Roots of Common Terms in Conservation Biology

Roots

G = Greek, L = Latin, F = French

Anthropogenic

anthrōpos = human being (G) and genes = born (G)

Biodiversity

"biological diversity" bios = life (G) and divertere = turn aside (L)

Conservation

conservare = to preserve (L)

Ecosystem

eco shortened from ecology, from oikos = house (G)

Endangered

Danger comes from dangier = meaning the power to harm (F)

Extinction

exstinguere = extinguished (L)

Habitat

habitare = posess, inhabit (L)

Intrinsic

intrinsecus = inward (L)

Mitigation

mitigare = to soften or alleviate (L) 

Ozone

ozein = to smell (G) [Ozone has a pungent odor, fyi.]

Poaching

pochier = to enclose in a bag (F)

Pollution

pollut- = soiled, defiled (L)

Population

populus = people (L) [Even though we can talk about populations of many different organisms, not just human populations]

Preservation

praeservare= to guard (L)

Reserve

reservare =keep back, from re- = back+ servare = to keep(L) 

Restoration

restaurare = rebuild, restore (L)

Species

specere = to look(L)

Sustainability

sustinere, from sub- =from below+ tenere = hold (L)