Ecosystem Dynamics

noun a small, predatory arthropod with many legs, typically found in damp environments

• The centipede is an arthropod with a long body and many legs.
• I saw a huge centipede crawling on the wall last night!
• That centipede is freaky, man!
• Dealing with all these paperwork feels like having to count the legs of a centipede.

adjective describing a person or animal as having a body temperature that varies with the temperature of the surroundings

• The scientist studied the behavior of cold blooded reptiles in their natural habitat.
• I heard that guy is a cold blooded killer, so watch out.
• Don't trust him, he's as cold blooded as they come.
• Her ex-boyfriend's cold blooded words cut her deeply.

noun an animal that feeds on plants

• The herbivore grazed peacefully in the meadow, enjoying a diet of plants and grass.
• My friend's pet rabbit is a herbivore, so she always has plenty of fresh veggies on hand.
• I didn't realize how many herbivores there were until I started going to vegan meetups.
• In a world full of carnivores, be proud to be a herbivore and stick to your principles.

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 wild dog-like animal that scavenges for food and is known for its cunning and stealth

• The jackal is a cunning predator known for its scavenging habits.
• I saw a jackal lurking around the campsite last night.
• That guy is a real jackal, always looking for an easy opportunity.
• The corrupt politician was compared to a jackal, preying on the vulnerable for personal gain.

noun the branch of science that deals with the physical and biological aspects of the oceans

• Oceanography is the study of the physical and biological aspects of the ocean.
• I'm taking a class on oceanography next semester.
• Diving into oceanography is really cool.
• Exploring the depths of oceanography can lead to new discoveries.

noun a person who habitually relies on or exploits others and gives nothing in return

• The parasite was identified as a type of roundworm that infects the intestines.
• I heard that guy is a real parasite, always mooching off others.
• Don't be a parasite and expect everyone to do things for you.
• Negative thoughts can be like a parasite, slowly draining your happiness.

adjective relating to or characterized by plundering or preying on others

• The predacious behavior of the company led to multiple lawsuits.
• I heard that guy is pretty predacious when it comes to business deals.
• Watch out for that predacious dude, he's always looking to scam someone.
• Her eyes had a predacious glint as she spotted the last piece of cake.

noun an animal that is hunted and killed by another for food

verb to hunt and kill for food

• The lion patiently waited for its prey to approach before pouncing.
• The cat loves to chase after prey in the backyard.
• The hunters were out looking for their next prey in the forest.
• In the world of business, competitors are always on the lookout for prey to gain an advantage.

noun a small to medium-sized mammal with a distinctive masked face, ringed tail, and dexterous front paws, native to North and Central America and known for its scavenging habits

• The raccoon is a nocturnal mammal native to North America.
• I saw a raccoon rummaging through the trash cans last night.
• That raccoon is a sneaky little bandit!
• Her eyes were like a raccoon's, dark and mysterious.

noun a breeding place or communal nesting site for certain birds, especially rooks

• The conservationists studied the behavior of the penguins in the rookery.
• Let's go check out the cute baby seals at the rookery!
• The rookery is where all the cool birds hang out.
• The bustling city street was like a rookery of noisy activity.

noun A person who studies or works with animals, particularly in their natural habitats

• The zoologist conducted a detailed study on the behavior of a rare species of birds.
• My friend is training to become a zoologist and she loves working with animals.
• I heard that zoologists get to hang out with cool animals all day, how awesome is that?
• As a zoologist of human behavior, she was able to analyze the social dynamics of the group with precision.

noun the scientific study of animals, including their classification, structure, physiology, and behavior

• The study of animals and their behavior is known as zoology.
• I find zoology to be a fascinating subject because I love learning about different animal species.
• Zoology class is where we get to learn about all the cool animals.
• Exploring the depths of human nature is like delving into the zoology of the mind.

noun a member of the kingdom Protista, comprising single-celled eukaryotic organisms

adjective relating to or characteristic of protists

• Protists are a diverse group of eukaryotic microorganisms that are not plants, animals, or fungi.
• Did you know that protists are single-celled organisms that can be found in various environments?
• Protists are like the cool kids of the microscopic world.
• Just like protists, sometimes we may feel like we are small and overlooked in a big world.

noun The Pleistocene is a geological epoch that lasted from about 2.6 million to 11,700 years ago, characterized by multiple ice ages and the presence of early humans.

adjective Pleistocene can also be used as an adjective to describe things related to or characteristic of this geological epoch.

• The Pleistocene epoch lasted from about 2.6 million to 11,700 years ago.
• Did you know that mammoths roamed the Earth during the Pleistocene period?
• Back in the Pleistocene days, things were totally different.
• Her fashion sense is so outdated, it's like she's stuck in the Pleistocene era.

noun A word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea. In this case, 'micro-season' is a noun that refers to a short period of time within a larger season.

adjective A word that describes or modifies a noun. In this case, 'micro-season' can be used as an adjective to describe a specific type of season that is small or short in duration.

• The concept of a micro-season refers to a shorter period of time within a larger season, characterized by specific weather patterns.
• I love how we have a micro-season in the spring where it's warm during the day but still chilly at night.
• I can't wait for the micro-season when it's perfect bonfire weather.
• In the world of fashion, there's always a micro-season trend that everyone follows for a few weeks before moving on to the next big thing.

noun the state or condition of being a carnivore; the practice of living on flesh

• Carnivory is the act of consuming meat as a primary food source.
• Some animals have evolved to have a carnivorous diet.
• Eating meat is just part of the carnivory lifestyle.
• In the world of business, carnivory refers to aggressively pursuing success at all costs.

noun A small rodent resembling a squirrel, found in South America.

• The abrocome is a type of rodent native to South America.
• Have you ever seen an abrocome in the wild?
• I heard that abrocomes are really good at climbing trees.
• Her quick movements on the dance floor reminded me of an abrocome darting through the forest.

noun a military officer who acts as an administrative assistant to a senior officer

• The adjutant crane is a large bird species found in South and Southeast Asia.
• I saw a huge adjutant crane at the zoo yesterday.
• Check out that funky adjutant crane strutting around like it owns the place.
• The adjutant crane stood tall and regal, a symbol of grace and elegance in the wetlands.

noun aesculapian snake

• The aesculapian snake is a non-venomous species commonly found in Europe.
• I saw a cool aesculapian snake while hiking in the forest.
• That aesculapian snake is slithering around like it owns the place.
• Her graceful movements on the dance floor were compared to that of an aesculapian snake.