Conservation Biology Vocabulary

verb to plunder or destroy, often in a predatory manner

• The invasive species began to depredate the local ecosystem.
• The raccoons have been depredate our trash cans every night.
• Those vandals are always trying to depredate the park.
• The corrupt officials depredate the country's resources for their own gain.

noun a person or thing that has been extirpated

verb to root out or destroy completely

• The government launched a campaign to extirpate corruption from the public sector.
• I heard they're trying to extirpate all the weeds in the backyard.
• We need to extirpate all the fake friends from our circle.
• She hoped to extirpate all negative thoughts from her mind.

noun a collection of preserved plant specimens, often used for scientific study

• The botanist carefully cataloged the plant specimens in the herbarium.
• She loves spending time looking at the dried flowers in the herbarium.
• I heard that the herbarium has some cool plants from around the world.
• The library felt like a herbarium of old books, preserving knowledge from the past.

noun An animal that feeds primarily on insects

• The insectivore's diet consists mainly of insects and other small invertebrates.
• My pet lizard is an insectivore, so I have to make sure to feed it plenty of crickets.
• That bird is a real insectivore, always swooping down to catch bugs in mid-air.
• As an insectivore of knowledge, she devours books and articles to satisfy her curiosity.

noun a type of marine mollusk with a conical shell that clings tightly to rocks

adjective pertaining to or resembling a limpet

• The limpet is a type of marine mollusk that attaches itself to rocks.
• I found a limpet clinging to the rock at the beach.
• That limpet is really sticking to that rock!
• She's like a limpet, never wanting to let go of her beliefs.

noun a type of amphibian with a long body, four legs, and a long tail, typically found near water

• The salamander is a type of amphibian that typically has a long body and tail.
• I saw a salamander crawling around in the garden yesterday.
• That salamander is so cool, dude!
• Her ability to adapt to different situations is like a salamander's ability to thrive in various environments.

noun a record of the pedigree of a purebred animal, especially a horse

• The studbook is a registry used to record the lineage and breeding history of purebred animals.
• I found my dog's studbook while going through old paperwork at home.
• Hey, did you check out the new entries in the horse studbook?
• The studbook of successful entrepreneurs is filled with stories of hard work and determination.

verb to make someone or something calm or relaxed by using a drug or medication

• The veterinarian had to tranquilize the wild animal before administering any treatment.
• The zookeeper had to tranquilize the lion because it was getting agitated.
• I heard they had to tranquilize that crazy guy at the party last night.
• Listening to classical music has a way of tranquilizing my mind after a long day.

noun a major ecological community or region, characterized by distinct flora and fauna

adjective relating to or characteristic of an ecozone

• The ecozone of this region is carefully monitored to ensure the preservation of its unique biodiversity.
• I heard that the ecozone around here is really cool for hiking and bird watching.
• The ecozone in this area is lit, perfect for nature lovers.
• Her mind was like an ecozone, teeming with diverse thoughts and ideas.

noun a species that has been brought to a new location outside of its native range, often by human activities

• The introduction of non-native species into an ecosystem can have detrimental effects on the native wildlife.
• Bringing in species from outside can mess up the balance of the ecosystem.
• Introducing new species into the mix can really throw things off.
• Like a bull in a china shop, introduced species can wreak havoc on the delicate ecosystem.

noun a person who studies trees and woody plants

• The dendrologist carefully studied the growth patterns of the ancient oak trees in the forest.
• My friend is a total tree nerd, he's basically a dendrologist.
• I never knew being a tree detective was a thing, but apparently dendrologists exist.
• She had a knack for deciphering people's personalities like a dendrologist reads tree rings.

noun a forest that has reached a stage of maturity and has not been significantly disturbed by human activity

adjective describing something that is old and has been undisturbed for a long time, typically referring to forests with mature trees

• The preservation of old-growth forests is essential for maintaining biodiversity.
• I love hiking through old-growth forests because they are so peaceful and majestic.
• Dude, those old-growth trees are like ancient giants standing tall and proud.
• The old-growth of wisdom in his mind was evident in the way he spoke.

noun a protective case or covering especially for wintering animals or for dormant plants

• The hibernaculum is a structure where animals hibernate during the winter months.
• I found a cozy hibernaculum in the woods where I can sleep during my camping trip.
• Let's crash at my hibernaculum for the night, it's super chill.
• His bedroom became his hibernaculum during the lockdown, rarely leaving except for essentials.

noun a person who studies reptiles and amphibians

• The herpetologist conducted a study on the behavior of snakes in their natural habitat.
• My friend who is a herpetologist just got back from a research trip to study lizards.
• That guy is a total herpetologist, he's obsessed with reptiles!
• As a herpetologist of human behavior, she could read people like a book.

noun a type of ecosystem that has been significantly altered by human activity, often resulting in the introduction of new species and changes to the ecosystem's structure and function

• The introduction of non-native species has led to the formation of a novel ecosystem in the wetlands.
• The new plants and animals have created a whole new ecosystem in the forest.
• Yo, have you seen that crazy new ecosystem that popped up in the park?
• The merging of different cultures in the city created a novel ecosystem of ideas and traditions.

noun the scientific study of bees

• Apiology is the scientific study of bees and their behavior.
• I'm really interested in apiology, it's fascinating to learn about bees.
• Apiology is all about those buzzy little creatures.
• In the world of business, understanding consumer behavior is like studying apiology.

noun African swallowwort - a type of plant belonging to the genus Cynanchum, known for its invasive nature and toxicity to livestock.

• The african swallowwort is an invasive plant species that is causing harm to native ecosystems.
• I heard that the african swallowwort is taking over the fields near the river.
• Yo, have you seen that crazy african swallowwort growing like crazy by the highway?
• The african swallowwort had spread through the town like wildfire, choking out all other plant life in its path.

noun a hypothesis is a proposed explanation for a phenomenon

• The age and area hypothesis suggests that the diversity of species in a given area is influenced by both the age of the area and its size.
• According to the age and area hypothesis, the number of different species in an area depends on how old the area is and how big it is.
• The whole age and area hypothesis thing basically says that the more time and space there is, the more species you'll find.
• Just like how a person's wisdom grows with age and experience, the diversity of species in an area can also increase with time and size, as per the age and area hypothesis.