Terms for the ENR, Wildlife Management & Nature Interpretation CDEs
| aboreal | inhabiting in or frequently in trees |
| accidental | single, or a very small number, of scattered records of a species with no established pattern of occurence. |
| accipiters | short-winged hawks that hunt other birds in wooded or brushy terrain. Examples include Goshawks and Cooper's Hawks. |
| adaptation | how well animals adjust to their surroundings |
| aerated water | water that contains high levels of dissolved oxygen. |
| alevin | a tiny fish that has recently emerged from the egg. |
| alien species | a species that is not native to an environment and competes with native species for food and shelter. |
| alitricial | birds which hatch helpless, usually naked, with eyes closed and are totally dependent on their parents |
| amphibian | a cold-blooded vertebrate with moist skin that changes in its body form from a gilled, aquatic larva to an air-breathing adult. Their eggs must be laid in water. |
| anadromous | fish which leave seas and swim upstream in fresh water to spawn |
| anadromy | the process in which migrating fish return to their home waters to spawn. |
| Anseriforms | The order of birds including ducks, geese and swans. |
| anthropomorphism | assigning human traits and feelings to animals |
| autotrophic | can make their own food; mostly free floating, microscopic, aquatic organisms |
| avian | of, relating to, or deriving from birds |
| balance of nature | the tendency of ecosystems to reach a general state of equilibrium |
| barbel | a whisker or feeler that is located on the lips of certian fishes such as catfishes |
| beard | an unusual tuft of feathers that dangles from the breast of a bird such as awild turkey |
| bifurcation | split into two parts; two pronged |
| biodegradable | capable of being broken down by living organisms to form nontoxic products |
| biologist | a person whose career involves that scientific study of the characteristics, life processes, needs, and habits of plants and animals |
| biological succession | changes that occur as living organisms replace other lower order organismsin an environment |
| biomass | energy from organic matter used directly for heat or to power a generator for electricity |
| biome | a group of ecosystems within a region that have similar types of vegetation and climatic conditions |
| biosphere | consists of all the ecosystems of the Earth capable of supporting life |
| biota | a community of living organisms that is naturally found in an environment or area |
| biotic potential | the maximum number of offspring an organism can produce under ideal conditions |
| boss | the rounded knob on top of the head between the eyes of certain toads |
| botany | the branch of biology that deals with plants |
| bract | a modified and often scalelike leaf, usually located at the base of a flower. |
| brood | number of offspring in a nest |
| buteos | broad-winged hawks that hunt rabbits and other ground game in relatively open country. An example is a Red-tailed Hawk. |
| cache | food stored by an animal such as in a den |
| calcar | an anatomical spur or spurlike projection |
| calyx | collective term for the sepals of a flower, usually green |
| canopy | the highest level of vegetation in a forest, consisting of the branches and foliage of the tallest trees. |
| carapace | the upper shell of a turtle |
| carrying capacity | the number of species an area can support over time without damage to the habitat or species |
| casual | not observed annually in an area, but has established an apparent pattern of occurrence. |
| catadromous | fish migrating down river to breed in marine waters |
| catkin | the flowering parts of some trees tht are used as food by squirrels, grouse and other birds during the winter season. |
| caviar | the eggs of sturgeon, often considered a delicacy food by humans |
| cere | a fleshy or waxlike swelling at the base of the upper part of the beak in certain birds |
| char | brook trout and other closely related fishes |
| chemical energy | energy that is stored in plant tissues as sugars, oils, and starches during the process of photosynthesis |
| climax community | the plants that occupy an environment when the succession of species is complete and the plant populations become stable |
| clutch | number of eggs in a nest |
| commensalism | one type of wildlife living in, on, or with another type but without helping or harming it |
| community | all living organisms within a defined area such as a log, a woodland, or a marsh. It can be as small as a roting log or as big as an entire forest |
| competitive advantage | a condition that exists when one organism is more able to survive in an environment than another |
| competitive exculsion principle | a principle of ecology that states that no two species of plants or animals can occupy that same niche in the environment indefinitely |
| conifer | a tree that produces its seeds in cones |
| coniferous | various, predominately evergreen cone-bearing trees; exm. - pine, spruce, fir |
| conservation | the wise use of natural resources (hunting, timber harvesting, farming) |
| constrictor | a snake that squeezes its prey to death in its coils |
| corolla | collective term for the petals of a flower |
| coverts | one of the small feathers covering the bases of large feathers |
| covey | a small flock of quail of partridges that are often members of the same family group |
| crepuscular | active at twilight or before sunrise |
| crop | an organ located in the digestive tract of birds and some organisms where food is stored before it is digested |
| crown | the mass of branches, twigs and leaves at the top of a tree, with particular reference to its shape |
| cusp | a pointed tooth-like projection on the upper jaw of some turtles. |
| deciduous | falling off of or shed at a specific season or stage of growth; exm. - antlers, most leaves |
| decomposers | bacteria, fungi, insects, worms, and so forth that are capable of breaking down complex substances to form simple elemental components, this making them available to plants |
| delayed gestation | a condition in which a fertilized embryo does not attach to the inner surface of the mother's uterus until conditions favor the survival of the offspring |
| delayed implantation | The fertilized egg remaining dormant in the uterus (delayed implantation), which allows births to occur when resources are abundant. |
| denitrification | a natural process where nitrates are broken down by bacteria to release nitrogen gas into the atomsphere |
| dewlap | pendulous skin fold hanging from the throat of any animal - cattle and certain fowl especially |
| diadromous fish | a fish that migrates in either direction between freshwater and marine habitats |
| digitigrade | walking so that only the toes touch the ground, such as is done by horses, dogs, cats |
| diurnal | active during the daytime rather than at night |
| diving ducks | ducks which patter across water at takeoff and hve smaller wings in relation to their body |
| down | the soft, fluffy feathers beneath the outer feathers of a bird that insulate if from heat and cold |
| ecdysis | molting or shedding an outer layer of skin |
| ecologist | a scientist who studies relationships between living organisms and their environments |
| ecology | the branch of biology that describes relationships between living organisms and the environments in which they live |
| ecosystem | a community of living organisms in addition to all of the nonliving features of the environment such as water, air, sunlight an soil |
| echolocation | the ability of an animal (bat) to orient itself by the reflection of the sound that it has produced |
| ectotherm | having a body temperature that varies with the external environment; cold-blooded (fish & reptiles) |
| edge effect | the natural occurance of many wildlife species and individuals where two or more vegitation types and/or size classes intersperse |
| eft | a land-based stage in the metamorphosis of a newt that occurs betweeen the aquatic larval and adult stages, during which the newt changes in color to red or orange |
| elapid | a poisonous snake with fangs that are permanently fixed in place |
| elemental cycle | the recurring circular flow of elements from living organisms to nonliving materials |
| emergent | aquatic plants that are usually rooted in shallow water and have most of their vegetative growth above water - exm - cat tails |
| endangered species | a legal designation assigned to a species of subspecies that is in immediate danger of becoming extinct due to small numbers of survivors in the population |
| energy efficiency | the first and most important step in considering a renewal energy system. |
| endotherm | maintaining a relative constant and warm body temperature that is independent of environmental temperatures; warm-blooded |
| epilimnon | this is the name given to the top layer of a lake when seasonal layers form in the lake |
| erosion | the loss of topsoil from a region due to the forces of flowing water or strong winds |
| estivation | refers to animals that go dormant during hot or dry periods |
| estrus | the period of time in which the female animal is sexually receptive to a male |
| estuary | an aquatic environment in which freshwater and saltwater mis in areas where rivers and streams flow into the oceans |
| evolution | a process in which physical changes occur in organisms over long periods of time, during which those physical traits that help the organism survive in the environment become predominant and are expressed more frequently |
| extinct | no longer existing due to the deaths of all the members of a population |
| extirpated | to destroy; exterminate; to pull up by the roots; when a species is no longer found in a particular area |
| facial disk | an arrangement of feathers in a circulat pattern on the face of an owl. It helps direct sound to the animal's ears |
| falcons | long-winged birds of prey that hunt other birds, such as waterfowl, in open country. Examples include Peregrine Falcons and the American Kestrel. |
| fauna | animals that are found in a particular region or environment |
| fecundity | a fertile, prolific, or productive trait in an animal |
| fertilization | the process in which the male and female gametes join together in a single cell |
| fingerling | a young fish that is less than a year old |
| first law of energy | a law of science stating that energy cannot be created of destoryed, but it can be converted from one form of energy to another (for example, light to heat) |
| fledge | to grow enough feathers for a young bird to be capable of flying |
| flora | the plants tht are found in particular region or environment |
| food chain | a series of steps through which energy from the sun is transferred to living organisms. Members of the food chain feed on lower ranking members of the community |
| food pyramid | a series of organisms that are arranged in ranking order according to their dominance in a food web |
| food web | a group of interwoven food chains |
| forage | vegetation used for food by wildlife |
| forb | any herbaceous plant species other than those in the grass, sedge and rush families |
| fossil fuel | a fuel that comes from the deposits of natural gas, coal and crude oil, which are formed in the Earth from plant or animal remains |
| fossorial | adapted for or used in burrowing or digging |
| fresh water | water that is not high in salt content |
| frontal shield | a red or white, fleshy growth that extends from the top of the bill to the foreheads of some birds that is used by strong males to intimidate their rivals |
| fry | a tiny fish that has recently hatched from an egg |
| Galliformes | the order of birds that includes the Ruffled Grouse, Pheasant and Wild Turkey |
| Gallinaceous | Heavy-bodied ground-feeding domestic or game birds; all in the order Galliformes. |
| Gaviliformes | the order of birds that includes the Common Loon |
| gestation | the period of time from conception to birth |
| gizzard | a muscular organ in the digestive tracts of birds, reptiles, and other organisms that use small rocks and pebbles to grind frood into small particles |
| gravid | pregnant; ready to give birth or lay eggs |
| gregarious | the tendency in a species population to flock or herd together; sociable |
| grid | utility term for the network of transmission lines that distribute electricity from a variety of sources across a geographic area. |
| groundwater | water that is located under the Earth's surface in underground streams and reservoirs |
| Gruiformes | the order of birds that includes the Sora and Virginia Rails |
| habitat | natural setting in which an animal lives |
| harrier | a genus of hawks that are excellen hunters in heavy vegetation such as tall grass or marsh reeds, and that nest in groups of several pairs instead of defending individuals terrritories |
| herbaceous | green and leaf-like in appearance or texture; relating to or characteristic of an herb as distinguished from a woody plant; having green fleshy stems |
| herbicide | a pesticide that is used to kill unwanted plants |
| herbivore | feeds on plants |
| herpetologist | a scientist who specializes in the study of reptiles and amphibians |
| hibernate | to spend the cold winter season in a resting state, in which the body temperature is reduced, body processes slow down, and nutrition is derived from stored body fat |
| hibernation | to spend the winter inactive or in a resting state |
| home range | where an animal has its home, gets its food and rears its young |
| hybrid | the offspring of a mating between two different species or subspecies |
| hypolimnon | the lower layer of a deep lake or pond, often depleated of oxygen during the fall or winter months |
| ichthyologist | a scientist who studies fishes |
| ichhyology | the branch of zoology that is concerned with the classification, structure, and life cycles of fishes |
| ideal environment | a habitat where all of the living conditions are compatible with the needs of a particular organism |
| imprinting | a learning process where by young animals learn to mimic the behavior of a parent or trusted caregiver to establish a behavior pattern, such as recognition of and attraction to its own kind |
| incubation | a process by which fertilized eggs are warmed by the body of a parent to create a constant temperature until they hatch |
| insecticide | a pesticide that is used to kill insects |
| insectivore | An animal that primarily feeds on insects. |
| insolation | the amount of sun falling on a specific location. |
| intertidal zone | an area near the shore of the ocean that is covered with water during high tide and is exposed above the water level during low tide |
| intrinsic value | appreciation for wild creatures and the environments in which they live |
| introduced | not native to the area; deliberately released. |
| Jacobson's organ | a sensing organ located in the mouth of a snake tht is used fro smelling |
| keel | a ridge on the carapace of a turtle |
| Kilowatts (kW) | a measure of electric power. One kilowatt is 1,000 watts. |
| Kilowatt Hours (kWh) | a measure of electrical energy, derived by multiplying the power used by the time in which it was used. One kilowatt hour is equal to one kilowatt of electric power used for one hour. |
| kingdom | the highest division in the taxonomy of living organisms ranking above the phylum |
| lactation | the period of time in which a female mammal is producing milk for her offspring |
| lacustrine | of or having to do with lakes |
| lamellae | small, comblike projections on the bills of some ducks that they use to strain small food particles out of the water |
| larva | immature forms of some fishes, insects, slamanders, frogs, and other animals |
| lentic habitat | an aquatic environment characterized by still water, such as a marsh, swamp, pond or lake |
| limiting factor | any influence or material which tends to slow down growth and productivity in an ecosystem |
| limnologist | a person who studies freshwater habitats |
| lobe | a fleshy growth on the sides of the toes of some birds that enables them to swim |
| lore | area between a bird's eye and the base of the bill |
| lotic habitat | an aquatic environment characterized by actively moving water, such as a stream or river, where the flowing water restricts plant growth and food for fish and other aquatic animals is transported from a distant source |
| mammal | warm-blooded animals that have bony skeletons, protective hair coats, and glands that produce milk to nourish their offspring |
| mammary gland | an organ, found in mammals, which in the female gender, secretes milk |
| marsupial | A family of mammals that gives birth to underdeveloped offspring that complete development in the mother’s pouch. |
| marsupium | the external pouch of a female marsupial where the mammary glands are located the offspring are reared |
| metabolism | the process in which food is digested and used by the cells of the body to release energy |
| metamorphosis | a process in which immature organisms such as insects and amphibians change in their physical structure and appearance to become more like adult members of their species |
| migration | to move from one location to another (seasonal) |
| milt | the sperm-containing fluid of a male fish |
| molt | to shed an outer covering, such as feathers or skin |
| monoecious | female and male reproductive organs are in different flowers on the same plant |
| monogamy | two animals mating only with each other, usually until their young are raised, but sometimes for life |
| multiple use | a management strategy for natural resources taht considers the needs of the different groups of people who use or desire to use the resources |
| musk | a foul smelling fluid that is secreted from specialized glands in some mammals, such as in the case of the weasel of musk ox |
| mustache | a group of bristles or hair around the mouth of an animal |
| mutualism | two species of wildlife live together for the benefit of both |
| natural selection | natural process by which less virgorous plants and animals tend to be eliminated without leaving enough descendants to perpetuate their traits; survival of the fittest |
| naturalist | a person who studies nature by observing plants and animals |
| neonate | infant; juvenile; very young |
| nestling | a young immature bird that has not yet left the nest |
| niche | the specific place that a wildlife species occupies in nature |
| noctornal | Primarily active at night. |
| node | the point on a shoot where a leaf, flower or bud is attached. |
| nonadaptive behavior | failure of an organism to adapt to a changing environment |
| nonpoint source pollution | pollution that comes fromseveral sources and cannot be traced back to a single point of origin |
| non-renewable resource | a resource such as minerals or oil that cannot be replaced when it is lost due to excessive use or abuse |
| oligotrophic | refers to a lake that is deep, cool and rich in oxygen |
| omnivore | feeds on both plants and meat |
| ornithologist | a scientist who studies birds |
| ornithology | the branch of zoology that deals with the study of birds |
| oviparous | producing eggs that develop and hatch outside the mother's body |
| overgrazing | a condition in which domestic or wild animals destory the vegetational cover in an area by harvesting or trampling the plants beyond their ability to recover. This occurs when the carrying capacity of an area is exceeded |
| ovoviviparous | animals that produce eggs that are incubated inside the body of the female and hatch inside the body or shortly after laying |
| parasitic bird | a bird that lays its eggs in the nests of other birds |
| pectoral fin | a fin that fish use to control their direction of travel. It represents the forelimbs in most fish |
| peduncle | the main stalk of an inflorescence; stem bearing a solitary flower |
| pelage | the coat of a mammal consisting of hair, fur, wool, etc. |
| pelvic fin | a fin that occurs in pairs on the lower rear of a fish. It corresponds to hind legs in vertebrates |
| perennial | plant that lives for two or more years |
| pesticide | a chemical that is used to kill insects, weeds, rodents, fungi, or other pests |
| phararope | a bird that is unusual because the females are brightly colored, and the drab-colored males incubate the eggs |
| pheromones | chemicals produced by glands to aid in communication of mammals |
| photoperiod | the recurring cycle of daylight and darkness that favorably influences an organism to mature or develop physical functions such as sexual maturity |
| phytoplankton | microscopic plants that float on the water's surface |
| pioneer | the first plants to grown in an environment |
| placental mammal | a mammal whose offspring develop inside the mother's uterus surrounded by the placenta |
| plastron | the lower shell of a turtle. |
| plantigrade | walking on the entire lower surface of the foot on the ground |
| plant succession | process of vegetational development whereby an area becomes successively occupied by different plant communties |
| plumage | the feathers of a bird |
| poaching | a taken anything, especially wild game, by illegal methods |
| Podicipediformes | the order of birds that includes the Horned and Pied-billed Grebes |
| point source pollution | pollution of the environment that can be traced back to its point of origin |
| polliwog | the larval stage of development in the metamorphosis of the frog or toad that is sometimes called a tadpole |
| pollutant | a waste material or harmful chemical that is discharged into the environment |
| polyandry | a mating behavior in which female mates with more than one male |
| polygamous | a mating behavior in which an animal has more than one mate at a time |
| polygamy | one animal having two or more mates or indiscriminately mating without forming pairs |
| polygynous | a mating behavior in which a male mates with more than one female |
| population | a group of similar organisms that is found in the same area |
| posterior | toward the back, or rear of something |
| precocial | describes young birds which are relatively well developed at hatching |
| predacious | living on prey; predatory |
| predator | animal that hunts other animals |
| prehensile | adapted for seizing or holding, especially by wrapping around an object |
| prey | animal being hunted by another animal |
| primary consumer | an animal that eats plants |
| primary succession | the development of an ecological community in an area where living organisms were not previously found, such as on a newly formed volcanic island |
| primaries | the outermost group of major wing feathers (usually 10) that are hidden when the wing is folded; flight feathers or flights |
| pristine | of or constituting a pure or undamaged resource |
| producer | a green plant that converts solar energy to startces and sugars |
| prolific | having the capacity to produce large numbers of offsprings |
| promiscuity | a mating behavior wherein animals mate with numerous members of the opposite sex, and they do not form pair bonds |
| pubescent | covered with soft, short, fine hairs; hairy |
| puddle ducks | ducks which ride higher in the water and can often be found feeding in fields |
| range | a definite geographic area of where a certain animal lives |
| range of tolerance | the limits within environmental conditions that an organism can survive and function |
| raptor | a bird of prey such as a hawk, owl or eagle |
| regeneration cut | any removal of trees intended to assist regeneration (renewal of the tree crop) already present or to make regeneration possible |
| renewable resource | a resource such as a forest or wild animal population that is capable of being replaced as it is used |
| reptile | a cold-blooded animal with scales, plates or shields on its body and claws on its feet. Most reptiles lay eggs with leathery shells |
| rhizomes | underground plant stems |
| riparian | the area along the banks of a stream, river or lake, usually supporting a wide diversity of life |
| rodent | a small, gnawing animal that is identified by the four large incisor teeth located in the front of its mouth |
| roe | clusters of fresh fish eggs enclosed in ovarian membranes |
| ruminant | an animal such as a deer or bison that has a series of four stomach compartments which are capable of digesting food that is high in fiber |
| rut | the breeding period for someof the large North American ruminants, during which the males become aggressive in their behavior |
| sagittal crest | lengthwise ridge on the top of the braincase, at the suture where the two parietals join |
| salinity | a measurement of the salt concentration in water affecting the survival of organisms living in aquatic environment |
| saltorial | adapted for leaping |
| scapulars | one of the feathers covering the shoulder of a bird |
| scavenger | a bird or mammal that eats any kind of food it can find, including the carcasses of dead animals and garbage |
| school | a large group of fish that live together in the same habitat |
| scute | a horny, or bony external plate or scale, such as one of those on the shell of a turtle |
| secondaries | the long stiff wing feathers growing from the middle wing segment |
| secondary consumer | a carnivorous animal that obtains its nutrition by eating primary consumers and other carnivores |
| secondary succession | the gradual change in species of plants that live in area during the time that a damageed ecosystem is returning to its orginal stage of ecological development |
| sexually dimorphic | females and males of a species are differently colored |
| silt | tiny soil particles that are easily eroded by becoming suspended in flowing water or blown as dust in the wind |
| smog | pollution of the atmosphere due to a poisonous mixture of fog and smoke |
| smolt | a young fish whose body is changing to enable it to leave its freshwater habitat and enter the saltwater environment of the ocean |
| silt load | the amount of eroded soil that is carried in the flowing waters of streams and rivers |
| soil conservation | the practice of protecting soil from erosion caused by strong winds or flowing water |
| spathe | a bract or pair of bracts, often large, enclosing the flower |
| spawn | to release eggs and sperm into the water |
| speculum | the brightly colored patch on the wing of some ducks |
| spicule | a small needlelike structure supporting soft tissue of certain invertebrates, especially sponges |
| spike | a flower (elongated) cluster in which the individual flowers are attached directly to the stalk (sessile); Exm - rye grass |
| stamen | the male organ of a flower, composed of a filament topped by an anther |
| stand | a plant community, particularly of trees, sufficiently uniform in composition, constitution, age, spatial arrangement, or condition to be distinguishable from adjacent communities. |
| stipule | a leaflike scale, often paired, at the base of a leafstalk in some trees and other plants. |
| stoop | a fast dive by a predatory bird to capture a prey in flight |
| strata | several levels or layers of vegetation or water |
| subalpine | the mountainous regions just below the timberline |
| succession | the changes in vegetation and animal life that take place as the plant community evolves from bare ground to the climax stage (old growth forest). |
| succulent | juicy, freshness and tenderness of plants that make them desirable to animals |
| surface water | water that is located on the Earth's surface in rivers, streams, ponds and lakes |
| sustainability | living, traveling and doing business in a manner that enhances economic and community well-being without depleting natural resources faster than they are restored. |
| symbiosis | a relationship between two organisms in which each organism recieves benefits from its association with the other organism |
| tadpole | the larval stage of development in the metamorphosis of a frog or toad that is characterized by a long, rounded body and external gills. It also is called a polliwog |
| taxonomy | the field of science that classifies living organisms and defines their relationships with other organisms |
| terrestrial | to live on land |
| territory | when home ranges overlap and an animal defends a certain area |
| territotial | a behavior in which birds and other animals establish and defend living and hunting areas against other competing members of their species |
| tertials | short flight feathers nearest the body on the inner edge of a bird's wing |
| thermocline | the middle layer or density barrier in deeper lakes or ponds; prevents nutrients and oxygen from mixing |
| thermal stratification | differences in water temperatures at various depths with deep water being colder than water near the surface |
| torpor | period of physical inactivity |
| tortoise | a turtle that is adapted for living on land and is a vegetarian |
| tragus | any of the hairs growing at the entrance of the opening of the external ear |
| transpiration | the loss of water in the atomsphere from plant leaves |
| turbid | muddy or cloudy water conditions |
| tympanum | the vibrating membrane in the middle ear, or the round external eardrum of a frog or toad |
| understory | short trees in a forest that fill an intermediate stratum of vegetation beneath the canopy created by the branches and foliate of the tallest trees |
| ungulate | a mammal with hooves |
| vibrissae | stiff hair or hairlike projection, as a nostril hair (cut whisker) or modfied feather near the beak of an insectivorous bird |
| viviparous | giving birth to living offspring from the body |
| velvet | the soft skin containing blood vessels that nourishes and protects the developing antlers of deer |
| vertebrate | an animal with a segmented backbone that surrounds the spinal cord |
| viper | a poisonous snake with hinged fangs in the front of its mouth that fold back out of the way when they are not in use |
| zoology | the branch of biology that deals with animal life |
| wetlands | land areas that are flooded during all or part of the year |
| wattles | red tissue on the face of a bird, such as a turkey, that swells with blood and takes on a bright red color during the mating display |
| water cycle | the movement of water inthe form of vapor from the oceans to the clouds to the Earth as precipitation, and back to the oceans through rivers and streams |
| waterfowl | swimming game birds that live in water habitats |
| watershed | an area bounded by geographic features where precipitation is absorbed in the soil to form groundwater, which eventually emerges to become surface water and ultimately drains to a particular water course or body of water |
| yolk sac | a pouch-like organ found in young fish, reptiles and birds, containing a highly nutritious material called yolk that nourishes the young before and after hatching |
Correct order of taxonomic classification is:
Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species, Subspecies