Glossary of Terms in Ecology and Restoration
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | K | L | M | N | O | P | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Other Glossaries
A
Adsorption: adherence of dissolved elements to particulate
matter.
Alkalinity: concentration of alkali metals that form
salts (e.g. Li, Na, K). High alkalinity raises pH and precipitates
metals out of solution and is often associated with limestone
substrates.
Allelopathy: growth suppression by one plant on another
plant due to the release of inhibitory or toxic chemicals.
Allocation: the process of designating certain resources
for certain purposes.
Alluvial Fan: lowland
loose sediment deposited by water run-off -usually forms at the base of
mountains in arid and semi-arid environments.
Alpine: refers to high mountain areas above the timberline
(where trees cease to inhabit extremely cold environments).
Ameliorate: to make a situation better or more tolerable
Animal: any member of the animal kingdom including multicellular marine organisms, worms, insects,
spiders, crustaceans, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.
Anthropogenic: refers to the resulting influence of humans on
nature.
Annual Growth: the amount of new plant biomass produced per
year, usually measured as above-ground production.
Annuals: plants which display germination and rapid
growth in wet seasons, quickly flower and produce seeds, and then
wither. The success of this life form lies in the seeds, which
often lie dormant until the next wet season.
Aspect: the direction (N,S,E,W) of reference or the direction of exposure to elements such
as wind.
(back to top)
B
Bajadas: lower slopes of mountains characterized by
loose sediment and poor soil development.
Bathymetric: of or having to do with the depth of large
bodies of water.
Benthic: refers to the bottom substrate of a body of
water.
Biodiversity: the number (richness) and distribution
(evenness) of species in an area.
Biogeochemical: refers to the recycling chemistry between
plants, animals and the earth’s sediments.
Biomass: the total amount of living matter within a
given unit or area. Syn: live matter
Biome: a complex of ecological communities characterized
by distinctive vegetation and climate.
Bioremediation: the use of microorganisms and/or plants
(phytoremediation) to decontaminate polluted water and soil.
Biosphere: the part of the world in which life can exist.
Bog: a wetland with acidic substrate mainly composed of moss
and peat and having a characteristic flora.
Broadcast Seeding: spreading a seed mixture evenly over
harrowed ground and raking.
(back to top)
C
Calcareous: refers to soils or an area with soils containing
large amounts of calcium carbonate, usually derived from limestone
sediment.
Catchment: refers to an area (usually smaller than a
watershed) which "catches" rainfall and is drained by a common
stream.
Chaparral: refers to areas with broad-leaved evergreen shrubs
found in climates with hot dry summers and mild wet winters.
Climate: the average or prevailing weather conditions of
a place over a period of years (BLM Technical Reference 4400-7).
Clay: 1.) sedimentary grains < 1/256 mm. 2.)
fine particles of aluminum silicates and other minerals typically both
definitions apply.
Community: an assemblage of interacting plants and
animals forming a distinctive group within a given area.
Competition: the active demand of two or more organisms for the same limited resource (i.e. space,
nutrients, water, food, female).
Composition: refers to the relative proportion of space
or biomass occupied by each species in a given area.
Conservation: 1.) the planned management of natural
resources. 2.) the retention of natural balance, diversity, and
evolutionary change in the environment (Mojave-Southern Standards &
Guidelines, BLM).
Corridor: a natural or restored pathway for a population
of organisms to use in order to breed and/or remain contiguous.
Cover: usually refers to the percentage of ground covered by
living or organic material.
(back to top)
D
Deciduous: refers to plants which do not retain their
leaves from year to year. Opp: Evergreen
Denuded: stripped of all vegetative cover as after a
severe disturbance such as a landslide.
Desertification: a process of landscape change usually
due to land mismanagement or climate change whereby the land becomes
increasingly arid and vegetation is replaced by more dry-adapted
species.
Distribution: 1.) the spatial arrangement of organisms in a
defined area- which fall into one of three categories: clumped, uniform,
or random. 2.) the geographic area in which a species
naturally occurs Syn: range. 3.) in a
statistical sense, it is the total observed (or estimated) frequency of
occurrence for the studied subject (or statistic).
Disturbance: any event which alters or stresses an
environment’s structure and function.
Dredging: use of motorized equipment to clean, deepen, or
widen areas inundated with water.
Drill Seeding: sowing seeds in rows of drilled holes.
(back to top)
E
Ecological Restoration: altering an area in such a way as
to reestablish an ecosystem’s structure and function, usually bringing
it back to its original (pre-disturbance) state or to a healthy state
close to the original. Syn: rehabilitation
Ecosystem: a collection of interacting organisms and
their physical environment (matter and energy) that functions together
as a single large-scale unit.
Ecotone: a distinct area where one plant community changes
into another plant community, usually caused by changes in the
environment such as changes in elevation or soil characteristics.
Ecotope: an area with uniform environmental conditions and
characteristic plants and animals. Syn: biotope
Edaphic: of or having to do with soil.
Edge Effect: the resulting influence two starkly different plant communities (e.g.
forest-meadow) have on the animals that inhabit the area.
Endemic: refers to a species that is not only native to a
geographic area but is also restricted to that area or specific
habitat.
Ephemeral: characterized as episodic and lasting a short
duration.
Erosion: depletion of surface soil or rock due to
geologic forces such as water, wind, ice, and gravity.
Estuarine: of or having to do with the area where the sea
meets a freshwater stream/river.
Eutrophic: refers to a body of water which is
excessively rich in dissolved nutrients and usually poor in dissolved
oxygen. Opp: oligotrophic
Evolve: proceeding through the natural process of change
caused by genetic mutations and selection upon those mutations for
environmentally favorable traits. Two different environments can
lead to the evolution of two different organisms from one ancestor.
Exotic: refers to a species that is foreign to a
geographic area and usually alienated from its natural competitors and
predators.
(back to top)
F
Facultative: refers to the ability to change metabolic pathways
(i.e. aerobic and anaerobic) given the environmental conditions.
Filtration: removal of particulate matter from water due
to obstruction and reduced water velocity.
Forb: herbaceous plants.
Fragmentation: 1.) refers to the break up of an
organism’s population and breeding grounds. 2.) refers to the
reduction in connectivity among ecosystems within a landscape.
(back to top)
G
GIS: refers to the Geographic Information System
consisting of satellite images of the earth’s topography, land
developments, and vegetative/non-vegetative coverage.
Gene flow: refers to the exchange of heritable traits in a
population of organisms. Lack or low gene flow is considered
detrimental because it does not yield a great amount of variability
(gene pool) from which the population can use to overcome changing
environmental conditions.
Genetic: of or having to do with the precise heritable traits
(genes) retained by an individual. Individuals that have been
geographically separated for a long time usually have slightly different
genetic make-ups.
Grading: altering a land surface by cutting, filling and/or
smoothing to meet a designated form and function.
Graminoids: include grasses, sedges (grass-like plants), and
rushes (marsh plants).
Granivory: refers to the loss of seeds due to consumption
by another organism. Syn: predation
Gravel: rounded sedimentary particles >2 mm in diameter.
(back to top)
H
Habitat: the physical environment in which organisms live.
Herbivory: refers to the loss of vegetation due to consumption
by another organism. Syn: predation
Heterogeneous: refers to anything which displays a varied
composition or a mixture of elements. Opp: homogeneous
Homogeneous: refers to anything which displays a uniform or
consistent composition. Opp: heterogeneous
Hue: relation to the spectral colors (red, yellow, green,
blue, purple, or a mixture of these colors).
Hydric (Hydrophilic): characterized as requiring ample water
or moisture.
Hydrology: scientific study of water distribution, properties,
and effects.
Hydrosphere: the aqueous part of the earth, including all bodies
of water and water vapor in the atmosphere.
(back to top)
I
Indigenous: refers to a species that is native to a
geographic area. Syn: native
Infiltration: the flow of water into a porous material.
Invasive: refers to a species, not previously present in a
plant community, that aggressively increases in abundance due to
ecosystem disturbance or because it is an exotic species alienated from
its competitors and herbivores.
(back to top)
K
Karst: a limestone-rich landscape characterized by chemical
erosion producing various sinkholes, fissures, underground streams, and
caverns.
(back to top)
L
Lacustrine: of or having to do with lakes.
Landscape: a complex of interacting ecosystems and
humans.
Legume: plants belonging to the pea family (e.g. alfalfa and
red clover) which typically host symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
Limnetic: of or having to do with deep open waters of
lakes or ponds.
Lithosphere: the solid outer part of the earth that is composed of rock.
Litter: the uppermost layer of organic debris, usually under
deciduous plants, which may be slightly decomposed.
Littorial: of or having to do with shores of lakes or
seas.
(back to top)
M
Mesa: a flat-topped natural elevation or broad terrace.
Mesic: characterized as requiring a moderate amount of
water. Opp: hydric and xeric
Metapopulation: multiple populations of an organism
within an area in which interbreeding could occur, but does not due to
geographic barriers.
Microhabitat (Microsite, Microenvironment): a small area
with physical and ecological characteristics that distinguish it from
its immediate surrounding area.
Mitigation: 1.) restoring, replacing, or creating ecological
habitats (usu. wetlands) in one area to compensate for loss of natural
habitats in another area due to development. Syn: compensatory
restoration 2.) avoiding, minimizing, or reducing ecosystem
losses.
Mitigation Banking: creates “mitigation credits” that can be
purchased by developers in lieu of compensatory restoration.
Mitigation Banks: 1.) sites selected for habitat restoration or
creation 2.) market-based banks that exchange “mitigation credits”
on the developing site for wetland restoration/creation requirements on
another site.
Mottling: marble-like pattern that occurs in soils where the
water table fluctuates periodically.
Multiple Use: refers to land management which does not
permanently impair the land, but instead, manages the land so that
present resources are valued for meeting the needs of the American
people and future changes in the lands resources can be made (Federal
Land Policy and Management Act).
Mutualism: a symbiotic relationship between two organisms in
which both organisms benefit from the relationship. e.g.
Pollination of flowers by honey bees
Mycorrhizae: modified roots consisting of a mutually
beneficial relationship between plant roots and fungi. Plants support
fungi by providing sugar and a hospitable environment. Fungi
support plants by providing increased surface area for water uptake and
by selectively absorbing essential minerals. Syn: fungus
roots
(back to top)
N
Naturalized: refers to a previously exotic or foreign species
which has established in and conformed to an ecosystem.
Nitrogen fixation: an important biochemical pathway in which
atmospheric nitrogen (N2) is converted
to inorganic nitrogen (NO3-,
NH3, or NH4+) which can then be used by plants.
The few organisms which are able to carry out this process are:
cyanobacteria (blue-green algae), some symbiotic bacteria such as
Rhizobium and Frankia, and humans.
Nutrients: chemical compounds in a usable form for plants
and/or animals.
(back to top)
O
Obligate: refers to the inability to change metabolic pathways,
mode of feeding, or ecological relationships; restricted to specific
environmental conditions.
Oligotrophic: refers to a body of water which is poor in
dissolved nutrients and usually rich in dissolved oxygen. Opp:
eutrophic
Oxidize: a chemical reaction in which the reference element or compound losses electrons to another
"reduced" element or compound- usually to oxygen (a powerful electron
attractor). Oxidation typically results in the breaking up of complex compounds.
(back to top)
P
Palustrine: of or having to do with a marsh or grassy
wetland environment.
Patch (dynamics): an area of uniform composition
(homogeneous). Patch dynamics is the relationship between
homogenous areas in a heterogeneous landscape.
Pathogen: any disease causing agent- usually a bacterium or virus.
Percolation: the trickle or seepage of water through a
porous material.
Perennial: lasting throughout the year or through many
years.
Perennials: plants that grow relatively slowly
throughout the year and generally persist beyond the life-span of their
seeds.
Pest: any animalthat is not valued by human society and
usually overgrows or competes with valued animals.
Phytoremediation: the use of plants to decontaminate
water and soils rich in dissolved nutrients (as phosphates).
Playa: a dry lake bed or lowland areas that are
periodically flooded, commonly occurs in Southwestern United States.
Population: a group of interbreeding organisms not separated
by geographic barriers which would inhibit breeding between all
individuals.
Precipitation: separation of dissolved elements from water by
forming a solid substance with other elements.
Predation: 1.) refers to consumption of an organism
by another organism. 2.) refers to the consumption and/or
killing of animals.
Productivity: 1.) the amount of atmospheric carbon
dioxide fixed into plant sugar (starch). 2.) the amount of
plant matter accumulated in a given time.
Propagule: any part of a plant that can give rise to a new
individual and aids in dispersal of the species.
Pupae: the stage between larval and adult where insects
undergo extensive body transformations during dormancy or inactivity (diapause).
(back to top)
R
Random: 1.) having an undefined distribution (not clumped and
not uniform). 2.) having a likelihood of being selected that is not
biased from any other item in the selectable area.
Reclamation: alters an area to bring it to a healthy
state unlike the original ecosystem. Syn: replacement
Reduce: a chemical reaction in which the reference element or
compound gains electrons or hydrogen atoms (which have one electron) from another "oxidized"
element or compound. Reduction typically results in building complex compounds.
Rehabilitation: altering a degraded habitat in order to
improve ecological function.
Remediation: the process of correcting environmental
degradation. Syn: amelioration
Resource: any component of the environment that can be
utilized by an organism (Mojave-Southern Standards & Guidelines,
BLM).
Restoration: altering an area in such a way as to
reestablish an ecosystem’s structure and function, usually bringing it
back to its original (pre-disturbance) state or to a healthy state close
to the original.
Rhizosphere: the soil that surrounds and is influenced by plant roots.
Riparian: refers to the banks of a stream or river, usually
characterized by hydrophilic (water-loving) vegetation.
(back to top)
S
Safe-site: the environment immediately surrounding a
seed which is favourable to germination and establishment. Syn:
microsite, microhabitat
Salinity: the amount of chemical salts (compounds
that include Na, K, Mg, Ca) contained in a solution.
Sand: sedimentary grains 2 -1/16 mm in diameter.
Savanna: tropical grasslands with scattered trees or
shrubs.
Sedimentation: settling of particulate matter in water
related to particle size, water velocity, and water flow.
Silt: sedimentary grains 1/16 - 1/256 mm in diameter.
Soil Horizon: layer of soil developed in response to
localized chemical and physical processes resulting from the activities
of soil organisms, addition of organic matter, precipitation, and water
percolation through the layer.
Spodosol: type of soil layer with precipitated (solid)
organic matter, aluminum, and iron.
Stand: an aggregation of plants growing in a continuous
area and separated from other aggregations.
Stewardship: the individual’s responsibility to manage life
and property with a reasonable regard to the rights of others.
Succession: a naturally occurring, progressive
replacement of plant species and vegetation types due to competitive
differences and environmental development.
Sustained yield: perpetual achievement and maintenance
of a high level of annual (or regular periodic) output of the various
renewable resources of the public lands. Sustained yield is a
concept consistent with “Mulitple Use” (Mojave-Southern Standards &
Guidelines, BLM).
Symbiotic: refers to the intimate relationship between two
organisms often resulting in mutualism (win-win), parasitism (win-lose),
or commensalism (win-no harm).
(back to top)
T
Talus: an adjacent slope at the base of a steep incline
characterized by unsorted rocky rubble.
Temperate: refers to geographic regions with moderate
temperatures and climate e.g. Midwestern and Eastern United
States.
Topographic: refers to the surface landscape of a
geographic area, especially changes in elevation.
Topsoil: the surface layer of soil containing partly
decomposed organic debris, which is usually high in nutrients, contains
many seeds, and is rich in mycorrhizae.
Tundra: arctic and alpine regions characterized by bare
ground, absence of trees, and growth of mosses, lichens, and low
shrubs.
Turbidity: amount of sediment or particles suspended in
water.
(back to top)
U
Upland: 1.) terrestrial ecosystems located away from riparian
zones, wetlands, springs, seeps, and dry washes 2.) ecosystems made up of
vegetation not in contact with groundwater or other permanent water
sources (Mojave-Southern Standards & Guidelines, BLM).
(back to top)
V
Value: degree of lightness in a color.
Viability: the quality of possessing the ability to live,
function and grow-a crucial characteristic of seeds.
Volatilization: evaporation of liquid substances into the
atmosphere.
(back to top)
W
Watershed: 1.) the entire geographic landscape that is
drained by a waterway leading to a lake or reservoir 2.) a
geographic area delineated by its peaks, which divide surface water flow
into two directions.
Weed: any plant that is not valued by the human society
and usually tends to overgrow or compete with valued flora.
Wetland: a general term for lowlands covered with
shallow and sometimes temporary or intermittent waters.
Syn: marsh, swamp, bog, wet meadow, sloughs, fen, river-overflow
land
(back to top)
X
Xeric: characterized as requiring very little water.
Opp: hydric and mesic
(back to top)
Other Glossaries
