Biology in Credo: Ecology, Biodiversity & Zoology

The adjustment of living matter to environmental conditions and to other living things either in an organism's lifetime (physiological adaptation) or in a population over many many generations (evolutionary adaptation). The ability to adapt is a fundamental difference between living and nonliving matter.

The spread of an invasive species into native plant communities and causing environmental harm by developing self-sustaining populations and disrupting the structure and functioning of the system.

In ecology, the interaction between two or more organisms, or groups of organisms, that use a common resource in short supply.

Study of the relationships of organisms to their physical environment and to one another.

In ecology, a unit consisting of living organisms and the environment that they live in.

Any plant or animal species whose ability to survive and reproduce has been jeopardized by human activities.

In biology, the complete disappearance of a species from the planet. Extinctions occur when a species becomes unfit for survival in its natural habitat usually to be replaced by another, better-suited species. Extinction may also result from displacement or when the natural habitat is no longer suitable for the needs of the species (due to climate change, pollution, etc).

In ecology, a sequence showing the feeding relationships between organisms in a habitat or ecosystem.

In ecology, the localized environment in which an organism lives, and which provides for all (or almost all) of its needs.

Measure of the variety of the Earth's animal, plant, and microbial species, of genetic differences within species, and of the ecosystems that support those species. Biodiversity is generally used to refer to all aspects of variability evident within the living world, including diversity within and between individuals, populations, species, communities, and ecosystems.

In the life sciences, action taken to protect and preserve the natural world, usually from pollution, overexploitation, and other harmful features of human activity.

Any plant or animal species whose ability to survive and reproduce has been jeopardized by human activities.

Movement to protect the quality and continuity of life through conservation of natural resources, prevention of pollution, and control of land use. Emerged out of concerns over pollution, global warming, soil erosion, deforestation, waste disposal, and resource depletion. To the extent that many of these environmental problems have been created by industrial production, economic growth and Western-style consumption, environmentalists often offer a critique of the model of economic growth on which they are based.

Contamination of the environment as a result of human activities. The term pollution refers primarily to the fouling of air, water, and land by wastes (see air pollution; water pollution; solid waste). The concept of pollution consists of the inappropriate or undesirable mixing of items or elements that may in themselves be quite appropriate or desirable.

Smog (smŏg) [smoke+fog], dense, visible air pollution. Smog is commonly of two types. The gray smog of older industrial cities like London and New York derives from the massive combustion of coal and fuel oil in or near the city, releasing tons of ashes, soot, and sulfur compounds into the air. The brown smog characteristic of Los Angeles and Denver in the late 20th century is caused by automobiles.

A haven or sanctuary for animals; an area of land or of land and water set aside and maintained, usually by government or private organization, for the preservation and protection of one or more species of wildlife.

Member of the kingdom Animalia, one of the major categories of living things, the science of which is zoology.

An animal of the highest class of vertebrates, the Mammalia. The female has mammary glands, which secrete milk for the nourishment of the young after birth.

Place chosen or constructed by a bird or other animal for incubation of eggs, hibernation, and shelter.

In biology, the process by which a living organism produces other organisms more or less similar to itself. The ways in which species reproduce differ, but the two main methods are by asexual reproduction and sexual reproduction.

The branch of biology concerned with the study of animal life.

British zoologist, traveller, writer, and broadcaster, born in Jamshedpur, E India, the brother of Lawrence Durrell.

American zoologist who conducted extensive studies of mountain gorillas in Rwanda. Her research brought about a new understanding of the behavior and habitat of the gorilla and supported conservation efforts in Africa.

German zoologist well known for his genealogical trees of living organisms and for his early support of Darwin's ideas on evolution.

US zoologist; director of noted survey of human sex behaviour; published Sexual Behavior in the Human Male (`The Kinsey Report') (1948) and Sexual Behavior in the Human Female (1953).

Austrian zoologist who is generally considered to be the founder of modern ethology.

Russian zoologist and immunologist who was a pioneer of cellular immunology and shared the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1908 with Paul Ehrlich for the discovery of the innate immune response.

American environmentalist and writer whose best-known work, Silent Spring (1962), condemns the use of pesticides hazardous to wildlife. Considered the founder of the modern environmental movement, Carson shattered attitudes toward the natural environment by proving the negative consequences of long-term use of chemical pesticides such as DDT among many kinds of living things, including humans.

Explorer, naturalist, and conservationist, born in Dunbar, East Lothian, E Scotland, UK.