Download 1. biodiversity glossary

Biomass
The total amount of organic matter
Biome
A major terrestrial ecosystem of the world.
Ecosystem
A system of which both the living organisms and their
environment form components (elements)- these components
are linked together by flows and are separated from the outside
by a boundary.
The tallest trees in the rainforest.
Emergent
Succession
biotic
The gradual and predictable change in plant and animal species
over time, for example bare ground is colonised by plants and
there is a series of sequential replacements as one set of
dominant plants replaces the other
The difference between the rate of conversion of solar energy
into biomass in an ecosystem and the rate at which energy is
used to maintain the producers of the system
Living components of an ecosystem
Abiotic
The non-living parts of an ecosystem
ectone
A transition area between two adjacent ecological communities
(ecosystems). It may appear on the ground as a gradual
blending of the two communities across a broad area, or it may
manifest itself as a sharp boundary line.
A type of landscape boundary, but also a gradual and continuous
change in the environmental conditions of an ecosystem or
community. It contianis communities that are considered more
environmental stable than those of ectones.
‘goods’ are direct products that can be derived from an
ecosystem and ‘services’ are the benefits that the ecosystem
provides
The movement of energy through a community via feeding
relationships
The movement of nutrients in the ecosystem between the three
major stores of the soil, biomass and litter.
A species whose very presence contributes to a diversity of life
and whose extinction would consequently lead to the extinction
of other species.
The variability amongst living organisms from all sources
including terrestrial, marine and other aquatic systems, and the
ecological complexes of which they are part: this includes
diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems.
The protection of natural or man-made resources for later use.
The place where a particular species lives and grows. It is
essentially the environment- at least the physical environmentthat surrounds, influences andis utilised by a particular species.
A position in the food chain, determined by the number of
energy transfer steps to that level
Exclusively native to a particular place of region. Endemic
species tend to have a high conservation value.
Netprimaryproductivity
Ecocline
goodsandservices
energyflow
nutrientcycle
keystonespecies
biodiversity
conservation
Habitat
Trophiclevel
endemicspecies
A type of landscape boundary, but also a gradual and continuous
change in the environmental conditions of an ecosystem or
community. It contianis communities that are considered more
environmental stable than those of ectones.
‘goods’ are direct products that can be derived from an
ecosystem and ‘services’ are the benefits that the ecosystem
provides
The variability amongst living organisms from all sources
including terrestrial, marine and other aquatic systems, and the
ecological complexes of which they are part: this includes
diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems.
Exclusively native to a particular place of region. Endemic
species tend to have a high conservation value.
The gradual and predictable change in plant and animal species
over time, for example bare ground is colonised by plants and
there is a series of sequential replacements as one set of
dominant plants replaces the other
The difference between the rate of conversion of solar energy
into biomass in an ecosystem and the rate at which energy is
used to maintain the producers of the system
The non-living parts of an ecosystem
A species whose very presence contributes to a diversity of life
and whose extinction would consequently lead to the extinction
of other species.
A transition area between two adjacent ecological communities
(ecosystems). It may appear on the ground as a gradual
blending of the two communities across a broad area, or it may
manifest itself as a sharp boundary line.
The total amount of organic matter
A major terrestrial ecosystem of the world
The movement of energy through a community via feeding
relationships
The movement of nutrients in the ecosystem between the three
major stores of the soil, biomass and litter.
A system of which both the living organisms and their
environment form components (elements)- these components
are linked together by flows and are separated from the outside
by a boundary.
The tallest trees in the rainforest.
The protection of natural or man-made resources for later use.
The place where a particular species lives and grows. It is
essentially the environment- at least the physical environmentthat surrounds, influences andis utilised by a particular species.
A position in the food chain, determined by the number of
energy transfer steps to that level
Living components of an ecosystem