Abiotic Nonliving; often used to
refer to the nonliving components
of an ecosystem (such as climate
and temperature).Abundance The number
of a given species within an
ecosystem; an abundant species
is strongly represented within the
wider population.Acid rain Any form of precipitation
with high levels of acidity, causing
damage to the environment; may
occur naturally or as a result of
human activity.Anthropogenic Originating in,
or influenced by, human activity.Apex predator A predator that
is not prey for any other species.Atmosphere The layer of gases
surrounding Earth. It also protects
organisms from ultraviolet radition.Autotroph A producer; an
organism that makes its own food
from sources such as light, water,
and chemicals in the air.Behavioral ecology The study of
animal behavior and how ecological
pressures influence this.Biodegradable Usually used
in reference to waste products,
meaning something that can be
broken down by natural processes.Biodiversity The variety
of ecological life within a given
geographical area, encompassing
variety between and within species.Biogeography The study of how
plants and animals are distributed
geographically, and the changes
to this distribution over time.Biological community A
collection of living organisms
within one location; when
combined with their environment,
they make an ecosystem.Biomass The total quantity of a
given organism within a habitat,
generally expressed as weight or
volume. Also a type of fuel made
from organic matter, usually burned
to generate electricity.Biome An area of Earth that can
be classified according to the
species of plant and animal life
within it.Biosphere The layer of Earth
in which life can exist, situated
between the atmosphere and
lithosphere; the sum of all
ecosystems on the planet.Botany The scientific study
of plant life.Carnivore An organism which
eats only meat.Catastrophism The theory that
changes in Earth’s crust were
caused by dramatic and unusual
events, as opposed to gradual
change over time.Cells The smallest structural and
biological unit that can survive
on its own; the “building blocks”
of all life on Earth.Citizen science Scientific research
carried out by amateurs, typically
involving large-scale data collection.Climate change A shift in the
world’s interconnected weather
patterns; a gradual natural process
exacerbated by human actions.Climax A biological community
or ecosystem that has reached
a stable point, so that populations
of organisms will remain steady.
This is the end result of succession,
in which the type of species and
population sizes that make up
a community change over time.Climax species A plant species
that will not change as long as its
environment remains stable.Clutch size The number of eggs
laid in one birthing.Community ecology The study of
how species interact within a given
geographical space.Competitive exclusion
principle The idea that multiple
species reliant on exactly the same
resources cannot exist together
without one population rising and
the other falling, as one will always
have an advantage over another.Coniferous Describes trees with
seed cones which mostly do not
shed their needlelike leaves
during winter.Conservation The protection and
preservation of animal life, plant
life, and natural resources.GLOSSARY
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