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- Ecosystem
- This is a term used to describe the interaction between plants, animals and the Earth. It includes climate, geologic features, seasons, and how these factors affect the way the plant and animal life exist. An example would be a desert ecosystem, which is very dry, has plants that need very little water and animals that have adapted to finding food and water in an environment where such necessities are scarce. A river ecosystem would contain fish, and the animals that feed on them, the plant life that thrives in a wet environment, and the area's climate
- Ectothermic
- A word used to describe a cold-blooded animal - one that relies on the sun to warm its body.
- Endothermic
- Warm-blooded animals - those that can generate their own heat such as mammals.
- Epoch
- see Geologic Time
- Era
- see Geologic Time
- Evolution
- This is a confusing and often controversial concept. It causes debate in both the scientific and religious communities. Many people think that, simply put, evolution is the survival of the fittest. More accurately, evolution is survival of the most adaptable. Creatures that can adapt to new environments, new climates, new food sources or any other changes in the way they live are the most successful. You don't need to be big and strong to adapt. Evolution usually takes place over many generations, but many times any dramatic change can be seen in only a few generations. These changes are sometimes chance mutations that become successful.
One simple example of evolution at work is illustrated with moths. Within one Genus of moth there was a dark species and a light species. They lived in an industrial area where the acts of humans put a great deal of dirty soot in the air for many years. Over the years, the darker moths were able to hide better in the soot that covered everything in the area in which they lived. The light colored moths were easily spotted against the sooty plants and rocks, so the birds could find and eat them much easier. This meant that more of the dark colored moths survived to breed and make more dark colored moths. Eventually, there were almost no light colored moths left. So, the dark colored moths were better adapted to the change in their environment (the introduction of soot) and they survived. The Genus evolved so that almost all of the moths were dark in color.
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