sake.

Instrumental value

The value of a species or ecosystem based on its utility to humans, such as providing ecosystem services, resources, or economic benefits.

Provision

A benefit that humans obtain from ecosystems, including resources such as food, water, and raw materials.

Native species

Species that naturally occur in a specific region or ecosystem, having evolved there and adapted to the local environment.

Exotic species (alien species)

Species that are introduced to a new habitat outside their native range, often causing ecological disruption. I

Invasive species

Species that spread rapidly in a new environment, often harming native species and disrupting ecosystems.

Lacey Act

A U.S. law that prohibits the trade of wildlife, fish, and plants that have been illegally taken, possessed, transported, or sold, aiming to protect endangered species.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

An international agreement aimed at ensuring that international trade in wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.

Red List

An inventory of globally threatened species maintained by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), providing information on conservation status and threats. Marine

Marine Mammal Protection Act

A U.S. law enacted in 1972 that aims to protect marine mammals by prohibiting the taking of these animals in U.S. waters and by U.S. citizens. Endang

Endangered species

are species that are at risk of extinction due to loss of habitat, climate change, poaching, and other threats.

Convention on Biological Diversity

is an international treaty aimed at preserving biodiversity, promoting sustainable use of ecosystems, and ensuring fair sharing of genetic resources.

Biosphere reserve

A protected area that promotes conservation of biodiversity and cultural diversity through sustainable development, involving local communities.