- GLOSSARY -
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
B
Biodiversity: the variety/diversity of life in a given area; may describe diversity at the ecosystem, species, or genetic level
Biodiversity hotspot: a region where high levels of biodiversity (specifically, the region must have at least 1,500 endemic vascular plants) are currently threatened (only 30% or less of its original natural vegetation remains); read more at Conservation International
E
Ecosystem: a community of interacting, biological (living) organisms and their physical (non-living) environment in a given space
Endangered: describes a species at risk of extinction; noun: endangerment
Endemic: describes a species that is unique to a biogeographic region, i.e. it only exists on a particular island, mountain range, or part of a continent; noun: endemism
H
Herptile: a reptile or amphibian
I
Indigenous: a species that naturally occurs in a given region without human intervention; synonym: native
Invasive: describes a non-native species whose uncontrolled population growth and spread causes economic or environmental problems
N
Non-native: describes a species living or growing in an area that is not part of its native range; synonyms: alien, exotic, introduced
S
Species richness: the number of different species in a given area; does not describe how many individuals of each species are present
Symbiosis: a mutually beneficial relationship between two different species; adjective: symbiotic
T
Threatened: describes a species at risk of endangerment