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This glossary serves as a comprehensive resource for understanding some of the key terms and concepts (used on this website) related to wildlife, conservation, and the natural world. Whether you’re a student, educator, or simply an animal enthusiast, the definitions provided here will help you gain a deeper understanding of the language used in wildlife conservation efforts and animal studies.
Explore the terms that are essential for discussing species, ecosystems, conservation strategies, and much more. This glossary is designed to help you navigate the complex world of wildlife and empower you with the knowledge to support the protection of the planet’s diverse species.
A
A
Adaptation: The process through which a species becomes better suited to its environment through genetic changes over generations.
Apex Predator: A predator at the top of the food chain with no natural predators of its own.
Aquatic: Referring to animals that live or are found in water.
Arboreal: Animals that live primarily in trees.
B
B
Biodiversity: The variety of different species of animals and plants in an ecosystem.
Biome: A large, distinct region characterized by specific climate conditions and the organisms that live there.
Breeding Program: A conservation effort to breed endangered species in captivity to help increase their population.
C
C
Carnivore: An animal that primarily feeds on other animals.
Captive Breeding: Breeding animals in controlled environments like zoos to help increase the population of endangered species.
Conservation: The protection and management of natural resources, wildlife, and their habitats to prevent extinction.
Critical Habitat: A geographic area that is essential for the survival of an endangered or threatened species.
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD): A prion disease that affects deer, elk, and moose, leading to fatal brain degeneration.
D
D
Deforestation: The removal of forests, often for agricultural or urban development, leading to habitat destruction.
Diet: The foods that a species regularly consumes.
Domestication: The process of adapting wild animals or plants for human use, resulting in changes to their behavior and characteristics.
DFTD (Devil Facial Tumour Disease): A contagious cancer affecting Tasmanian devils, causing facial tumors that often lead to death. It has contributed to significant population declines of the species in the wild.
E
E
Ecology: The study of interactions between organisms and their environment.
Ecosystem: A community of organisms and their physical environment interacting as a system.
Endemic Species: Species that are found only in a specific location and nowhere else on Earth.
F
F
Fauna: The animal life found in a particular region or environment.
Food Chain: A sequence of organisms in which each is eaten by the next in the chain, transferring energy and nutrients.
Foraging: The act of searching for food in the wild.
G
G
Genetic Diversity: The variety of genes within a species, which is crucial for adaptation and survival.
Grazing: The feeding on grasses and other vegetation, typically by herbivores.
Global Warming: The increase in Earth's average temperature due to human activities, such as burning fossil fuels, leading to climate change.
H
H
Habitat: The environment in which a species lives and thrives, providing all the necessary conditions like food, water, and shelter.
Herbivore: An animal that primarily eats plants.
Human-Wildlife Conflict: Situations where human activities threaten the survival of wildlife, often due to habitat loss or the perception of animals as threats.
I
I
Invasive Species: Non-native species that cause harm to the environment, economy, or human health in a new area.
Inbreeding: When there is no longer enough genetic diversity to guarantee the healthy future of a species.
Immigration (in animals): The movement of individuals into a new area from another region.
IUCN Red List: A comprehensive list maintained by the International Union for Conservation of Nature that categorizes species based on their risk of extinction.
J
J
Joey: A baby marsupial, such as a kangaroo, koala, or wombat, that grows inside its mother’s pouch after birth.
Juvenile: A young, immature animal that has not yet reached adulthood.
Jungle: A dense, tropical forest, usually characterized by high biodiversity.
K
K
Keystone Species: A species whose role in an ecosystem has a disproportionate effect on the overall structure and function of that ecosystem.
K-Selected Species: Species that produce fewer offspring but invest more energy in raising them, often seen in larger animals.
L
L
Lagomorph: A group of herbivorous mammals that includes rabbits, hares, and pikas.
Lifespan: The length of time an individual organism is expected to live.
Local Extinction: The disappearance of a species from a particular area, though it may still exist elsewhere.
M
M
Migration: The seasonal movement of animals from one area to another, typically for breeding or food sources.
Mammal: A class of animals that are warm-blooded, have fur or hair, and typically give live birth, with females producing milk to feed their young.
Mutualism: A symbiotic relationship between two species in which both benefit.
N
N
Nocturnal: Animals that are active during the night and rest during the day.
Niche: The role an organism plays in its ecosystem, including what it eats, where it lives, and how it interacts with other organisms.
Nutrient Cycle: The movement and exchange of nutrients within an ecosystem, where they are passed through plants, herbivores, predators, and decomposers.
O
O
Omnivore: An animal that eats both plants and animals.
Overhunting: The excessive hunting of species, often leading to population declines or extinction.
Ozone Layer: A layer in Earth's stratosphere that protects life on Earth by absorbing most of the Sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation.
P
P
Poaching: The illegal hunting, capturing, or killing of animals, often for profit or the illegal wildlife trade.
Pollination: The transfer of pollen from one flower to another, facilitating plant reproduction.
Predator: An animal that hunts, kills, and eats other animals for food.
Prey: An animal that is hunted and eaten by another species.
Q
Q
Quadruped: An animal that walks on four limbs, such as dogs, horses, and most mammals.
Quarantine: A period of isolation imposed to prevent the spread of disease or pests, particularly in wildlife conservation.
R
R
Reforestation: The process of planting trees to restore a forest that has been damaged or depleted.
Reintroduction: The deliberate release of a species into an area where it once lived but has been extinct or extirpated.
Ruminant: An herbivorous animal that regurgitates food from its stomach to chew it again, such as cows, sheep, and deer.
S
S
Sanctuary: A protected area where animals are safe from human harm, often used for wildlife conservation.
Species: A group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring.
Symbiosis: A close, long-term relationship between two different species, which can be mutualistic, parasitic, or commensal.
Sustainability: The ability to maintain ecological balance by avoiding depletion of natural resources.
T
T
Trophic Level: The position an organism occupies in a food chain, such as producer, primary consumer, secondary consumer, etc.
Threatened Species: A species that is likely to become endangered in the near future, though not yet at risk of extinction.
Translocation: The movement of a species from one location to another, often as part of a conservation or reintroduction effort.
U
U
Urbanization: The growth and expansion of cities, often resulting in habitat loss and fragmentation for wildlife.
Utilization: The way in which natural resources are used by humans or wildlife, such as for food, shelter, or tools.
V
V
Vulnerable Species: A species that is at risk of becoming endangered if the threats to its survival are not addressed.
Vaccination: The process of administering a vaccine to help protect animals from diseases.
W
W
Wildlife Corridor: A natural or artificial path that allows wildlife to travel between habitats, preventing isolation and promoting genetic diversity.
Wildlife Conservation: The practice of protecting and preserving wildlife species and their habitats to prevent extinction and promote biodiversity.
Wildlife Trafficking: The illegal trade of animals or animal products, often leading to population declines and the spread of diseases.
X
X
Xenobiotic: A substance foreign to the body or an ecosystem, often referring to pollutants or chemicals that harm wildlife.
Y
Y
Young: The offspring of an animal species, often referred to based on their stage of development (e.g., calf, cub, pup).
Z
Z
Zoonosis: A disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans, such as rabies or Lyme disease.
Zoos: Facilities that house and care for wild animals, often for education, research, and conservation efforts.
Zoology: Used to refer to animals, different from biology because that refers to all organisms on earth
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