Glossary
Anthropogenic
Changes or effects on the environment that are caused by human activities.
Example:
The increase in global temperatures due to the burning of fossil fuels is an example of anthropogenic climate change.
Early Succession Species
Pioneer species that are the first to colonize and thrive in disturbed or newly formed areas, often tolerant of harsh conditions and competition.
Example:
After a clear-cut logging operation, fast-growing weeds and grasses are typically the first early succession species to appear.
Episodic (change)
Events that happen in distinct stages or phases, often with a clear beginning and end, but not necessarily regular.
Example:
The multi-stage process of a volcanic eruption, from initial tremors to lava flow and ashfall, represents an episodic change.
Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis
A theory stating that maximum species diversity in an ecosystem occurs at an intermediate level of disturbance, not too low or too high.
Example:
A river system with occasional, moderate flooding events might exhibit higher biodiversity than one with constant severe floods or no floods at all, supporting the Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis.
Late Succession Species
Species that appear later in ecological succession, requiring more stable conditions and often outcompeting early succession species over time.
Example:
In a mature forest, large, slow-growing oak and maple trees are characteristic late succession species.
Random (change)
Unpredictable and irregular events that cause shifts in an ecosystem.
Example:
A sudden, localized wildfire sparked by a lightning strike in a forest is a random change.
Resilience (ecosystem)
The speed and ability of an ecosystem to recover and return to its original state after experiencing a disturbance.
Example:
A grassland ecosystem, after a moderate drought, demonstrates high resilience by quickly regrowing its vegetation once rains return.
Resistance (ecosystem)
The ability of an ecosystem to withstand or show little alteration when faced with a disturbance.
Example:
A mature redwood forest, with its thick bark and deep roots, shows high resistance to low-intensity wildfires.
Seasonal (change)
Regular, predictable environmental shifts that occur over a specific period, often annually.
Example:
The annual blooming of wildflowers in spring and their die-off in winter is a seasonal change in a meadow ecosystem.