Question | Answer |
conservation biology | the integrated study of ecology, evolutionary biology, physiology, molecular biology, and genetics to sustain biological diversity at all levels |
endangered species | a species that is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range |
threatened species | a species that is considered likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future |
ecosystem services | a function performed by an ecosystem that directly or indirectly benefits humans |
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 |
Minimum Viable Population (MVP) | the smallest populations size at which a species is able to sustain its numbers and survive |
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 |
movement corridor | a series of small clumps or a narrow strip of quality habitat (usable by organisms) that connects otherwise isolated patches of quality habitat |
biodiversity hot spot | a relatively small area with numerous endemic species and a large number of endangered and threatened species |
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 |
urban ecology | the study of organisms and their environment in urban and suburban settings |
critical load | the amount of added nutrient, usually nitrogen or phosphorus that can be absorbed by plants without damaging ecosystem integrity |
biological magnification | a process in which retained substances become more concentrated at each higher trophic level in a food chain |
greenhouse effect | the warming of Earth due to the atmospheric accumulation of carbon dioxide and certain other gases, which absorb reflected infrared radiation and reradiate some of it back toward Earth |
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 |
sustainable development | development that meets the needs of people today without limiting the ability of future generations to meet their needs |