GLOSSARY OF ECOLOGY TERMS
T to Z

Our glossary contains most of the scientific terms you'll encounter while using this site:

A-D | E-H | I-M | N-S | T-Z

T | U | V | W | X |Y | Z

Taxonomy, n: The classification of living organisms according to the heirarchy of relationships.

Threatened species, n: Wild species that is still abundant in its natural range but is likely to become endangered because of a decline in numbers.

Total fertility rate (TFR), n: Estimate of the average number of children that will be born alive to a woman during her lifetime if she passes through all her childbearing years (ages 15-44) conforming to age-specific fertility rates of a given year. In simpler terms, it is an estimate of the average number of children a woman will have during her childbearing years.

Transmissible disease, n: A disease that is caused by living organisms (such as bacteria, viruses, and parasitic worms) and that can spread from one person to another by air, water, food, body fluids (or in some cases by insects or other organisms).

U

Urban heat island, n: Buildup of heat in the atmosphere above an urban area. This is produced by the large concentration of cars, buildings, factories, and other heat-producing activities.

Z

Zero population growth (ZPG), n: State in which the birth rate (plus immigration) equals the death rate (plus emigration) so that the population of a geographical area is no longer increasing.

Zoonosis, n: A disease of animals, such as rabies or psittacosis, that can be transmitted to humans. Zoonotic, adj.