Ecology and Environmental Science Terms

Terrestrial

• Relating to land; describes ecosystems and organisms that live on land.

• Pertaining to water; describes aquatic ecosystems and organisms.

• Referring to the atmosphere; describes aerial ecosystems and organisms.

• Connected to urban areas; describes human-made environments and structures.

Climate

• The short-term atmospheric conditions in a specific area.

• The long-term pattern of weather conditions in a particular area, including temperature, precipitation, and wind.

• The average temperature of a region over a year.

• The seasonal variations in weather patterns.

Pattern

• A random occurrence without any sequence.

• A repeated or predictable arrangement or sequence found in nature, such as migration or seasonal changes.

• An isolated event that does not follow any rules.

• A unique design that cannot be replicated.

Competition

• The cooperation between organisms for shared resources.

• The struggle between organisms for limited resources such as food, water, space, or mates.

• The mutual benefit gained from living in a shared environment.

• The dominance of one species over another in a habitat.

Disease

• A disorder or illness in an organism caused by pathogens, genetics, or environmental factors.

• A type of medication used to treat infections.

• A healthy state of the body without any ailments.

• A temporary condition that resolves on its own.