endemism
Place-bound species existence
Endemism is the condition of being found only in a particular geographic area.
A species exhibits endemism when it exists nowhere else in the world: The endemism of lemurs to Madagascar makes the island a conservation priority.
The term appears in ecology and biogeography discussions about species distribution and biodiversity hotspots.
At risk of extinction
- threatenedExpressed intent to harm
- vulnerableOpen to attack
- extinctionComplete vanishing of a species
- protectionGuarding against harm
reserve · sanctuary · habitat loss · fragmentation · invasive species · biodiversity · hotspot · reintroduction
Water-bounded land mass
- isolationComplete separation from others
- insularNarrow in outlook
- oceanicOf the sea
- archipelagoChain of scattered islands
atoll · Madagascar · Galápagos · Hawaii · New Zealand · Mauritius · hotspot · relict
Interconnected organisms and surroundings
- nicheRecessed wall space
- habitatOrganism's natural environment
- microhabitatSmall distinct living area
- biomeMajor ecological community
ecotone · flora · fauna · biota · community · assemblage · population · interaction
Science of species distribution
- distributionAllocation across recipients
- rangeExtent of variation
- zoogeographyStudy of animal distribution
- dispersalSpreading in many directions
disjunct · refugia · radiation · colonization · migration · Wallace · Gondwana · continental drift
Formation of distinct species
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
- divergenceSeparation from common origin
- radiationEnergy propagation through space
- phylogenyEvolutionary relationships among organisms
genetics · gene pool · alleles · genotype · phenotype · morphology · selection · drift
Finest taxonomic rank
- genusTaxonomic rank above species
- familyRelated people together
- relictBiological or legal survivor
- flagshipCommander's principal vessel
keystone · indicator · specialist · generalist · cryptic · subspecies · variety · landrace
endangered
At risk of extinction
- threatenedExpressed intent to harm
- vulnerableOpen to attack
- extinctionComplete vanishing of a species
protection · reserve · sanctuary · habitat loss · fragmentation · invasive species · biodiversity · hotspot · reintroduction · recovery
island
Water-bounded land mass
archipelago · atoll · Madagascar · Galápagos · Hawaii · New Zealand · Mauritius · hotspot · relict · restricted
ecosystem
Interconnected organisms and surroundings
- nicheRecessed wall space
- habitatOrganism's natural environment
- microhabitatSmall distinct living area
biome · ecotone · flora · fauna · biota · community · assemblage · population · interaction · competition
biogeography
Science of species distribution
- distributionAllocation across recipients
- rangeExtent of variation
- zoogeographyStudy of animal distribution
dispersal · disjunct · refugia · radiation · colonization · migration · Wallace · Gondwana · continental drift · plate tectonics
speciation
Formation of distinct species
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
- divergenceSeparation from common origin
- radiationEnergy propagation through space
phylogeny · genetics · gene pool · alleles · genotype · phenotype · morphology · selection · drift · bottleneck
species
Finest taxonomic rank
flagship · keystone · indicator · specialist · generalist · cryptic · subspecies · variety · landrace · cultivar
endemismcosmopolitanism
Belief in shared humanity
ubiquity · wide-ranging · global distribution · circumglobal · dispersal
endemisminvasiveness
Tendency to encroach unwanted
introduction · exotic species · alien species · naturalization · colonization
- endemic speciesLife found nowhere else
- endemic diseaseDisease always present locally