The process where members of a species become more and more different, eventually resulting in two new species (E.g. Finches).
Parallel Evolution
The process by which a similar trait develops in related, but distinct, species (E.g. woolly mammoth and elephant).
In-Situ Conservation
Conservation that takes place in the natural habitat (E.g. protected sites or reserves, environmental management, restoration, etc)
Population Shift
A change in the relative numbers of the different groups of individuals making up a population.
Primary Consumer
Animal that eats the primary product for example grass or other flora (E.g. Rabbit, Hare, Wildebeest, Zebra, Antelope).
Speciation
Populations
that become isolated from each other evolving to become their
own distinct
species (E.g. Finches)
Migration
Seasonal movement of animals from one region to another.
Scale
The size of an ecosystem (E.g. Small = a pond / Large = a rainforest)
Dispersal
Moving from birthing site to their breeding site, or the movement from one breeding site to another.
Biotic
Relating to or resulting from living organisms (E.g Introduction of a non-native species, hunting, poaching, habitat destruction, diseases).
Fecundity
The fertility within a population and its ability to create an abundance of offspring.
Ecological Niche
The role or function of an organism within its ecosystem.
Ex-Situ Conservation
Conservation that takes place outside of the natural habitat (E.g. Zoos and collections, gene banks, colony relocation, research, education)
Habitat Destruction
The process by which a natural habitat becomes incapable of supporting its native species.
Community
A collection of different species living in the same area.
Convergent Evolution
The process by which unrelated organisms evolve similar physical characteristics (E.g. wings on a bird, bat, insect).
Dissolution
When a breeding pair of animals no longer interact with each other.
Secondary Consumer
Animal that eats a primary consumer (E.g. snake, fox, wild cat, bird of prey).
Genetic Variability
The likelihood of different genetic characteristics existing within a population.
Genetic Variability
The likelihood of different genetic characteristics existing within a population.
A Stochastic Event
An event that cannot be predicted (e.g. flood, drought, tsunami, earthquake)
Demes
An isolated subpopulation of a species, typically due to geographical separation.
Drought
A prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall, leading to a shortage of water.
Ecosystem
A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.
K Breeding Strategy
Heavy investment in each offspring, more commonly seen in long-lived organisms (e.g. elephants), with a longer period of maturation and heavy parental care.
Abiotic
Not derived from living organisms; physical rather than biological (E.g. Stochastic events, weather, temperature, sunlight).
Mortality
Death rate, measured by the number of deaths due to a specific cause.
R Breeding Strategy
Little to no investment of resources and parental care into offspring, but produces large numbers. Typically seen in pest organisms, such as rodents and insects
Emerging Diseases
Infections that have recently appeared within a population or whose incidence/geographic range is rapidly increasing or threatens to increase in the future.
Population Trend
Changes over time in the population. Can refer to various things, such as changes in dispersal, behaviour, mortality, natality.
Famine
An extreme shortage of food, leading to hunger or starvation.
Continuity in Time
A habitat or population with a long, uninterrupted presence.
Growth
The increase in a number of individuals in a population.
Metapopulation
A group of populations separated by space but that consists of the same species.
Seasonality
A characteristic of time in which there are regular and predictable changes that repeat over a one year period.
Natality
The birth rate of a population in comparison to the size of the population.
Resources
A substance or object required by an organism for growth, maintenance and reproduction (Flora = light, water, temperature) (Fauna = food, water, shelter).
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