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AdaptationAny feature of the organism or its parts, which is of definite significance in allowing that organism to exist under
the conditions of its habitat, is called adaptation.
Production Ecology and Ecological EnergeticThese branches of ecology deal with the
of dispersal etc.
period.
mechanisms and quantity of energy conversion and energy flow through different tropic levels in food chain
and rate of increase in organic weight of the organisms in space and time. The productivity is measured both in
gross and net values. The total organic production is called the gross production, and the actual gain, i.e. the gross
production minus the loss in respiration is termed as the net production, It includes the proper management of
different ecosystems so that the maximum yield can be obtained. e.g. agriculture and horticulture.
Radiation EcologyThe gross effect of radiation and radioactive substances over the
environment and living organisms.
Space EcologyIt is the modern subdivision of ecology. It is concerned with the development
of those ecosystems, which support life of man during space flights or during extended exploration of
extraterrestrial environment.
SpeciesA uniform interbreeding population spread over time and space.
Terrestrial EcologyIt is the study. of biomes and the organisms distributed therein. It
can further be differentiated into (i) forest ecology, (ii) cropland ecology and (iii) grassland
ecology.
VegetationCollection and continuous growth of plants in space is called vegetation. Thus
vegetation is the totality of plant growth including large or small populations of each species intermixed
in a region.
Bioticenvironmental factors that are nonliving components of ecosystems.
AbundanceThe total number of organisms in a biological community.
Acid precipitationThe deposition of wet acidic solutions or dry acidic particles from the
air and includes acid fog, snow, etc.
AerosolsSmall particles or droplets suspended in a gas.
Agricultural revolutionThe discovery of techniques for domesticating animals and
cultivating crop plants some 10,000 years ago.
AlpineThe high, treeless bio-geographic zone of mountains that consists of slopes above
the timberline.
AquifersPorous, water-bearing layers of sand, gravel and rock below the earths surface;
reservoirs for groundwater.
AutotrophyAn organism that synthesizes food molecules from inorganic molecules by
using an external energy source, such as light energy.
BioaccumulationThe selective absorption and concentration of molecules by cells.
BiocideA broad-spectrum poison that kills a wide range of organisms. Biodegradable plastics
Plastics that can be decomposed by microorganisms.
Bio-geographical areaAn entire self-contained natural ecosystem and its associated
land, water, air and wildlife resources.
Biological communityThe populations of plants, animals and microorganisms living
and interacting in a certain area at a given time.
Biological pestsOrganisms that reduce the availability, quality or value of resources
useful to humans.
Bio-magnificationIncrease in concentration of certain stable chemicals (e.g., heavy metals
or fat-soluble pesticides) in successively higher tropic levels of a food chain or web.
Biomass fuelOrganic material produced by plants, animals or microorganisms that can
be burned directly as a heat source or converted into gaseous or liquid fuel.
Biosphere reservesOur world heritage sites identified by the lUCN as worthy for national
park or wildlife refuge status because of high biological diversity or unique ecological features.
EutrophicationAn increase in biological productivity and ecosystem succession caused by human activities.
inundation.
open savannas.
Green revolutionDramatically increased agricultural production brought about by miracle strains of grain.
HabitatThe place or set of environmental conditions in which a particular organism lives.
HazardousDescribes chemicals that are dangerous, including flammables, explosives,
irritants, sanitizers, acids and caustics; may be relatively harmless in diluted concentrations.
HealthA state of physical and emotional well being the absence of disease or ailment..
HerbicideA chemical that kills plants.
HerbivoreAn
organism
that
eats
only
HeterotopyAn organism that is incapable of synthesizing its own food and, therefore,
must feed upon organic compounds produced by other organisms. Human resourcesHuman
wisdom, experience, skill, labour and enterprise.
Industrial revolutionAdvances in science and technology that have given us power to
understand and change our world.
InsecticideA chemical that kills insects.
plants.
Jet streamsPowerful winds or currents of air that circulate in shifting flows; similar to
oceanic currents in extent and effect on climate.
Land rehabilitationA utilitarian program to repair damage and make land useful to
humans.
LandfillsLand disposal sites for solid waste; operators compact refuse and cover it with
a layer of dirt to minimize rodent and insect infestation, wind-blown debris and leaching by rain.
MarineLiving in or pertaining to the sea.
MatterSomething that occupies space and has mass.
MetabolismAll the energy and matter exchanges that occur within a living cell or organism;
collectively, the life processes.
MineralA naturally occurring, inorganic, crystalline solid with definite chemical
composition and characteristic physical properties.
MitigationRepairing or rehabilitating a damaged ecosystem or compensating for damage
by providing a substitute or replacement area.
MutationA change, either spontaneous or by external factors, in the genetic material of
a cell; mutations in the gametes (sex cells) can be inherited by future generations of organisms.
NatalityThe production of new Individuals by birth, hatching, germination, or cloning.
Natural resourcesGoods and services supplied by the environment.
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)A term referring collectively to pressure and research groups,
advisory agencies, political parties, professional societies and other groups concerned about environmental quality,
resource use, and many other issues.
Sustainable developmentAn improvement in human well-being that allows us to meet the needs of the present without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Tectonic platesHuge blocks of the earths crust that slide around slowly, pulling apart to open new ocean basins or crashing ponderously
into each other to create new, larger landmasses.
TerracingShaping the land to create level shelves of earth to hold water and soil; requires extensive hand labour or expensive machinery but it
enables farmers to farm very steep hillsides.
Threatened speciesWhile still abundant in parts of its territorial range, this species has declined significantly in total numbers and may be on
the verge of extinction in certain regions or localities. .
Mountainsthe highest-altitude edge of forest that marks the beginning of the treeless alpine tundra.
TopsoilThe first true layer of soil; layer in which organic material is mixed with mineral particles; thickness ranges from a meter or more
under virgin prairie to zero in some deserts.
Transitional zoneA zone in which populations from two or more adjacent communities
PathogenAn organism that produces disease in a host organism, disease being an alteration
of one or more. metabolic functions in response to the presence of the organism.
PestAny organism that reduces the availability, quality or value of a useful resource.
Urban areaAn area in which a majority of the people are not directly dependent on natural resource-based occupations.
PesticideAny chemical that kills; controls, drives away or modifies the behaviour of a
pest.
UrbanizationAn increasing concentration of the population in cities and a transformation of land use to an urban pattern of
organization.
Vulnerable speciesNaturally rare organisms or species whose numbers have been so reduced by human activities that they
are susceptible to actions that could push them into threatened or endangered status.
PhotosynthesisThe biochemical process by which green plants and some bacteria capture
light energy and use it to produce chemical bonds. Carbon dioxide and water are consumed while
oxygen and simple sugars are produced.
Pioneer speciesIn primary succession on a terrestrial site, the plants, lichens and microbes
that first colonize the site.
PlanktonPrimarily microscopic organisms that occupy the upper water layers in both
freshwater and marine ecosystems.
PollutionTo make foul, unclean, dirty; any physical, chemical or biological change that
adversely affects the health, survival, or activities If living organisms or that alters the environment in
undesirable ways.
PopulationA group of individuals of the same species occupying a given area.
Population explosionGrowth of a population at exponential rates to a size that exceeds
environmental carrying capacity; usually followed by population crash.
Primary successionAn ecological succession that begins in an area where no biotic
community previously existed.
Water loggingWater saturation of soil that fills all air spaces and causes plant roots to die from lack of oxygen; a result of overirrigation.
Weather- Description of the physical conditions of the atmosphere (moisture, temperature, pressure, and wind).
WetlandsEcosystems of several types in which rooted vegetation is surrounded by standing water during part of the year.
WildlifePlants, animals and microbes that live independently of humans; plants, animals and microbes that are not
domesticated.
WoodlandA forest where tree crowns cover less than 20 percent of the ground; also called open canopy.
Zero population growth (ZPG)The numbers of births at which people are just replacing them; also called the
replacement level of fertility.