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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
Ozone A form of oxygen (O 3 ) that is created in the earth’s upper atmosphere by a photochemical reaction with solar ultraviolet radiation (UV). This ozone layer protects the earth from receiving too much UV. It is also a byproduct of industrial reactions and is a major contributor to smog. Paleontology 1 The scientific study of fossils and all aspects of extinct life. Paleozoic Era A geologic time period starting with the Cambrian Period 620 million years ago and ending with the Permian Period 245 million years ago. Parasite An organism that lives by using another organism, returning no benefits to the host. Permian Period 1 The last period of the Paleozoic Era, extending from 290 million to 245 million years ago and closing with the greatest extinction event of all time. Somewhere between 77% and 96% of all marine animal species perished during this period. Pharmaceutical Having to do with the drugs and medications used in medical science. Physiology A branch of biology that deals with the physical and chemical functions of an organism. Population 1 In biology, any group of organisms belonging to the same species at the same time and place. Population biology The study of the population dynamics, or the changes in population distribution and density that occur over time, for a particular species. Pre-emption hypothesis Those species that established themselves in an area first and which have a more likely chance of thriving and evolving into diverse and abundant species. Replication The process of making an exact duplicate. For example, DNA uses replication to make more DNA. Roundworm A member of the Phylum Nematoda, an organism (can be a micro- or macroscopic species) with an unsegmented body that often lives in the soil or in host animals. B i o l o g i c a l 43 D i v e r s i t y
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Biological Diversity: T H E O L D E
Page 4 and 5: THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW
Page 6 and 7: Copyright © 1999 by The New York S
Page 9 and 10: Preface This book is based on a man
Page 11 and 12: Additional information on the activ
Page 13 and 14: Biological Diversity: T H E O L D E
Page 15 and 16: some degree of potency. A much high
Page 17 and 18: Some groups of organisms, such as f
Page 19 and 20: to their environment and to one ano
Page 21 and 22: N EW YORK’S BIODIVERSITY IS THREA
Page 23 and 24: 12 10 Number of Butterflies Observe
Page 25 and 26: It is possible that the next hundre
Page 27 and 28: environment. For almost 3 billion y
Page 29 and 30: W ITH ITS WISPINESS AND LIGHT-AND-D
Page 31 and 32: sophisticated microscopic and bioch
Page 33 and 34: The tropical zones generally have a
Page 35 and 36: average as well as greater ecologic
Page 37 and 38: early extinction within the next 30
Page 39 and 40: perished. As the paleontologist Dav
Page 41 and 42: collected in the stream in 1936 and
Page 43 and 44: Systematics, or taxonomy, is at the
Page 45 and 46: Community ecology addresses the man
Page 47 and 48: Biological field stations from four
Page 49 and 50: Biogeography 1 The scientific study
Page 51 and 52: Dispersal In biology, the way a spe
Page 53: Global warming An increase in the c
Page 57 and 58: Termites A group of insects that is
Page 59 and 60: Grifo, Francesca, and J. Rosenthal
Page 61 and 62: diverse and why the threat to that
Page 63 and 64: Mitchell, Richard S., L. Danaher, a
Page 65 and 66: 9. Is an ecologist the same as a ta
Page 67 and 68: 31. Do you know of a biological res
Page 69 and 70: B i o l o g i c a l 57 D i v e r s
Page 72: THE NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM IS A PROG
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