Glossary - Environmental Disasters...del Moral Flashcards
Glossary from Environmental Disasters, Natural Recovery and Human Responses by Roger del Moral and Lawrence R. Walker
1
Q
a’a lava
A
From Hawaiian for “stony rough lava”, it has a rough rubble surface composed of broken, loose and sharp fragments
2
Q
abiotic
A
Pertaining to non-biological factors such as wind, temperature or erosion
3
Q
AD
A
Anno Domini, literally “year of the (Christian) lord”; year since the accepted date of the birth of Jesus. Also called “Christian era”
4
Q
aerenchyma
A
Any plant tissue with large, air-filled cavities
5
Q
aerobic
A
occurring in the presence of oxygen
6
Q
alien species
A
A species from another region; non-native organism (see exotic species)
7
Q
allelopathy
A
A form of inhibition based on the release of chemicals
8
Q
alpha diversity
A
Changes in the number and distribution of species within a community
9
Q
alternative steady states
A
Stable vegetation that results from a common origin
10
Q
alvar
A
Flat, open area with shallow soil over calcareous bedrock
11
Q
amelioration
A
Physical processes that reduce environmental stresses
12
Q
anaerobic
A
Occurring in the absence of oxygen
13
Q
anthropogenic
A
Caused by humans
14
Q
assembly rules
A
Predictions concerning mechanisms of community organization
15
Q
bandicoot
A
A rabbit-like marsupial from Australia
16
Q
BC
A
Date in years before the Christian era (see AD); used for dates related to human events
17
Q
beta diversity
A
Changes in the number and distribution of species along environmental (and temporal) gradients
18
Q
biodiversity
A
Number and distribution of species; a measure of overall species richness
19
Q
biogeography
A
Study of the distribution of organisms
20
Q
biome
A
A geographical region with similar vegetation and climate (e.g. tropical forest, tundra - see also taiga)
21
Q
bioremediation
A
Reclamation based on the use of plants to reduce toxicity
22
Q
biotic
A
Pertaining to biological factors
23
Q
bog
A
A wetland with a low pH, usually saturated soil and dominance by mosses
24
Q
BP
A
Before the present, used for long, pre-historic dates.
25
browsing
Herbivory by vertebrates on leaves and stems of woody species
26
calcareous
Calcium-rich
27
cation exchange capacity
The ability of a soil to attract and hold such cations as potassium and ammonium
28
chaparral
Term used for dense shrub land adapted to frequent fires in Chile and the American Southwest; Also called mallee (Australia), maquis (Mediterranean Europe), fynbos (South Africa)
29
chronosequence
A series of communities arrayed on the landscape presumed to represent a successional sequence (a space-for-time substitution)
30
chute
The path taken by landslides and avalanches
31
climax vegetation
Vegetation that has reached a stable state
32
colonization
The process of arrival and establishment in a new habitat
33
commons
Originally, a grazing land owned by all in common, but the animals owned by individuals
34
competition
The negative influence of one species on another due to sharing of limited resources
35
conflagration
An intense wildfire
36
coulee
Long, narrow spillway from a glacial lake
37
cryptogamic crust
A biotic crust on the soil surface composed of mosses, lichens, algae and liverworts
38
debris avalanche
A wet landslide consisting of more solid material than water (see lahar)
39
deflected succession
Succession that is altered from its normal course by disturbance
40
degradation
Any process that reduces the biodiversity, productivity or other desirable trait of an ecosystem
41
derelict sites
Habitats that have been severely degraded, usually in an urban setting
42
desalinization
Reduction of salt levels at a site using physical or biotic processes
43
desertification
The conversion of range land to desert with low value
44
dispersal
The process by which an organism or its reproductive units are transferred from their place of origin to another location
45
disturbance
A relatively discrete event in time and space that alters habitat structure and often involves a loss of biomass
46
disturbance intensity
They physical force of a disturbance
47
disturbance severity
The degree to which a disturbance damages the biota
48
dormancy
A resting stage, often associated with seeds, but also with bulbs
49
dune slack
The protected, relatively stable and often moist habitat inland from the leading coastal dune
50
ecosystem
The sum of all organisms within a well-defined area, the physical environment and the interactions between them
51
ecosystem function
Process that defines the workings of an ecosystem, such as nutrient dynamics
52
ecosystem service
Seen from a human perspective, such products as clean water and wildlife habitat
53
ecosystem structure
Physical aspects of an ecosystem such as biomass, diversity and plant cover
54
ecotypes
Populations of species that differ morphologically or physiologically
55
edaphic
Pertaining to soils
56
eutrophication
The process by which an aquatic system becomes more fertile; usually a negative result ensues
57
evapotranspiration
Water loss from an ecosystem due to transpiration from plants and evaporation from soil and water surfaces
58
exotic species
Species not native to the location; often a weed (see alien species)
59
extinction
The loss of a species from the system under study.
60
facilitation
The positive influence of one species on another in a successional context
61
feedback loop
Situation where two or more factors interact to mutually affect their status
62
fen
An oligotrophic, acidic habitat dominated by herbaceous species, not mosses; frequently saturated with water
63
forb
Any herbaceous species excluding grasses
64
fragmentation
The biogeographic process of dividing a landscape, as through urbanization
65
fuel load
The amount of combustible material in vegetation
66
functional group
Species that share physiological, morphological or behavioral traits
67
fynbos
South African variant of chaparral, from Afrikaans for "fine bush" which describes many species that have narrow, fine, needle-like leaves
68
gabion
A structure, usually made of rock, designed to retain slopes and minimize landslides
69
gallery forest
The forests that occur along riparian corridors, especially in rainforests
70
gamma diversity
Changes in the number and distribution of species across landscapes
71
glacial foreland
The terrain exposed by a receding (melting) glacier
72
glacial moraine
The debris deposited by the retreat of a glacier
73
global warming
The gradual increase in earth's temperature due largely to human activities
74
grazing
Herbivory on grasses and other herbs
75
greywacke
A variety of sandstone with many rock fragments embedded in a clay matrix
76
guano
An accumulation of sea bird droppings rich in phosphates and nitrates
77
habitat heterogeneity
Diversity of habitats within an ecosystem
78
herbivore
An organism that eats plant parts
79
herbivory
The consumption of all or part of living plants
80
inhibition
Any mechanism by which one species reduces the success of another (see inhibition model) in a successional context
81
initial floristic composition
Egler's hypothesis that trajectories are determined from the species inhabiting a site immediately after the disturbance
82
jökulhlaup
Massive flood resulting from the rupture of a glacial ice dam
83
karst
Irregular limestone terrain often dissected by caves, sinks and subterraneen streams
84
keystone species
Species that are crucial to the development or maintenance of a system
85
lahar
A slurry of mud and debris normally created by rapidly melting ice during a volcanic eruption
86
landscape ecology
The study of interactions of physical and biological phenomena across large regions
87
lapilli
Rounded to angular stone fragments
88
lenticel
Small spot on stems where roots may protrude
89
life history characteristics
The species-specific patterns of arrival, growth and longevity
90
loess
A fine, unconsolidated, wind-blow sediment
91
macroclimate
The climate of a large region
92
mangrove
Subtropical and tropical woodland that occupies shallow tidal ecosystems
93
marsh
Any wetland dominated by herbaceous species
94
mature ecosystem
A well developed ecosystem in which the rate of biomass accumulation and of species turnover are slow
95
microclimate
The climate directly experienced by an organism
96
microtopography
Small-scale physical features of the land such as furrows or ridges
97
microsite
Small scale habitat (see safe-sites)
98
mine tailings
The wastes remaining after extraction of minerals or fossil fuels
99
monadnock
An isolated hill or mountain surrounded by less resistant rock
100
monitoring
The record of the progress of biological and physical features during a rehabilitation project
101
mosaic
A patchwork of vegetation that results from small disturbances, differential succession rates or other factors
102
mutualism
A biotic interaction among different species that is beneficial to both
103
mycorrhizae
Fungi that form mutualistic interactions with higher plants
104
net primary productivity
The sum of all plant biomass generated in a given time and place
105
nuée ardentes
A fast moving gaseous cloud of hot ashes and other material thrown out from an erupting volcano. Nuées ardentes are often incandescent.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
106
nunataks
Refugia that escaped glaciation (glossary definition)
(Earth Sciences / Physical Geography) an isolated mountain peak projecting through the surface of surrounding glacial ice and supporting a distinct fauna and flora after recession of the ice
[via Danish from Eskimo]
Collins English Dictionary
107
nurse plant
An established individual that alters its immediate surroundings in ways that favor the establishment of another plant
108
obsidian
Volcanic glass formed from rapid cooling of lava
109
organic matter
That portion of the soil derived from organisms
110
pahoehoe
From Hawaiian (for "smooth, unbroken lava"), it has a hummocky or ropy surface
111
pane
An impervious layer within a salt marsh that retains water
112
patch dynamics
The concept that vegetation on a landscape is composed of groups of organisms at different stages of succession and is subject to different disturbance regimes
113
pathogen
A disease-producing organism
114
pedogenesis
The formation of soil
115
performance standards
That part of a rehabilitation project that specifies the parameters (e.g. survival, composition) that will define success
116
pioneer
A plant that colonizes a disturbed area, thereby initiating succession
117
pneumatophore
The air-breathing roots common to mangroves and other aquatic woody plants
118
podzol
A soil profile with extensive leaching of minerals to the lower B horizon
119
polder
A low-lying area reclaimed from the sea and protected by dikes
120
predation
a) The capture and consumption of one animal by another; b) a form of herivory in which consumption results in death of the target (e.g. seed predation, herbivory on an annual plant).
121
prescribed burn
A controlled fire designed to reduce the threat of wildfire, rejuvenate the vegetation or reduce exotic species
122
primary production
Production of plant biomass
123
primary succession
Ecosystem development and species change on barren surfaces where severe disturbances have removed most plants and soil
124
priority effects
The consequences of arrival order that condition subsequent compositional changes
125
propagule
Any reproductive unit that is adapted to dispersal
126
pumice
A silica-rich volcanic rock usually ejected during explosive eruptions
127
pyroclastic flows
Volcanic material ejected at extreme temperature and which moves rapidly
128
pyrogenic
Refers to vegetation that is particularly flammable
129
quoll
A small, carnivorous marsupial
130
reallocation
The conscious transformation of a landscape to a condition or use distinct from its original one
131
reclamation
The conversion of wasteland to some productive use by conscious intervention
132
refugia
Isolated patches that escape a disturbance and can initiate a succession (see relict species)
133
rehabilitation
Any manipulation of a sere to enhance its rate or to deflect its trajectory toward a specified goal; includes reclamation and restoration as two extremes of intervention
134
rejuvenate
To reinvigorate vegetation, often through burning
135
relict species
A species surviving in a refuge within a large, newly created landscape
136
resilience
The ability of an ecosystem to recover from disturbance
137
restoration
Returning the land to its former biological status
138
return interval
The time between disturbance events at a site
139
rhizosphere
The soil around a root influenced by root activities such as exudates
140
rhyolite
A type of lava high in quartz and often grey to pink in color
141
riparian
Pertaining to growth along a stream corridor
142
rock outcrop
Bare rock surface undergoing primary succession
143
ruderal
A weedy plant that colonizes recent disturbances
144
safe-site
A microsite where seeds have an enhanced chance to lodge, germinate and establish
145
salinization
The process by which soil becomes increasingly saline
146
salt marsh
A coastal wetland characterized by tidal fluctuations, steep gradients and anoxic soils
147
sandur
Broad, sandy outwash plain formed by deposits of a massive lahar
148
scoria
A dense form of tephra that dominates many explosive volcanoes
149
secondary succession
Species change on habitats where soils remain relatively intact
150
seed bank
Dormant seeds found in the soil; often useful in rehabilitation
151
seed rain
The input of plant propagules onto a denuded site
152
sere
A term that denotes a stage in succession (glossary definition)
The entire sequence of ecological communities successively occupying an area from the initial stage to the climax.
[From series.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language
(also an adj meaning withered and dry)
153
shifting agriculture
Rotation among several fields, each used for a few years and then abandoned
154
silviculture
The scientific practice of growing trees efficiently
155
slash and burn
Conversion of forest to agricultural purposes, gradually moving across the landscape; leads to permanent conversion of forest to pasture
156
slip face
The exposed cliff revealed after an avalanche, mudflow or landslide.
157
species turnover
A measure of succession, describing the sequential replacement of species through time
158
spontaneous succession
Succession that occurs without human intervention; usual weeds
159
stability
A community characteristic expressing a) the lack of change; b) resistance to disturbance
160
stabilization
The process by which vegetation of a sere ceases to change dramatically; other attributes may continue to develop
161
stolon
A horizontal stem that can produce new growth at its tip
162
stump sprout
The rejuvenating remnant of a shrub or tree after a fire
163
succession
The process by which barren or damaged land recovers
164
succession rate
The rate of species replacement during succession
165
swamp
A wetland dominated by woody species
166
symbiont
A participant in a mutually beneficial link between two organisms
167
taiga
Cold forest dominated by conifers
168
talus
Piles of rock fallen from a slope
169
target
The goal of a restoration project including the desired species composition
170
tectonic plate
A major component of the earth's crust that moves on the surface; some types of earthquakes occur when two plates collide
171
tephra
Any volcanic ejecta that is expelled into the air before falling to earth (see pumice and scoria)
172
tepui
Table-form sandstone mountains 400-2000 m above forests in Northern South America with many endemic species
173
threshold of irreversibility
The level of degradation below which an ecosystem is unlikely to recover without direct intervention
174
tolerance
The ability of a plant to persist despite adverse environmental conditions
175
tolerance model
A hypothesis that suggests that species replacements result from invasion (or persistence) of species more able to tolerate adverse environmental conditions
