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17 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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biogeochemical cycle |
any of the various chemical cycles, which involve both biotic and abiotic components of the ecosystem |
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bioremediation |
the use of organisms to detoxify and restore polluted and degraded ecosystems |
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biological augmentation |
an approach to restoration ecology that uses organisms to add essential materials to a degraded ecosystem |
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conservation biology |
the integrated study of ecology, evolutionary biology, physiology, molecular biology, and genetics to sustain biological diversity at all levels |
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endangered species |
a species that is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range |
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threatened species |
a species that is considered likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future |
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introduced species |
a species moved by humans, either intentionally or accidentally, from its native location to a new geographic region; also called non-native or exotic species |
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extinction vortex |
a downward population spiral in which inbreeding and genetic drift combine to cause a small population shrink and, unless the spiral is reversed, become extinct |
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minimum viable population (MVP) |
the smallest population size at which a species is able to sustain its numbers and survive |
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effective population size |
an estimate of the size of a population based on the numbers of females and males that successfully breed; generally smaller than the total population |
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biodiversity hot spot |
a relatively small area with numerous endemic species and a large number of endangered and threatened species |
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zoned reserve |
an extensive region that includes areas relatively undisturbed by humans surrounded by areas that have been changed by human activity and are used for economic gain |
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critical load |
the amount of added nutrient, usually nitrogen or phosphorus, that can be absorbed by plants without damaging ecosystem integrity |
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biological magnification |
a process in which retained substances become more concentrated at each higher trophic level in a food chain |
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greenhouse effect |
the warming of Earth due to the atmospheric accumulation of carbon dioxide and certain other gases, which absorb reflected infared radiation and reradiate some of it back toward Earth |
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assisted migration |
the translocation of a species to a favorable habitat beyond its native range for the purpose of protecting the species from human-caused threats |
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sustainable development |
development that meets the needs of people today without limiting the ability of future generations to meet their needs |
