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A
abiotic Not derived from living things.
acid rain Rainwater that has become acidic due to air pollution.
adaptive management Implementing a management plan and monitoring how well it works, then using the results to adjust the management plan.
Aichi Biodiversity Targets A list of goals to achieve sustainability and the protection of biodiversity developed by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
Allee effect Inability of a species’ social structure to function once a population of that species falls below a certain number or density of individuals.
alleles Different forms of the same gene (e.g., different alleles of the genes for certain blood proteins produce the different blood types found among humans).
alpha diversity The number of different species in a community or specific location; species richness.
amenity value Recreational value of biodiversity, including ecotourism.
anthropogenic Originating from human sources.
arboretum Specialized botanical garden focusing on trees and other woody plants.
artificial incubation Conservation strategy that involves humans taking care of eggs or newborn animals.
artificial insemination Introduction of sperm into a receptive female animal by humans; used to increase the reproductive output particularly of endangered species.
B
background extinction rates The rate of species loss expected to occur in the absence of human impact.
beneficiary value See bequest value.
bequest value The benefit people receive by preserving a resource or species for their children and descendants or future generations and quantified as the amount people are willing to pay for this goal. Also known as beneficiary value.
beta diversity Rate of change of species composition along a gradient or transect.
binomial The unique two-part Latin name taxonomists bestow on a species, such as Canis lupus (gray wolf) or Homo sapiens (humans).
bioblitz A one-day event in which scientists and citizen scientists perform an intensive biological survey of a designated area in a short time with the goal of documenting all living species in that area.
biocontrol The use of one type of organism, such as an insect, to manage another, undesirable, species, such as an invasive plant.
biocultural restoration Restoring lost ecological knowledge to people to give them an appreciation of the natural world.
biodiversity The complete range of species, biological communities, and their ecosystem interactions and genetic variation within species. Also known as biological diversity.
biodiversity indicators Species or groups of species that provide an estimate of the biodiversity in an area when data on the whole community are unavailable. Also known as surrogate species.
biodiversity offsets See compensatory mitigation.
biological community A group of species that occupies a particular locality.
biological control The use of one living organism to reduce the numbers of another, pest species. See biocontrol.
biological definition of species Among biologists, the most generally used of several definitions of “species.” A group of individuals that can potentially breed among themselves in the wild and that do not breed with individuals of other groups. Compare with morphological definition of species.
biological diversity See biodiversity.
biomagnification Process whereby toxins become more concentrated in animals at higher levels in the food chain.
biophilia The postulated predisposition in humans to feel an affinity for the diversity of the living world.
biopiracy Collecting and using biological materials for commercial, scientific, or personal use without obtaining the necessary permits.
bioprospecting Collecting biological materials as part of a search for new products.
bioregional management Management system that focuses on a single large ecosystem or a series of linked ecosystems, particularly where they cross political boundaries.
bioremediation The use of an organism to clean up pollutants, such as bacteria that break down the oil in an oil spill or wetland plants that take up agricultural runoff to clean the water.
biosphere reserves Protected areas established as part of a United Nations program to demonstrate the compatibility of biodiversity conservation and sustainable development to benefit local people.
biota A region’s plants and animals.
biotic Related to living things.
Bonn Convention Treaty to protect European species, particularly migratory species. Also called the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals.
bushmeat Meat from any wild animal.
C
carnivores An animal species that consumes other animals to survive. Also called a secondary consumer or predator. Compare with primary consumers.
carrying capacity The number of individuals or biomass of a species that an ecosystem can support.
census A count of the number of individuals in a population.
co-management Local people working as partners with government agencies and conservation organizations in protected areas.
commodity values See direct use values.
common-property resources Natural resources that are not controlled by individuals but collectively owned by society. Also known as open-access resources or common-pool resources.
community-based conservation (CBC) Protection of natural areas and resources that is controlled, owned, and/or managed by the local people; an alternative to government-based conservation.
community conserved areas Protected area managed and sometimes established by local people.
compensatory mitigation When a new site is created or rehabilitated in compensation for a site damaged or destroyed elsewhere. Also known as biodiversity offset.
competition A contest between individuals or groups of animals for resources. Occurs when individuals or a species use a limiting resource in a way that prevents others from using it.
conservation banking A system involving developers paying landowners for the preservation of an endangered species or protected habitat type (or even restoration of a degraded habitat) to compensate for a species or habitat that is destroyed elsewhere.
conservation biology Scientific discipline that draws on diverse fields to carry out research on biodiversity, identify threats to biodiversity, and play an active role in the preservation of biodiversity.
conservation concessions Methods of protecting land whereby a conservation organization pays a government or other landowner to preserve habitat rather than allow an extractive industry to damage the habitat.
conservation corridors Connections between protected areas that allow for dispersal and migration. Also known as habitat corridors or movement corridors.
conservation covenants See conservation easements.
conservation development See limited development.
conservation easements (CEs) Method of protecting land in which landowners give up the right to develop or build on their property, often in exchange for financial or tax benefit.
conservation genetics The use of genetic information to address issues within conservation biology.
conservation leasing Providing payments to private landowners who actively manage their land for biodiversity protection.
conservation translocations The deliberate placement of organisms to benefit the survival of a population, species, and/or ecosystem.
consumptive use value Value assigned to goods that are collected and consumed locally.
Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage See World Heritage Convention.
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) A treaty that obligates countries to protect the biodiversity within their borders and gives them the right to receive economic benefits from the use of that biodiversity.
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) The international treaty that establishes lists (known as Appendices) of species for which international trade is to be prohibited, regulated, or monitored.
Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) See Bonn Convention.
cost–benefit analysis Comprehensive analysis that compares values gained against the costs of a project or resource use.
cost–effectiveness analysis An alternative to cost–benefit analysis that compares the impact (financial and otherwise) and costs of alternative means of accomplishing an objective, such as the protection of a species.
cross-fostering Conservation strategy in which individuals from a common species raise the offspring of a rare, related species.
cryptic species Two or more species that have similar appearance but that are genetically distinct.
cultural eutrophication Algal blooms and associated impacts caused by excess mineral nutrients released into the water from human activity.
D
debt-for-nature swaps Agreements in which a developing country agrees to fund additional conservation activities in exchange for a conservation organization canceling some of its discounted debt.
decomposers A species that feeds or grows on dead plant and animal material. Also called a detritivore.
deep ecology Philosophy emphasizing biodiversity protection, personal lifestyle changes, and working toward political change.
de-extinction The process of bringing an extinct species back to life in some way using modern genetic technology or through selective breeding.
degazettement Government actions taken to remove the legal status of protected areas.
demographic stochasticity Random variation in birth, death, and reproductive rates in small populations, sometimes causing further decline in population size. Also called demographic variation.
demographic studies Studies in which individuals and populations are monitored over time to determine rates of growth, reproduction, and survival.
demographic variation See demographic stochasticity.
described species A species that is officially characterized and identified by science.
detritivores See decomposers.
direct use values Value assigned to products, such as timber and animals, that are harvested and directly used by the people who harvest them. Also known as commodity value or private goods.
DNA barcoding A method of species identification using DNA and other genetic technology.
E
Earth Summit An international conference held in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro that resulted in new environmental agreements. Also known as the Rio Summit.
ecocolonialism Practice of governments and conservation organizations disregarding the land rights and traditions of local people in order to establish new conservation areas.
ecological economics Discipline that includes valuations of biodiversity in economic analyses.
ecological footprint The influence a group of people has on both the surrounding environment and locations across the globe as measured by global hectares per person.
ecologically extinct A species that has been so reduced in numbers that it no longer has a significant ecological impact on the biological community. See functionally extinct.
ecological resilience A natural ability to recover after disturbance.
ecological restoration Altering a site to reestablish an indigenous ecosystem.
ecological succession A predictable, gradual, and progressive change in species over time.
economic development Economic activity focused on improvements in efficiency and organization but not necessarily on increases in resource consumption.
economic growth Economic activity characterized by increases in the amount of resources used and in the amount of goods and services produced.
economics The study of factors affecting the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.
ecosystem A biological community together with its associated physical and chemical environment.
ecosystem diversity The variety of ecosystems present in a place or geographic area.
ecosystem engineers Species that modify the physical structure of an ecosystem.
ecosystem management Large-scale management that often involves multiple stakeholders, the primary goal of which is the preservation of ecosystem components and processes.
ecosystem services Range of benefits provided to people from ecosystems, including flood control, clean water, and reduction of pollution.
ecotourism Tourism, especially in developing countries, focused on viewing unusual and/or especially charismatic biological communities and species that are unique to a country or region.
edge effects Altered environmental and biological conditions at the edges of a fragmented habitat.
effective population size (Ne) The number of breeding individuals in a population.
effect size A statistical term that refers to the magnitude of an impact of interest.
embryo transfer The surgical implantation of embryos into a surrogate mother; used to increase the number of individuals of a rare species, with a common species used as the surrogate mother.
Endangered Species Act (ESA) An important US law passed to protect endangered species and the ecosystems in which they live.
endemic Occurring in a place naturally, without the influence of people (e.g., gray wolves are endemic to Canada).
endemic species Species found in one place and nowhere else (e.g., the many lemur species found only on the island of Madagascar).
endemism The ecological state of being endemic.
environmental DNA (eDNA) DNA shed into the environment by organisms and that is detected with genetic techniques.
environmental economics Discipline that examines the economic impacts of environmental policies and decisions.
environmental ethics Discipline of philosophy that articulates the intrinsic value of the natural world and people’s responsibility to protect the environment.
environmental impact assessments Evaluation of a project that considers its possible present and future impacts on the environment.
environmentalism A widespread movement, characterized by political activism, with the goal of protecting the natural environment.
environmental justice Movement that seeks to empower and assist poor and politically weak people in protecting their own environments; their well-being and the protection of biological diversity are enhanced in the process.
environmental stochasticity Random variation in the biological and physical environment. Can increase the risk of extinction in small populations.
eutrophication Process of degradation in aquatic environments caused by nitrogen and phosphorus pollution and characterized by algal blooms and oxygen depletion.
evolution Genetic changes over time in a population that sometimes can result in a new species.
evolutionary definition of species A group of individuals that share unique similarities of their DNA and hence their evolutionary past.
existence value The benefit people receive from knowing that a habitat or species exists and quantified as the amount that people are willing to pay to prevent species from being harmed or going extinct, habitats from being destroyed, and genetic variation from being lost.
ex situ conservation Preservation of species under artificial conditions, such as in zoos, aquariums, and botanical gardens.
extant Presently alive; not extinct.
externalities Hidden costs or benefits that result from an economic activity to individuals or a society not directly involved in that activity.
extinct The condition in which no members of a species are currently living.
extinct in the wild A species no longer found in the wild, but individuals may remain alive in zoos, botanical gardens, or other artificial environments.
extinction cascade A series of linked extinctions whereby the extinction of one species leads to the extinction of one or more other species.
extinction debt When an ecosystem has more species than can be supported by the habitat, following habitat destruction and fragmentation, and some of those species are predicted to go locally extinct.
extinction vortex Tendency of small populations to decline toward extinction.
extirpated Local extinction of a population, even though the species may still exist elsewhere.
extractive reserve Protected area in which sustainable extraction of certain natural products is allowed.
F
fieldwork Observations and data collection in the natural environment.
flagship species A species that captures public attention; aids in conservation efforts, such as establishing a protected area; and may be crucial to ecotourism.
focal species A species that provides a reason for establishing a protected area.
food chains Specific feeding relationships between species at different trophic levels.
food web A network of feeding relationships among species.
founder effect Reduced genetic variability that occurs when a new population is established (“founded”) by a small number of individuals.
four Rs Guidelines used by conservation biologists when designing nature reserves: representation, resiliency, redundancy, and reality.
frontier forest Intact blocks of undisturbed forest large enough to support all aspects of biodiversity.
functional diversity The diversity of organisms categorized by their ecological roles or traits rather than their taxonomy.
functionally extinct The state in which a species persists at such reduced numbers that its effects on the other species in its community are negligible. See ecologically extinct.
G
gamma diversity The number of species in a large geographic area.
gap analysis Comparing the distribution of endangered species and biological communities with existing and proposed protected areas to determine gaps in protection.
gene flow The movement of genes from one population to another through movement of individuals or gametes.
gene pool The total array of genes and alleles in a population.
genes Units (DNA sequences) on a chromosome that code for specific proteins. Also called loci.
genetically modified organisms (GMOs) Organisms whose genetic code has been altered by scientists using recombinant DNA technology.
genetic diversity The range of genetic variation found within a species.
genetic drift Loss of genetic variation and change in allele frequencies that occur by chance in small populations.
genetic monitoring A method that uses DNA and other genetic techniques to measure presence and abundance species and to detect rates of inbreeding or immigration among populations.
genetic rescue The practice of intentional introduction of genetic variation into the population of a rare species to keep it from extinction.
genetic structure Patterns of genotypes within and among populations.
genome resource banking (GRB) Collecting DNA, eggs, sperm, embryos, and other tissues from species that can be used in breeding programs and scientific research.
genotype Particular combination of alleles that an individual possesses.
geographic information systems (GIS) Computer analyses that integrate and display spatial data; relating in particular to the natural environment, ecosystems, species, protected areas, and human activities.
Global Environment Facility (GEF) A large international program involved in funding conservation activities in developing countries.
globalization The increasing interconnectedness of the world’s economy.
globally extinct No individuals are presently alive anywhere.
gray literature Written material, especially reports, produced by government agencies and conservation organizations that is not published in scientific journals.
greenhouse effect Warming of the Earth caused by carbon dioxide and other “greenhouse gases” in the atmosphere that allow the sun’s radiation to penetrate and warm the Earth but prevent the heat generated by sunlight from re-radiating. Heat is thus trapped near the surface, raising the planet’s temperature.
greenhouse gases Gases in the atmosphere, primarily carbon dioxide, that are transparent to sunlight but that trap heat near the Earth’s surface.
guild A group of species at the same trophic level that use approximately the same environmental resources.
H
habitat The location or type of environment in which a specific animal or plant species lives.
habitat conservation plans (HCPs) Regional plans that allow development in designated areas while protecting biodiversity in other areas.
habitat corridors See conservation corridors.
habitat fragmentation The process whereby a large, continuous area of habitat is both reduced in area and divided into two or more fragments.
habitat islands Intact habitat surrounded by an unprotected matrix of inhospitable terrain.
hard release In the establishment of a new population, when individuals from an outside source are released in a new location without assistance. Compare with soft release.
healthy ecosystem Ecosystem in which processes are functioning normally, whether or not there are human influences.
herbivores A species that eats plants or other photosynthetic organisms. Also called a primary consumer.
herbivory Predation on plants.
heterozygous Condition of an individual having two different allele forms of the same gene.
homozygous Condition of an individual having two identical allele forms of the same gene.
hotspots Regions with numerous species, many of which are endemic, that are also under immediate threat from human activity.
hybridize Interbreeding between different species.
hybrids Intermediate offspring resulting from mating between individuals of two different species.
I
inbreeding depression Lowered reproduction or production of weak offspring following mating among close relatives or self-fertilization.
indicator species Species used in a conservation plan to identify and often protect a biological community or set of ecosystem processes.
indirect use values Values provided by biodiversity that do not involve harvesting or destroying the resource (such as water quality, soil protection, recreation, and education). Also known as public goods.
in situ conservation Preservation of natural communities and populations of endangered species in the wild.
insular biogeography A subdiscipline of biogeography devoted to exploring species diversity on island and in isolated natural communities.
integrated conservation development projects (ICDPs) Conservation projects that also provide for the economic needs and welfare of local people.
integrated pest management An approach to controlling undesirable plants or animals that has the goal of minimizing harm to the ecosystem and people, while being cost-effective.
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) See IUCN.
intrinsic value Value of a species and other aspects of biodiversity for their own sake, unrelated to human needs.
introduction program Moving individuals to areas outside their historical range in order to create a new population of an endangered species.
invasive A species that increases in abundance, often because of human changes to the environment, and thereby threatens native species through competition, predation, or by changing ecosystem properties or dynamics.
island biogeography model Formula for the relationship between island size and the number of species living on the island; the model can be used to predict the impact of habitat destruction on species extinctions, viewing remaining habitat as an “island” in the “sea” of a degraded ecosystem.
IUCN International Union for the Conservation of Nature is a major international conservation organization; previously known as The World Conservation Union.
K
keystone resources Any resource in an ecosystem that is crucial to the survival of many species; for example, a watering hole.
keystone species A species that has a disproportionate impact (relative to its numbers or biomass) on the organization of a biological community. Loss of a keystone species may have far-reaching consequences for the community.
L
land ethic Aldo Leopold’s philosophy advocating human use of natural resources that is compatible with or even enhances ecosystem health.
landraces A variety of crop that has unique genetic characteristics; local species that have been adapted by humans over time.
landscape ecology Discipline that investigates patterns of habitat types and their influence on species distribution and ecosystem processes.
land sharing Land use that combines resource use and conservation.
land sparing Land that is protected when other lands are used more intensively.
land trusts Conservation organizations that protect and manage land.
legal title The right of ownership of land, recognized by a government and/or judicial system; traditional people often struggle to achieve this recognition.
limited development Compromise involving a landowner, a property developer, and a conservation organization that combines some development with protection of the remaining land.
limiting resource Any requirement for existence whose presence or absence limits a population’s size. In the desert, for example, water is a limiting resource.
Living Planet Index A measure of the conservation status of species, based on the IUCN categories.
locally extinct A species that no longer exists in a place where it used to occur, but still exists elsewhere.
loci (singular, locus) See genes.
M
management plans A statement of how to protect biodiversity in an area, along with methods for implementation.
market failure Misallocation of resources in which certain individuals or businesses benefit from using a common resource, such as water, the atmosphere, or a forest, but other individuals, businesses, or the society at large bears the cost.
meta-analysis A statistical tool that combines data from multiple sources.
metapopulation Shifting mosaic of populations of the same species linked by some degree of migration; a “population of populations.”
microplastics Particles of plastic debris in oceans, the atmosphere, or on land that are less than 5mm long that originate from consumer products and industrial waste.
minimum dynamic area (MDA) Area needed for a population to have a high probability of surviving into the future.
minimum viable population (MVP) Number of individuals necessary to ensure a high probability that a population will survive a certain number of years into the future.
mitigation Process by which a new population or habitat is created to compensate for a habitat damaged or destroyed elsewhere.
morphological definition of species A group of individuals, recognized as a species, that is morphologically, physiologically, or biochemically distinct from other groups. Compare with biological definition of species.
morphospecies Individuals that are probably a distinct species based on their appearance but that do not currently have a scientific name.
movement corridors See conservation corridors.
multiple-use habitat An area managed to provide a variety of goods and services.
mutations Changes that occur in genes and chromosomes, sometimes resulting in new allele forms and genetic variation.
mutualism When two species benefit each other by their relationship.
N
national environmental fund (NEF) A trust fund or foundation that uses its annual income to support conservation activities.
natural history The ecology and distinctive characteristics of a species.
nonconsumptive use value Value assigned to benefits provided by some aspect of biodiversity that does not involve harvesting or destroying the resource (such as water quality, soil protection, recreation, and education).
nonpoint source pollution Pollution coming from a general area rather than a specific site.
non-use values Values of something that is not presently used; for example, existence value.
normative discipline A discipline that embraces ethical commitment rather than ethical neutrality.
novel ecosystems Ecosystems in which there is a mixture of native and nonnative species coexisting in a community unlike the original or reference site.
O
official development assistance (ODA) International aid by developed countries to developing countries intended to promote economic development.
omnivores Species that eat both plants and animals.
open-access resources Natural resources that are not controlled by individuals but are collectively owned by society.
option value Value of biodiversity in providing possible future benefits for human society (such as new medicines).
P
parasites Organisms that live on or in another organism (host), receiving nutritive benefit while decreasing the fitness of the host, which remains alive.
Paris Accord An agreement made in Paris in 2015 by 195 nations to lower greenhouse gas emissions with the goal of preventing atmospheric temperatures from increasing more than 2°C.
passive restoration Letting an ecosystem recover on its own.
pathogens Disease-causing organisms.
payments for ecosystem services (PES) Direct payments to individual landowners and local communities that protect species or critical ecosystem characteristics.
peer-reviewed The content has been critically evaluated by experts before it is published.
perverse subsidies Government payments or other financial incentives to industries that result in environmentally destructive activities.
phenotype The morphological, physiological, anatomical, and biochemical characteristics of an individual that result from the expression of its genotype in a particular environment.
polymorphic genes Within a population, genes that have more than one form or allele.
population A geographically defined group of individuals of the same species that mate and otherwise interact with one another. Compare with metapopulation.
population biology Study of the ecology and genetics of populations, often with a focus on population numbers.
population bottleneck A radical reduction in population size (e.g., following an outbreak of infectious disease), sometimes leading to the loss of genetic variation.
population viability analysis (PVA) Demographic analysis that predicts the probability of a population persisting in an environment for a certain period of time; sometimes linked to various management scenarios.
precautionary principle Principle stating that it may be better to avoid taking a particular action due to the possibility of causing unexpected harm.
predation Act of killing and consuming another organism for food.
predator release hypothesis Hypothesis that attributes the success of invasive species to the absence of specialized natural predators and parasites in their new range.
predators See carnivores.
preservationist ethic A belief in the need to preserve wilderness areas for their intrinsic value.
prey An animal that is eaten as food by another species.
primary consumers See herbivores.
primary literature Published material that presents the results from original research, which is usually a peer-reviewed article.
primary producers Organisms such as green plants, algae, and seaweeds that obtain their energy directly from the sun via photosynthesis. Also known as autotrophs.
private goods See direct use values.
productive use value Value assigned to products that are sold in markets.
protected area A habitat managed primarily or in large part for biodiversity.
public goods Nonconsumptive benefits that belong to society in general, without private ownership. Also known as indirect use values.
R
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands A treaty that promotes the protection of wetlands of international importance.
rapid assessment programs (RAPS) An intensive effort to quickly collect data in order to make decisions. (See rapid biodiversity assessments.)
rapid biodiversity assessments Species inventories and vegetation maps made by teams of biologists when urgent decisions must be made on where to establish new protected areas. Also known as rapid assessment programs (RAPs).
recombination Mixing of the genes on the two copies of a chromosome that occurs during meiosis (i.e., in the formation of egg and sperm, which contain only one copy of each chromosome). Recombination is an important source of genetic variation.
reconciliation ecology The science of developing urban places in which people and biodiversity can coexist.
recovery criteria Predetermined thresholds (such as numbers of individuals alive in the wild) that signal that an endangered species can be removed from protection under the Endangered Species Act.
Red Data Books Compilations of lists (“Red Lists”) of endangered species prepared by the IUCN and other conservation organizations.
Red List criteria Quantitative measures of threats to species based on the probability of extinction.
Red List Index Measure of the conservation status of species based on the IUCN categories.
Red Lists Lists of endangered species prepared by the IUCN.
Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) Program using financial incentives to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases from deforestation.
reference site Control site that provides goals for restoration in terms of species composition, community structure, and ecosystem processes.
rehabilitation A type of ecological restoration in which a degraded ecosystem is replaced with a different but productive ecosystem type.
reinforcement program Releasing new individuals into an existing population to increase population size and genetic variability.
reintroduction program The release of captive bred or wild-collected individuals at a site within their historical range where the species does not presently occur.
replacement cost approach How much people would have to pay for an equivalent product if what they normally use is unavailable.
representative site Protected area that includes species and ecosystem properties characteristic of a larger area.
resilience The ability of an ecosystem to return to its original state following disturbance.
resistance The ability of an ecosystem to remain in the same state even with ongoing disturbance.
resource conservation ethic Natural resources should be used for the greatest good of the largest number of people for the longest time.
restoration ecology The scientific study of restored populations, communities, and ecosystems.
rewilding Returning species, in particular large mammals to landscape, to approximate their natural condition prior to human impact.
Rio Summit See Earth Summit.
S
secondary consumers See carnivores.
secondary invasion When the removal of an invasive species is followed by an invasion by a different species.
secondary literature Published material that reports on the findings of others, such as a literature review or commentary.
seed banks Collections of stored seeds, collected from wild and cultivated plants; used in conservation and agricultural programs.
Shannon diversity index A species diversity index that takes into account the numbers of different species and their relative abundance.
shifting cultivation Farming method in which farmers cut down trees, burn them, plant crops for a few years, and then abandon the site when soil fertility declines. Also called “slash-and-burn” agriculture.
sink populations Populations that receive an influx of new individuals from a source population.
sixth extinction episode The present mass extinction event that is just beginning.
SLOSS debate Controversy concerning the relative advantages of a single large or several small conservation areas. “SLOSS” stands for single large or several small.
soft release In the establishment of a new population, when individuals are given assistance during or after the release to increase the chance of success. Compare with hard release.
source populations Established populations from which individuals disperse to new locations.
species–area relationship The number of species found in an area increases with the size of the area (i.e., more species are found on large islands than on small islands).
species diversity The entire range of species found in a particular place.
species richness The number of species found in a community.
stable ecosystems Ecosystems that are able to remain in roughly the same compositional state despite human intervention or stochastic events such as unseasonable weather.
stochasticity Random variation; variation happening by chance.
survey Repeatable sampling method to estimate population size or density, or some other aspect of biodiversity.
sustainable development Economic development that meets present and future human needs without damaging the environment and biodiversity.
symbiotic A mutualistic relationship in which neither of the two species involved can survive without the other.
T
taxonomists Scientists involved in the identification and classification of species.
tertiary consumers The fourth trophic level, in which predators eat other predators.
threatened Species that fall into the endangered or vulnerable to extinction categories in the IUCN system. Under the US Endangered Species Act, refers to species at risk of extinction, but at a lower risk than endangered species.
tragedy of the commons The unregulated use of a public resource that results in its degradation.
transects Lines often designated with measuring tape or permanent markers, along which biological data are collected.
transposable element Segment of DNA capable of changing its location on a chromosome, sometimes resulting in a different trait appearing.
trophic cascade Major changes in vegetation and biodiversity resulting from the loss of a keystone species.
trophic levels Levels of biological communities representing ways in which energy is captured and moved through the ecosystem by the various types of species. See primary producers; herbivores; predators; detritivores.
U
umbrella species Protecting an umbrella species results in the protection of other species.
UN Conference on Sustainable Development Held in 2012, this conference linked biodiversity conservation to sustainable development and controlling climate change and emphasized the need for market-based solutions. Also unofficially called the Rio+20.
use values The direct and indirect values provided by some aspect of biodiversity.
W
World Bank International bank established to support economic development in developing countries.
World Heritage Convention (WHC) A treaty that protects cultural and natural areas of international significance.
World Heritage site A cultural or natural area officially recognized as having international significance.
World Summit on Sustainable Development Held in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2002, this gathering emphasized achieving the social and economic goals of sustainability.
Z
zoning A method of managing protected areas that allows or prohibits certain activities in designated places.