Glossary

We are committed to bringing a greater understanding of ecology, and its importance, to a wider audience.
Now, more than ever, ecology is taking a prominent role in modern life. To help promote better use of ecological language, please see the glossary below. Please note it is not an exhaustive list of key terms.

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Amensalism

An interaction between two organisms, where one suffers a reduction in resources, or an increase in costs imposed by conditions, due to the presence of another organism. The latter gains no benefit or cost from its interaction with the harmed organism, which distinguishes amensalism from competition, predation or parasitism.

Biodiversity

An accepted shortening of the phrase ‘biological diversity’ commonly used to describe species richness. The biological variation found in a defined spatial area: can refer to variation at the level of genome, phenotype, species, community or ecosystem.

Commensalism

This refers to the interaction between two species where one organism gains resources or shelter from conditions, due to the presence of the other species. The latter species gains no benefit or cost from its interaction with the commensal.

Community

This refers to all species in a defined spatial area or ecosystem, which interact via trophic, competitive, commensal, amensal or mutualistic interactions. Members of a community may interact directly or indirectly e.g. apparent competition, if they share interaction links to other species in the community.