adaptive radiation
Process in which numerous new species evolve to fill vacant and new ecological niches in changed environments, usually after a mass extinction or mass depletion. Typically, this takes millions of years.
Subject:
Environmental Science
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Book page:
http://course-notes.org/Environmental_Science
adaptive management
Flexible management that views attempts to solve problems as experiments, analyzes failures to see what went wrong, and tries to modify and improve an approach before abandoning it. Because of the inherent unpredictability of complex systems, it often uses the precautionary principle as a management tool.See precautionary principle.
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Adaptation
Any genetically controlled structural, physiological, or behavioral characteristic that helps an organism survive and reproduce under a given set of environmental conditions. It usually results from a beneficial mutation. See biological evolution, differential reproduction, mutation, natural selection. Also used for adaptive trait
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active solar heating system
System that uses solar collectors to capture energy from the sun and store it as heat for space heating and water heating. Liquid or air pumped through the collectors transfers the captured heat to a storage system such as an insulated water tank or rock bed. Pumps or fans then distribute the stored heat or hot water throughout a dwelling as needed. Compare passive solar heating system.
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acid solution
Any water solution that has more hydrogen ions (H+) than hydroxide ions (OH-); any water solution with a pH less than 7. Also used for acid. Compare basic solution, neutral solution.
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acid deposition
The falling of acids and acid-forming compounds from the atmosphere to the earth's surface. Acid deposition is commonly known as acid rain, a term that refers only to wet deposition of droplets of acids and acid-forming compounds. Also called acid rain.
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accuracy
Extent to which a measurement agrees with the accepted or correct value for that quantity, based on careful measurements by many people. Compare precision.
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acclimation
Adjustment to slowly changing new conditions. Compare threshold effect.
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abiotic
Nonliving. Compare biotic.
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Formulas
This category contains formulas used in environmental science.
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