endemism

(noun)

The ecological state of a species being unique to a defined geographic location, such as an island, nation, country or other defined zone, or habitat type; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsewhere.

Related Terms

Examples of endemism in the following topics:

  • Biogeography

    • For example, the Venus flytrap is endemic to a small area in North and South Carolina.
    • Approximately 3/4 of living plant and mammal species are endemic species found solely in Australia .
    • Plants can be endemic or generalists.
    • Isolated land masses, such as Australia, Hawaii, and Madagascar, often have large numbers of endemic plant species.
    • Australia is home to many endemic species.

  • Biogeography and the Distribution of Species

    • No species exists everywhere; for example, the Venus flytrap is endemic to a small area in North and South Carolina.
    • An endemic species is one which is naturally found only in a specific geographic area that is usually restricted in size.
    • Approximately 3/4 of living plant and mammal species are endemic species found solely in Australia .
    • Australia is home to many endemic species.

  • Burkitt's Lymphoma

    • The tumor cells have a similar appearance to that of endemic Burkitt lymphoma.
    • The jaw is less commonly involved, compared to the endemic variant.
    • Distinguish between the three variants of Burkitt's lymphoma: endemic, sporadic and immunodeficiency-associated

  • Occurrence of a Disease

    • Outbreaks may also refer to endemics that affect a particular place or group, epidemics that affect a region in a country or a group of countries, and pandemics that describe global disease outbreaks .
    • Zoonotic – The infectious agent is endemic to an animal population.

  • The Vocabulary Epidemiology

    • The distinction between "epidemic" and "endemic" was first drawn by Hippocrates, to distinguish between diseases that are "visited upon" a population (epidemic) from those that "reside within" a population (endemic).
    • Compare and contrast the following concepts: epidemic, endemic, pandemic; incidence vs prevalence; morbidity vs mortality; incubation, latency, acute, decline and convalescent periods

  • Power

    • Power can be seen as evil or unjust, but the exercise of power is accepted as endemic to humans as social beings.

  • Brucellosis (Undulant Fever)

    • B. abortus also infects bison and elk in North America and B. suis is endemic in caribou.

  • Formation, Storage, and Release of Thyroid Hormones

    • This enlarged endemic colloid goiter has the effect of increasing the thyroid's ability to trap more iodide, compensating for the iodine deficiency and allowing it to produce adequate amounts of thyroid hormone.

  • Exotic Species

    • The accidental introduction of the brown tree snake via aircraft from the Solomon Islands to Guam in 1950 has led to the extinction of three species of birds and three to five species of reptiles endemic to the island .
    • Islands do not make up a large area of land on the globe, but they do contain a disproportionate number of endemic species because of their isolation from mainland ancestors.

  • Coccidiomycosis

    • It is endemic in certain parts of Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah and northwestern Mexico.
    • There is currently no practical preventative measures available for people who live or travel through Valley Fever endemic areas.