Glossary

adaptation

characteristics of plants or animals that favor their survival in a given environment

aquatic

living in or around the water

atmosphere

a buffering layer of gases between a planet and outer space

biodiversity

the variety of living species in an ecosystem; biological diversity

bosque

Spanish for woods; in the southwest U.S., it has been used to describe the cottonwood area adjacent to a river

carnivore

a meat-eating animal

climate

the patterns of precipitation and temperature that characterize an area

ecosystem

all the living organisms, the non-living components, a source of energy and the interactions among those in a given area

endangered

in danger of going extinct

extinct

species gone forever, none alive anywhere

groundwater

water found under the ground in the zones of soil and bedrock

habitat

the kind of place where an organism usually lives; it includes food, water, shelter and space that is suitable to meet an organism's needs; think of it as the address where an organism lives

herbivore

an animal that eats plants

insectivore

an animal that eats insects and other small invertebrates

introduced species

plant or animal brought into an area by humans either accidentally or on purpose; non-native species

natural resources

those raw materials supplied by the Earth and its processes; they include nutrients, minerals, water, plants, animals, etc.

omnivore

an animal that eats a wide range of foods, from grasses and fruits to fresh meats and carrion

organic material

referring to or derived from living organisms; those compounds containing carbon

primary consumer

plant eating animals

producer

plants that make their own food using energy from the sun

riparian

relating to, living in or located on the bank of a natural freshwater course such as a river, stream, pond or lake

secondary consumers

animals that eat other animals; e.g. birds

terrestrial

living or growing on land

threatened

may become endangered and then go extinct under current circumstances

watershed

total area within a drainage

wetland

area such as wet meadows, marshes, sloughs, ponds and small lakes; a transitional zone between dry land and always-wet areas, staying wet at least part of the year because the water table is at the surface

wildlife

animals not tamed or domesticated; may be microscopic or large