The study of microbes in the environment and their interactions with each other. (International Society for Microbial Ecology, 2024. What is microbial ecology? https://www.isme-microbes.org/what-microbial-ecology)
Neurological disorder characterized by the presence and repetition over time of sudden involuntary crises with muscle contractions and spasms. (Buonfiglio, G. & Lovatelli, A. 2023. A practical guide on safe hookah diving – Diving for sea cucumbers and other marine organisms. Rome, FAO. https://doi.org/10.4060/cc3789en)
A family of gastrointestinal peptide hormones that excite the secretion of gastric juice. They may also occur in the central nervous system where they are presumed to be neurotransmitters. (MeSH. 2024. Gastrins. https://meshb-prev.nlm.nih.gov/record/ui?ui=D005755)
Introduction of animals which have been translocated by human agency into lands or waters where they have not lived previously, at least during historic times. (Adapted from https://www.eionet.europa.eu/gemet/en/concept/10660)
Leucosis is a leukemia-like malignant viral disease that is found in animals, particularly poultry and cattle. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leucosis)
The mouflon (Ovis gmelini) is a wild sheep native to Cyprus, and the Caspian region, including eastern Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Iran. It is also found in parts of Europe. It is thought to be the ancestor of all modern domestic sheep breeds. (Wikipedia. 2025. Mouflon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mouflon)
The ravine or valley of a seasonal stream in arid or semi-arid areas that is usually dry except for a short time after spate flow events (a few hours to a few days). (FAO. 2022. The State of the World’s Land and Water Resources for Food and Agriculture – Systems at breaking point. Main report. Rome.
https://doi.org/10.4060/cb9910en)
Airborne particulates (FAO & WHO. 2023. Risk assessment of food allergens – Part 3: Review and establish precautionary labelling in foods of the priority allergens, Meeting report. Food Safety and Quality Series No. 16. Rome.https://doi.org/10.4060/cc6081en)
Re-stocking is the movement of numbers of plants or animals of a species with the intention of building up the number of individuals of that species in an original habitat. (https://www.isprambiente.gov.it/files/biodiversita/IUCNPosition.pdf)
