Ecology Glossary

abiotic / describes the non-living part of the environment, including water, rocks, light, and temperature
ablation / All processes by which snow and ice are lost from a glacier, floating ice, or snow cover; or the amount which is melted. These processes include melting, evaporation, (sublimation), wind erosion, and calving. Synonym: wastage.
aboreal / tree dwelling organism
accretion / the growth of ice crystals or snowflakes by collision with supercooled cloud droplets that freeze upon contact.
Accumulation / All processes that add snow or ice to a glacier or to floating ice or snow cover: snow fall, avalanching, wind transport, refreezing...
Acid Precipitation / precipitation with a ph below 5.6 that can pollute water, kill fish and plants and damage soils, occurs when air pollutants from the burning of fossil fuels react with water in the atmosphere to form strong acids
acid precipitation / precipitation, such as rain, sleet or snow, that contains a high concentration of acids, often the cause of the pollution of the atmosphere
acid shock / the sudden runoff of large amounts of highly acidic water into lakes and streams when snow melts in the spring or when heavy rains follow a drought
Acidification / to make a substance more acidic. Acidification also means that a substance loses its acid neutralizing capacity (ANC). ANC is a measure of the ability for water or soil to neutralize added acids.
active or solar heating / the gathering ofsolar energy by collectors that are used to heat water or heat a building
active zone / section of soil above the permafrost located in the tundra
adaptation / the process of becoming adapted to an environment
aerate / to supply or expose water with air to increase dissolved oxygen and release harmful gases.
aerosol / a suspension of solid or liquid particles in a gaseous medium (e.g. dust, pollen, volcanic ash)
age structure / the classification of members of a population into groups according to age or the distribution of members of a population in terms of age groups
agriculture / the raising of crops and livestock for food or for other products that are useful to humans
air pollution / the contamination ofthe atmosphere by the introduction of pollutants from human and natural resources
air quality / a measure of the degree to which air is free from harmful pollution. In the US, the Environmental Protection Agency identifies and regulates the harmful compounds in air, particularly those that harm human health, damage crops, or cause harm to building, roads, and other structures (for example, acid rain). Scientists study the sources of air pollutants, how pollution changes as air moves around the planet, and how the chemistry in the atmosphere removes air pollutants.
air quality index / The Air Quality Index (AQI) (also known as the Air Pollution Index (API) or Pollutant Standard Index (PSI)) is a number used by government agencies to characterize the quality of the air at a given location.
AIRS / The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) one of the 6 instrument aboard the Aqua spacecraft. AIRS collects data on weather, climate, and atmospheric composition.
albeto / reflectivity of the planet; a measure of reflectivity; the planetary albedo of the Earth averages about 0.31, meaning that on average about 31 percent of the light from the Sun is reflected back to space. The value at any given time is dependent on cloud cover and ground cover (snow, ice).
Albeto effect / reflectivity of the planet--negative Albeto is absorption of heat and positive Albeto is the reflection of heat
alternative energy / energy that does not come from fossil fuels and that is still in development
altitude / the height of an object above a reference point, such as sea level or the Earth's surface
angiosperm / a flowering plant that produces seeds within a fruit
annual / a plant species that completes its life cycle in one growing season.
anomaly / the difference from the average, or climatological, value. Anomalies are often used in climate science, as they make small changes in variables much easier to see.
Aphotic Zone / The aphotic zone (aphotic from Greek prefix "without light") is the portion of a lake or ocean where there is little or no sunlight. It is formally defined as the depths beyond which less than 1% of sunlight penetrates. Consequently, bioluminescence is essentially the only light found in this zone. Most food comes from dead organisms sinking to the bottom of the lake or ocean from overlying waters. The depth of the aphotic zone can be greatly affected by such things as turbidity and the season of the year. The aphotic zone underlies the photic zone, which is that portion of a lake or ocean directly affected by sunlight.
aquaculture / the raising of awuatic plants and animals for human use or consumption
Aquatic Assemblage / an organism group of interacting populations in a given waterbody, for example, fish assemblage or a benthic macro-invertebrate assemblage.
aquifer / a body of rock or sediment that stores groundwater and allows the flow of groundwater
arable land / land that is dry
archaebacteria / a kingdom made up of prokaryotes that are from other prokaryotes by differences in their genetics and in the makeup of their cell wall; currently, biologists prefer to classing members of this kingdom into the domain Archaean
archipelago / a chain or cluster of islands
arid / dry, receives little precipitation.
artificial selection / the selective breeding of organisms (by humans) for specific desirable characteristics
artificial eutrophication / a process that increases the amount of nutrients ina body of waer through human activities, such as waste disposal and land drainage.
asbestos / any of six silicate minerals that form bundles of minute fibers that are heat resistant, flexible and durable.
ASDC / acronym for Atmospheric Science Data Center. ASDC is located at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. ASDC processes, archives and distributes NASA satellite data relating to clouds, aerosols, radiation budget and tropospheric chemistry.
asthenosphere / the solid,plastic layer of the mantle beneath the lithosphere; made of mantle rock that flows very slowly, which allows tectonic plates to move on the top
atmosphere / the mixture of gases that surrounds the Earth and some other planets. The concentrations of the gaseous constituents of Earth's atmosphere are determined by biogeochemical processes, including manmade effects.
atmospheric pressure / the weight of the column of the atmosphere above a surface. On average, the atmospheric pressure at sea level is 1013.25 millibars (mb), but it can be relatively higher or lower than this value based on air temperature and humidity. Changes in atmospheric pressure at a given location often indicate changing weather.
atoll / the ring of coral left behind when a volcanic island has eroded below the surface of the ocean. Composed of calcium carbonate skeletons representing many generations of coral organisms,the ring-shaped atoll may partially or totally enclose a lagoon
Atolls / coral islands consisting of a reef surrounding a lagoon
aurora / ethereal, high-altitude patterns of light that are usually observed in the sub-polar regions of Earth. Auroras are caused by the interaction of Earth's magnetic field with the constant stream of high energy particles generated by the sun. Northern Hemisphere - Aurora Borealis; Southern Hemisphere - Aurora Australis
B
Term / Definition
bacteria / extremely small, single-celled organisms that usually have a cell wall and reproduce by cell division
barrier island / a long ridge of sand or narrow island that lies parallel to the shore--helps to protect the mainland
basin / a topographically low region of Earth, often surrounded by mountain ranges and usually with a central river for drainage.
Bathmymetry / Bathymetry is the study of underwater depth of lake or ocean floors. In other words, bathymetry is the underwater equivalent to hypsometry or topography. The name comes from Greekbathus, "deep",[1] and metron, "measure".
benthic zone / the bottom region of oceans and bodies of fresh water
Benthic Zone / Bottom of a lake, pond or ocean
benthos / bottom dwelling organisms, such as mussels, worms and barnacles. Many benthic organisms live attach to hard surfaces, like bottom of ships.
biodegradable material / a material that can be broken down by natural/biological processes
biodiversity / the variety of organisms in a given area, the genetic variation within a population, the variety of species in a community, or the variety of communities in an ecosystem
biodiversity treaty / an international agreement aimed at strengthening national control and preservation of biological resources; associated with the UN Conference onEnvironment and Development (UNCED or Earth Summit) in 1992
biological diversity / refers to the number of different species present within a given area. High diversity means many different species present in a given area.
biological pest control / the use of certain organisms by umans to eliminate or control pests
bioluminescence / Bioluminescence is the production and emission of light by a living organism. Its name is a hybrid word, originating from the Greek bios for "living" and the Latin lumen "light". Bioluminescence is a naturally occurring form of chemiluminescence where energy is released by a chemical reaction in the form of light emission. Fireflies, anglerfish, and other creatures produce the chemicals luciferin (a pigment) and luciferase (an enzyme).[1] The luciferin reacts with oxygen to create light.
biomagnification / the accumulation of pollutants at successive levels of the food chain
Biomass / In the context of energy production, biomass refers to living and recently living biological material that can be used as fuel or for industrial production. Most commonly, biomass refers to plant matter grown for use as biofuel, but also includes plant or animal matter used for production of fibers, chemicals or heat. Biomass may also include biodegradable wastes that can be burnt as fuel. It excludes organic material that has been transformed by geological processes into substances such as coal or petroleum. It is usually measured by dry weight.
biomass burning / refers to the burning of vegetation whether by wildfire or manmade causes; agricultural fields are often cleared by setting prescribed fires.
biomass fuel / plant material, manure, or any other organic matter that is used as an energy source
biome / a large region characterized by a specific type of climate and certain types of plants and animal communities
biosphere / the part of the Earth where life exists; The whole collection of living organisms in the Earth system, including plants and animals, on land, at sea, and in the atmosphere.
biotic factor / an environmental factor that is associated with or results from the activities of living organisms
Brackish / a mixture of salt water and fresh water, usually where a river drains into a tidal bay or basin
breaker / when a wave breaks against the shore or itself, the crest outruns the trough and the crest collapses
broadleaf / a plant with wide blade leaves, such as an oak or cottonwood. Seeds are born from flowering parts in contrast to conifers which bear seeds in cones.
brood / the young birds hatched from a single clutch, usually laid by a single female.
Bulkhead / A man-made structure separating land and water areas; a structure or partition to retain or prevent sliding of the land. A secondary purpose is to protect the upland against damage from oceans waves.
bunchgrass / short, fine-bladed grasses that grow in a clump
butte / a hill that rises abruptly from the surroundings. The sides are steeply sloped or with cliffs, and the top is nearly flat.
C
Term / Definition
cacti / plants adapted to dry conditions. Often store water in leaves and other parts of the plant. Usually have small leaves and thorns.
caldera / a large, nearly circular volcanic depression that is several time larger than the original volcanic crater. Calderas form by explosive eruption or collapse of a large volcano.
calving / A form of ice ablation or ice disruption. It is the sudden release and breaking away of a mass of ice from a glacier, iceberg, ice front, ice shelf or crevasse.
canopy / the layers of treetops that shade theforest floor
canopy cover / the amount of ground covered by the branches, leaves, and stems of plants. Can specify as herbaceous, shrubs, tree, or all canopy cover. Expressed as a percentage.
Carbon / Carbon occurs in all organic life and is the basis of organic chemistry. This nonmetal also has the interesting chemical property of being able to bond with itself and a wide variety of other elements, forming nearly 10,000,000 known compounds. When united with oxygen, it forms carbon dioxide (CO2). When united with hydrogen, it forms various compounds called hydrocarbons which are essential to industry in the form of fossil fuels.
carbon cycle / the movement of carbon from the nonliving environment into living things and back
Carbon Dioxide Emissions / Carbon dioxide is emitted in a number of ways. It occurs naturally through the carbon cycle and through human activities like the burning of fossil fuels. Burning fossil fuels causes the Earth’s temperature to warm and change over time. Carbon dioxide emissions are about 40 percent higher than they were before the Industrial Revolution and are at their highest levels in recorded history, covering over 650,000 years.
Carbon Dioxide / A colorless, odorless gas that is a major greenhouse gas. Commercially, carbon dioxide is used as a refrigerant (dry ice), in beverage carbonation, and in fire extinguishers. It is also produced from the burning of fossil fuels and organic matter. It is composed of a single carbon atom and two oxygen atoms EPA - A naturally occurring gas, and also a by-product of burning fossil fuels and biomass, as well as land-use changes and other industrial processes. It is the principal anthropogenic greenhouse gas that affects the Earth's radiative balance. It is the reference gas against which other greenhouse gases are measured and therefore has a high Global Warming Potential..
carbon footprint / a calculation that shows the quantity of carbon released into the atmosphere from an activity such as driving a car or the total transportation of a food product from field to store to consumption
carbon monoxide / A clear odorless gas formed from the incomplete combustion of carbon-based fuels. Carbon monoxide is a short lived gas in the lower layer of the atmosphere. Sources of carbon monoxide include: cigarette smoke, blocked fireplaces and gas stoves, idling cars. EPA - Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless and toxic gas. Because it is impossible to see, taste or smell the toxic fumes, CO can kill you before you are aware it is in your home. At lower levels of exposure, CO causes mild effects that are often mistaken for the flu. These symptoms include headaches, dizziness, disorientation, nausea and fatigue. The effects of CO exposure can vary greatly from person to person depending on age, overall health and the concentration and length of exposure..
carbon sesquetitation / the holding of carbon and carbon dioxide in vacated spaces in the Earth (like empty natural gas wells).
Carbonic Acid / theacide (H2CO3) that is formed when carbon dioxide dissolves in water.
carrion / stinking, rotten flesh.
carrying capacity / the maximum number of organisms an environment can sustain before degradation of the environment occurs.
cellular respiration / the process by which cells produce energy fromcarbohydrates; atmospheric oxygen combines with glucose to form water and carbon dioxide.
CERES / The Clouds and the Earth\'s Radiant Energy System provides very high quality measurements of the Earth's Radiation Budget, including both longwave (Earth-emitted) and shortwave (Earth-reflected) radiation..
CFC - chlorofluorocarbons / hydrocarbons in which some or all of the hydrogen atoms are replaced by chlorine and fluorine; used in coolants from refrigerators and air conditioners, and in clearning solvents; their use is restricted because they destroy ozone molecules in the stratosphere
chaparral / a type of vegetation that includes broad-leafed evergreen shrubs and that is located in areas with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters
chemical weathering / the erosion of surfaces like rocks through chemical reactions (such as water to create calcium carbonate).
chloroflorcarbons CFC / Gas made of chlorine, fluorine, and carbon, abbreviated CFC. In the troposphere, a CFC molecule does not normally react with other substances. However, in the stratosphere, ultraviolet radiation from the Sun breaks apart the CFC molecule. This releases a chlorine atom which serves as a catalyst to destroy many ozone molecules through a series of chemical reactions
cirque / A cirque (French for "circus") or corrie (from Scottish Gaelic coire meaning a "kettle") is an amphitheatre-like valley head, formed at the head of a valley glacier by erosion.
Clean Water Act / An act passed by the US Congress to control water pollution (formerly referred to as the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972).
clear-cutting / the process of removing all of the trees from an area of land.
climate / the average weather conditions in an area over a long period of time