Ecological dictionary 1
A abiotic :
nonliving components of an ecosystem, such as water, air, light, and nutrients
abyssal:
relating to bottom waters of oceans
acid rain:
anthropogenic emissions of hydrogen sulfide and nitrogen oxides from fossil
fuel combustion that interact with water vapor to produce dilute sulfuric and
nitric acids. causing widespread acidification of cloud and rainwater
aerobic : refers to life
in the presence of free oxygen, either as a gas in the atmosphere or dis-solved
in water
aestivation : dormancy in animals during periods of drought
age
distribution: ratio of each
age group (prereproductive, reproductive, and postreproduc-nye) in a population
aggregate
dispersion : distribution of individuals in a
clumped or aggregate pattern of disper-sion (such as herds, coveys, or schools)
A horizon : surface stratum of soil, characterized by maximum accumulation of
organic mat-ter and biological activity
Alice principle
of aggregation : a special type of density dependence,
first identified by W C. Alice in 1931, in which a degree of aggregation
results in optimum population growth and survival
allele
frequency : commonness of an allele in a
population
allelopathy : direct inhibition of one plant species by another using noxious or
toxic compounds
allochthonous : (from Greek chthonos, "of Earth,"
and altos, -other-) refers to organic materials not generated within the
community or ecosystem
allogenic
succession : successional changes that are largely
the result of external forces or per-turbations, such as fire or flooding
allopatric
speciation: speciation (from
a common ancestor into distinct species) resulting from the geographical
separation of populations
alpine tundra : tundra-like conditions found above tree lines on high mountains
altruism sacrifice of fitness by one individual for the benefit of another
altruistic
behavior : social behavior that apparently
enhances the fitness of other individuals in the population at the expense of
the individual performing the behavior
amensalism :
a relationship between two species in which one population is inhibited and
the other not alleded
anaerobic : refers to life or processes that occur in the absence of free
oxygen
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