Glossary
Adaptability
The ability of a species to adjust to new or changing environmental conditions, often by altering its behavior, physiology, or genetic traits over generations.
Example:
The coyote's high adaptability has allowed it to expand its range across North America, thriving in deserts, forests, and even suburban areas.
Diet
The range of food sources a species consumes, which can be broad for generalists or highly specific for specialists.
Example:
A grizzly bear's diet is incredibly varied, including berries, fish, roots, and small mammals, showcasing its generalist feeding habits.
Generalist Species
A species with a broad niche that can thrive in a wide variety of environmental conditions and utilize a diverse range of resources.
Example:
The common house sparrow is a generalist, able to live in diverse urban and rural settings, eating seeds, insects, and even discarded human food.
Location
The specific geographical area or type of habitat where a species typically lives, influencing its survival based on environmental stability.
Example:
The polar bear's location is restricted to Arctic regions, making it highly vulnerable to changes in sea ice extent due to climate change.
Niche
The specific role and position a species has within its ecosystem, encompassing its habitat, resource use, and interactions with other species.
Example:
A beaver's niche includes damming streams, felling trees, and creating wetland habitats that benefit many other species.
Resilience
The capacity of an ecosystem or a species to recover quickly from disturbances or environmental problems and return to its original state.
Example:
After a forest fire, the rapid regrowth of certain plant species demonstrates the ecosystem's resilience.
Specialist Species
A species with a narrow niche that requires very specific environmental conditions and a limited range of resources to survive.
Example:
The koala is a specialist, relying almost exclusively on eucalyptus leaves for food and living only in specific eucalyptus forest habitats in Australia.
Tolerance
The ability of a species to withstand or survive within a range of environmental conditions, such as temperature, pH, or salinity.
Example:
Many invasive species exhibit high tolerance, allowing them to survive and spread in a wide variety of new environments outside their native range.