Terms & Definitions

• adaptation
  a behavior or body structure which makes an organism more successful in its habitat
  
  
• biodiversity
  the variety of life forms, their ecological roles and their genetic variations
  
  
• communities
  integrated groups of species inhabiting a given area that influence one another's distribution, abundance, and evolution
  
  
• conservation
  using habitats, resources, animals and plants wisely, so as to save them for future generations
  
  
• deciduous
  bushes and trees that shed their leaves at the end of a growing season
  
  
• decomposition
  the act of breaking down or decaying into basic elements and compounds
  
  
• ecosystem
  a natural arrangement of living organisms interacting within their physical environment to create a stable system
  
  
• endangered
  in danger of extinction throughout (all or a significant portion of) its range if current trends affecting its population continue
  
  
• foliage
  the leaves of plants and trees
  
  
• food chains
  the transfer of food energy from producer (plant) to consumer (animal) to decomposer (insect, fungus, etc.)
  
  
• forests
  any dense growth of trees and other plants that covers large areas
  
  
• habitats
  any arrangement of space, food, water and shelter suitable for the survival and reproduction of an organism
  
  
• humus
  the organic part of soil formed from decaying plant and animal matter
  
  
• natural resource
  a material source of wealth that occurs in a natural state
  
  
• photosynthesis
  the production of sugars and starches from simple chemicals by using light energy
  
  
• primate
  the mammalian order that contains prosimians (lemurs), monkeys, apes, and humans
  
  
• transpiration
  the elimination of excess water through pores in plant tissues