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Glossary
Ecosystem – community of different species interacting with one another and with the
chemical and physical factors making up its non living environment
Endangered species: a wild species with so few individual survivors that thte species
could soon become extinct in all or most of its natural range
Extinction: complete disappearance of a species from the earth. This happens when a
species cannot adapt and successfully reproduce under new environmental conditions or
when it evolves into one or more new species
Ecological niche: total way of life or role of a species in an ecosystem. It includes
physical, chemical and biological conditions a species needs to live and reproduce in an
ecosystem.
Habitat: place or type of place where an organism or population or organisms lives.
Distribution: area over which we can find a species
Specialist species: species with a narrow ecological niche. They may be able to live in
only 1 type of habitat, tolerate only a narrow range of climatic and other environmental
conditions, or use only 1 type or a few types of food.
Indicator species: species that indicates that a community or ecosystem is being degraded
Instrumental value: value of an organism, species, ecosystem, earth, biodiversity, etc, on
its usefulness to us.
Intrinsic value: value of an organism, species, ecosystem, or the earth’s biodiversity
based on its existence, regardless of whether it has any usefulness to us (value to
ecosystem in regards to its niche)
Keystone species: species that play roles affecting many other organisms in an ecosystem
Pollutant: a particular chemical or form of energy that can adversely affect the health,
survival or activities of humans or other living organisms
Pollution: an undesirable change in the physical, chemical, or biological characteristics of
air, water, soil or food that can adversely affect the health, survival or activities of
humans or other living organisms
Salinity: amount of various salts dissolved in a given volume of water
Species: group of organisms that resemble one another in appearance, behavior, chemical
make up and processes, genetic structure. Organisms that reproduce sexually are
classified as members of the same species only if they can actually or potentially
interbreed with one another and produce fertile offspring
Wildlife resources: wildlife species that have actual or potential economic value to people
Wildlife management: Manipulation of populations of wild species (especially game
species) and their habitats for human benefit, the welfare of other species and the
preservation of threatened and endangered wildlife species.