Cosmo Dictionary of Ecology

The aim of this dictionary is to fill the need for definitions of many new terms that have come into usage during the past thirty years and also to include many of the old terms that are used in current literature. It has not seemed desirable to include many words that are rarely if at all used at present and which are in the older glossaries many words from fields closely related to ecology such as forestry, range management, agronomy, soils, and genetics are included because of their wide usage in ecological literature. The definitions are usually those that are in accord with present general usage. It has not seemed wise to attempt to pronounce judgment on the desirability of, or the need for, certain terms since decisions are made by usage as a language grows. The inclusion of certain words in this dictionary does not necessarily imply that the author approves or recommends their use.