Species diversity
The number of species in a region or in a particular ecosystem
Habitat diversity
The variety of habitats that exist in a given ecosystem
Specialists
Species that only live under a narrow range of biotic or abiotic conditions
Generalists
Species that can live under a wide range of biotic or abiotic conditions
Ecosystem diversity
The variety of ecosystems that exist in a given region
Species richness
The number of different species in a given area
Species evenness
The relative proportion of individuals within the different species in a given area
Ecological tolerance
The suite of abiotic conditions under which a species can survive, grow, and reproduce. Also known as fundamental niche
Realized niche
The range of abiotic conditions under which a species actually lives
Geographic range
Areas of the world in which a species lives
Mass extinction
A large number of species that went extinct over a relatively short period of time
Periodic disruption
Occurring regularly, such as the cycles of day and night or the daily and monthly cycles of the moon’s effect on ocean tides
Episodic disruption
Occurring somewhat regularly, such as cycles of high rain and low rain that occur every 5 to 10 years
Random disruption
Occurring with no regular pattern, such as volcanic eruptions or hurricanes
Resistance
In an ecosystem, a measure of how much a disruption can affect the flows of energy and matter
Resilience
The rate at which an ecosystem returns to its original state after a disruption
Intermediate disturbance hypothesis
The hypothesis that ecosystems experiencing intermediate levels of disturbance will favor a higher level of diversity of species than those with high or low disturbance levels
Endangered Species
Species that are likely to go extinct in the near future
Lacey Act
A U.S act that prohibits interstate shipping of all illgeally harvested plants and animals
Marine Mammal Protection Act
A 1972 U.S. law that prohibits the killing of all marine mammals in the United States and prohibits the import or export of any marine mammal body parts.
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
A 1973 treaty formd to control the international trade of threatened plants and animals.
Non-native species
Species that do not come from the area or region from which they are found growing
Invasive species
A type of non-native species that is taking over the habitat that it was introduced to
Biological control or biocontrol
In general, the control of the numbers of one organism as a result of natural predation by another or others; specifically, the human use of natural predators for the control of pests or weeds. Also applied to the introduction of large numbers of sterilized males of the pest species, whose matings result in the laying of infertile eggs