CH 22 Ecology Cain, Bowman, Hacker

Of or referring to an approach to conservation biology that focuses on habitats, landscapes, and ecosystems.

The scientific study of phenomena that affect the maintenance, loss, and restoration of biodiversity.

Natural processes that sustain human life that depend on the functional integrity of natural communities and ecosystems.

An appropriate target of management within a species (e.g., subspecies, populations) as determined by genetic analyses; also called a management unit.

A pattern in which a small population that drops below a certain size may decrease even further in size, perhaps spiraling towards extinction; an extinction vortex results from the vulnerability of small populations to chance genetic, demographic, and environmental events.

Of or referring to an approach to conservation biology that focuses on genes, populations, and species.

A charismatic species that may be emphasized in conservation efforts because it helps to garner public support for a conservation project.

One of a group of species selected as a priority for conservation efforts and chosen because its ecological requirements differ from other species in the group, thereby helping to ensure that as many different species as possible receive protection.

Anthropogenic changes that reduce the quality of habitat for many, but not all, species.

The breaking up of once continuous habitat into a complex matrix of spatially isolated habitat patches amid a human-dominated landscape.

The outright conversion of an ecosystem to another use by human activities.

Introduced species that survive and reproduce in their new environment, sustain a growing population, and have large effects on the native community.

Projection of the potential future status of a population through use of demographic models; a PVA approach is often used to estimate the likelihood that a population will persist for a certain amount of time in different habitats or under different management scenarios.

A species selected as a priority for conservation with the assumption that its conservation will serve to protect many other species with overlapping habitat requirements.

A worldwide reduction of biodiversity resulting from the spread of non-native and native generalists coupled with declining abundances and distributions of native specialists and endemics.

A surrogate species selected with the assumption that protection of its habitat will serve as an “umbrella” to protect many other species; often a species with large or specialized habitat requirements or which is easy to count.