Download Biological Diversity - New York State Museum

Lymphocytic leukemia A cancer that causes enlargement of the lymph
glands. While there is no known cure, there are successful treatments.
Mesozoic Era 1 The Age of Reptiles or Age of Dinosaurs, extending from 245
million to 66 million years ago. It is divided into the Triassic, Jurassic and
Cretaceous Periods.
Meteorite A meteor that is not completely vaporized by friction with the
atmosphere and reaches the surface of the earth.
Methane gas A chemical product (CH 4 ) of the decomposition of organic
matter (in marshes, mines and garbage dumps) or of the carbonization of
coal. It has no color or smell and is flammable.
Muntjac A small deer (of the genus Muntiacus) found in southeastern Asia
and the East Indies.
Myrmecology The branch of entomology dealing with the study of ants.
Niches 1 A vague but useful term in ecology, meaning the place occupied by
the species in its ecosystem—where it lives, what it eats, its foraging
route, the seasonal activity and so on. In a more abstract sense, a niche is
a potential place or role within a given ecosystem into which species may
or may not have evolved.
Nucleus 1 In biology, the dense central body of the cell, surrounded by a
double nuclear membrane and containing the chromosomes and genes.
Nutrient A substance taken in by an organism that is used to produce energy
and matter.
Order of magnitude A range of estimation extending from a given value to
10 times that value.
Organelle A specialized cellular structure that is analogous to an organ. For
example, chloroplasts and mitochondria are organelles.
Organism A living thing or creature, including plants, animals, invertebrates,
fungi, etc.
B i o l o g i c a l
42 D i v e r s i t y