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Science & Tech > Biology > Ecology


Now updated for CSW19. New words, if any, and new inflections of existing words, are shown in red.


acaridomatium a habitat for mites provided by certain plants that benefit from their presence.
acarodomatium a habitat for mites provided by certain plants that benefit from their presence.
antibiosis a state of mutual antagonism between associated organisms.
autecologic relating to autecology, the study of one species.
autecological relating to autecology, the study of one species.
autecology the study of the ecology of one species.
bathophilous of an organism, living in very deep water.
bathylimnetic of an organism, living in the depths of lakes and marshes.
benthoal living on the sea bottom.
benthonic living on the sea bottom.
benthopelagic living just above the seabed.
biocenology the branch of ecology concerned with the relationships and interactions between the members of a natural community.
biocenosis an association of organisms ecologically interdependent.
biocoenosis a state of association of creatures in a certain region.
biocontrol pest control by biological means eg cane toads.
biocycle a cycle in a living organism.
biodegradation the state of being biodegraded.
biodegrade to break down by biological action.
biodiverse of an environment, having many different kinds of plants and animals.
biodiversity the number of species present in a given ecosystem.
bioecology the study of interaction of life in the environment.
biogeographic relating to biogeography.
biogeographical relating to biogeography.
biogeography the study of the geographical distribution of plants and animals.
biomass the total mass of living material in an ecosystem.
biome an extensive ecological community, esp one with a dominant vegetation.
bionomic concerning the relation of an organism to its environment.
bionomically (Adv.) BIONOMIC.
bionomics the study of organisms interacting in their environments.
biont a physiologically independent living organism.
biontic of or like a biont, a living organism.
biosocial relating to the interaction of the biological aspects and social relationships of living organisms.
biosocially (Adv.) BIOSOCIAL, of, relating to or concerned with the interaction of the biological aspects and social relationships of living organisms.
biosphere the plant and animal life on the earth.
biospheric relating to the biosphere, the plant and animal life on the earth.
biostable not affected by the biological environment.
biota (Greek) the flora and fauna of a region.
biotope an area having uniform conditions and supporting a particular, uniform association of animal life.
clinal pertaining to a cline, a gradual geographical change in the colour or morphology of a species.
clinally (Adv.) CLINAL, pertaining to a cline, a gradual geographical change in color or morphology of a species.
cline a gradual geographical change in color or morphology of a species.
commensalism a relation between two kinds of organisms in which one obtains food or other benefits from the other without damaging or benefiting it.
consocies a community in nature with a single dominant species.
consortism symbiosis.
coprophilous growing or living on dung.
coprozoic living in dung.
disclimax a relatively stable ecological community not progressing to climax because of the intervention of eg man.
disoperation a mutually harmful relationship between two organisms in a community.
eco (Short for) ecology.
ecocatastrophe a major destructive upset in the balance of nature esp when caused by the action of humans.
ecoclimate a local climate regarded as an ecological factor.
ecofriendly respectful of the environment.
ecologic relating to ecology.
ecological relating to ecology.
ecologically (Adv.) ECOLOGICAL, relating to ecology.
ecologist a student of ecology.
ecology the study of the interrelationships between life forms and their environment.
ecomovement an organized movement to deal with environmental issues, reduce emissions, etc.
ecoregion an area defined by its environmental conditions.
ecospecies a group of ecotypes.
ecospecific relating to an ecospecies.
ecosphere the biosphere.
ecosystem all the organisms in a particular region and the environment in which they live.
ecotonal relating to an ecotone, a zone of mixed vegetation formed by the overlapping of adjoining communities.
ecotone a transition area between two adjacent ecological communities.
ecotoxic poisonous to the environment.
ecotype a group of organisms which have adapted to a particular environment and so have become different from other groups within the species.
ecotypic of or like an ecotype, a group of organisms which have adapted to a particular environment.
ecotypically (Adv.) ECOTYPIC, of or like an ecotype.
ecozone a regional ecosystem.
ecumene an inhabited area.
epifauna (Lat.) the class of animals that inhabit submerged ground and river and sea beds.
epifaunal of or relating to epifauna, the class of animals that inhabit submerged ground and river and sea beds.
ethologic relating to ethology, the study of animals' behavior in their natural environments.
ethologist one who studies or writes upon ethology.
ethology the study of animals' behavior in their natural environments.
eurokous of an organism, able to live under different conditions.
euroky the ability of an organism to live under various conditions.
eurybath an organism that lives in a wide range of water depths.
eurybathic capable of living at a wide range of depths in water.
euryhaline of marine animals, tolerating a wide variation in salinity.
euryoecious (Of an organism) able to live under variable conditions.
euryokous of an organism, able to live under different conditions.
euryoky the ability of an organism to live under variable conditions.
eurytherm an organism which tolerates a wide range of temperatures.
eurythermal tolerating a wide range of temperature.
eurythermic tolerating a wide range of temperature.
eurythermous tolerating a wide range of temperature.
eurytopic tolerant of wide variation in one or more environmental factors.
extralimitary not found within a given faunal area; lying outside a prescribed area.
extremophile an organism that lives under extreme environmental conditions.
fauna (Lat.) the animal life of a region.
faunal relating to fauna, the animal life of a region.
faunally (Adv.) FAUNAL, relating to fauna.
faunistic relating to fauna.
faunistically (Adv.) FAUNISTIC, relating to fauna.
fimicolous living in or growing in animal excrement.
geophilous living in or near the ground.
habitat the place and conditions in which an organism lives.
halobiont an organism living in a salt environment.
halobiontic living in the sea.
halobiotic living in the sea.
halophily being adapted to salt conditions.
halosere a plant community in conditions of high salinity.
haplobiont an organism living in a salt environment.
haplobiontic of or like a haplobiont, an organism living in a salt environment.
holobenthic passing the entire life in the deep ocean.
humicolous living in the soil.
hydrosere an ecological sere originating in an aquatic habitat.
ichthyofauna the fish life of region.
ichthyofaunal of or relating to ichthyofauna.
indigen one born in a country; an aboriginal animal or plant.
indigenous occurring naturally in a particular region or environment.
indigenously (Adv.) INDIGENOUS, occurring naturally in a particular region or environment.
infauna (Lat.) the class of animals inhabiting ocean and river beds.
infaunal relating to infauna, the class of animals inhabiting ocean and river beds.
inquiline living with another; (noun) a creature dwelling in another creature's lair.
inquilinic living with another; (noun) a creature dwelling in another creature's lair.
inquilinity living in another's nest.
inquilinous living in another's nest.
lentic pertaining to or living in still water.
lignicole growing or living in wood.
lignicolous growing or living in wood.
limicolous living in mud, usually applied to birds or worms.
limnetic living in fresh water; pertaining to fresh water.
limnic living in fresh water; pertaining to fresh water.
limnologic relating to limnology, the study of bodies of fresh water.
limnophilous living in ponds or marshes.
lithodomous living in burrows in rocks.
lotic associated with or living in running water.
macrobiota the larger organisms in the soil. No -S.
macrobiote a long-lived organism.
macrofauna animals visible to the naked eye.
megafauna the large or macroscopic animals, esp the large vertebrates, of a given area, habitat, or epoch.
megafaunal relating to megafauna, large animals.
meiofauna animals less than 1 mm and larger than 0.1 mm across.
meiofaunal relating to the meiofauna.
mesic adapted to life with a moderate supply of moisture.
mesically (Adv.) MESIC, adapted to life with a moderate supply of moisture.
mesobenthos flora and fauna living at the bottom of seas 182 to 914 metres deep.
microbiota the smallest soil organisms.
microfauna very small animals.
microfaunal relating to microfauna, very small animals.
microhabitat the microenvironment in which an organism lives.
mycotrophic of a plant, living in symbiosis with a fungus.
myrmecophile an organism that shares an ant colony.
myrmecophily a symbiotic relation with ants.
nitrophilous of plants, growing in a place where there is a good supply of nitrogen.
oecological relating to ecology.
oecologically (Adv.) OECOLOGICAL, relating to ecology.
oecologist a student of oecology.
oligotrophic having a deficiency of plant nutrients that is usually accompanied by an abundance of dissolved oxygen.
oligotrophy the state of being oligotrophic.
ombrogenous of plants, able to flourish in wet conditions.
ornithophily pollination by birds.
overstorey the highest level of trees in a rainforest.
oxyphil an organism that thrives in a relatively acid environment.
oxyphile an organism that thrives in a relatively acid environment.
palaeogaea the Old World as a biological region.
paleoecologist one who studies paleoecology.
paleoecology a branch of ecology that is concerned with the characteristics of ancient environments and with their relationships to ancient plants and animals.
parasymbiosis the symbiotic relationship that occurs between certain species of fungi and lichens.
parasymbiotic relating to parasymbiosis.
phoresy an association in which one animal clings to another to ensure movement from place to place, as some mites use insects.
phoretic relating to phoresy, an association in which one animal clings to another to ensure movement from place to place, as some mites use insects.
phylloplane the surface of a leaf considered as a habitat, esp for microorganisms.
phytobenthos plants living at the bottom of water collectively.
piscicolous parasitic in or on fishes.
piscifauna the fish life of an area.
plagioclimax the climax stage of a community, influenced by man or some other outside factor.
polydemic growing in or inhabiting more than two regions.
prisere the succession of vegetation that occurs in a previously unoccupied area as it passes from barren earth or water to a climax community.
psammophile a sand-loving plant.
radicicolous inhabiting or parasitic on roots.
rainforest a complex community dominated by trees, with high rainfall, many epiphytes and lianes.
rasorial given to scratching the ground to look for food.
refugium (Lat.) an area that has retained earlier geographic conditions.
relict a persistent remnant of an otherwise extinct population.
rewilding the practice of returning areas of land to a wild state, including the reintroduction of animal species that are no longer naturally found there.
rheophil living in flowing water.
rheophile living in flowing water; (noun) a creature that lives in flowing water.
rheotaxis the movement of an organism in response to a current of water.
rupicoline living among or growing on rocks.
rupicolous living among or growing on rocks.
saprobe (Greek) an organism living in foul water.
saprobic of or like a saprobe, an organism living in foul water.
saprobiotic feeding on dead or decaying plants or animals.
saprobity the degree to which the decomposition of organic material is occurring in an aquatic environment.
saprogenous growing on decaying material; causing putrefaction.
saxicavous boring into rocks.
spelaean cave-dwelling.
spelean cave-dwelling.
stabilate a population preserved in a viable state though subject to extraordinary conditions eg microorganisms in deep freeze.
stenobathic able to live only within a narrow range of depth of water.
stenohaline of an aquatic organism, unable to withstand wide variations in salinity.
stenokous able to live in a narrow range of environments.
stenoky (Greek) the ability of an organism to live only under a narrow range of conditions.
stenotherm an organism capable of surviving over only a narrow range of temperatures.
stenotopic able to adapt only to a small range of environmental conditions.
stenotropic able to adapt only to a small range of environmental conditions.
stercoricolous living in dung.
subalpine inhabiting the somewhat high slopes and summits of mountains, but considerably below the snow line.
subhumid of a climate, too wet for xerophytic vegetation, but not wet enough for tree growth.
subniche a subdivision of a habitat.
subniveal under snow.
subnivean under snow.
subsere a secondary interrupted series of communities that succeeds an interrupted climax community.
subsocial tending to associate gregariously but lacking a fixed social structure.
subsocially (Adv.) SUBSOCIAL, tending to associate gregariously but lacking a fixed social structure.
symbion (Greek) a symbiotic organism.
symbiont (Greek) a symbiotic organism.
symbiontic of or like a symbiont.
symbiontically (Adv.) SYMBIONTIC, of or like a symbiont.
symbiosis a relationship of mutually beneficial or dependence.
symbiot (Greek) a symbiotic organism.
symbiote (Greek) a symbiotic organism.
symbiotic relating to symbiosis.
symbiotical relating to symbiosis.
symbiotically (Adv.) SYMBIOTICAL, relating to symbiosis.
sympatry the state of occupying the same regions but not interbreeding.
symphile an animal of another kind kept in an ants' or termites' nest.
symphilism the state of being in a symbiotic relationship.
symphilous of or like a symphile, an animal of another kind kept in an ants' or termites' nest.
symphily living together for mutual benefit.
symphylous of or like a symphile, an animal of another kind kept in an ants' or termites' nest.
synecologic relating to synecology.
synecological relating to synecology.
synecology the study of ecological communities.
synoecete a guest tolerated with indifference in an ants' or termites' nest.
synoecism association of species with benefit to one and neither harm nor benefit to other.
synoecology the study of ecological communities.
synoekete a guest tolerated with indifference in an ants' or termites' nest.
terraqueous living on both land and water.
terrestrial living on land (noun) a creature living on land
terrestrially (Adv.) TERRESTRIAL, living on land, as opposed to marine or aquatic.
terricole a land animal or plant; a burrower.
terricolous living in or on the soil.
timberline the upper limit of timber trees on a mountain.
tubicolar inhabiting a tube.
tubicole a creature inhabiting a tube.
tubicolous inhabiting a tube.
uliginose slimy; oozy; growing in swampy places.
uliginous slimy; oozy; growing in swampy places.
umwelt (Ger.) environmental factors collectively, as affecting the behaviour of an animal or individual.
unecological not ecological.
viticolous living on vines.
waldsterben (Ger.) disease and death in forest trees and vegetation as a result of atmospheric pollution.
xeriscape (Tradename) to landscape (an arid place) in a way that conserves by using pants that require little water.
xerosere a sequence of ecological communities beginning in a dry area.
xylogenous growing on wood.