North Carolina envirothon review
organic matter
Chemical compounds of carbon combined with other chemical elements and generally manufactured in the life processes of plant and animals. Most organic compounds are a source of food for bacteria and are usually combustible.
nutrients
Chemicals required for plants and animals to grow and exist; a chemical compound required for the life of an organism.
herbicide
Chemicals used to control the growth of plants.
insecticide
Chemicals used to kill insects.
camouflage
Colors, tones, patterns, shapes or behaviors that enable an organism to blend in with its surroundings. Some organisms, for example, have a skin or coat color that lets them hide from predators.
photosynthesis
Complex process that takes place in cells of green plants. Radiant energy from the sun is used to combine carbon dioxide and water to produce oxygen and carbohydrates (such as glucose) and other nutrient molecules.
inorganic
Composed of matter that is not animal or vegetable; not having the organized structure of living things.
nitrogen-fixation
Conversion of elemental nitrogen from the atmosphere to organic combinations or to forms readily usable in biological processes. Nitrogen fixation is normally carried out by bacteria living symbiotically in legumes, or by free-living soil bacteria.
tillage
Cultivation of land.
meandering
Curving; often used to describe rivers and streams in lowlands.
muck
Dark, finely divided, well decomposed organic soil material.
decadent
Declining in health and/or productivity.
DNR
Department of Natural Resources; abbreviation for the name of the natural resources agency in many states. In North Carolina the name of the agency is DENR— Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
burrowing
Digging a hole or tunnel.
solid waste
Discarded solid materials, excluding recovered materials.
waste stream, solid
Discarded solid materials, excluding recovered materials.
detritus
Disintegrated material or debris; loose fragments washed away from rocks
aestivation
Dormancy, typically seasonal.
arid
Dry; receives little precipitation.
diving ducks
Ducks that prefer to feed in deep water like lakes and bays.
dabbling ducks
Ducks which frequent shallow marshes, ponds and rivers and "tip up" to feed.They feed with their body above water and take off vertically when startled.
adapted, adaptation
The process of making adjustments to the environment. For example, plants grow only where soil types, moisture, and sunlight are balanced to the proper degree. Desert plants have adapted so they live under intense sunlight, on poor quality soils, and with a much reduced water supply.
hydrological cycle
The process where water circulates through the ecosystem; includes precipitation, respiration, evaporation; the water cycle.
biodegradable
The property of a substance that permits it to be broken down by microorganisms into simple, stable compounds such as carbon dioxide and water.
permeability
The quality of soil that allows air or water to move through it.
hypothermia
The rapid and abnormal chilling of the body. Hypothermia can occur even in mild and warm weather. Victims must be warmed by special means to prevent long-term damage or death.
sustained yield
The rate at which a resource may be used without reducing its long-term availability or limiting its ability to renew itself.
infiltration rate
The rate at which water penetrates the surface of the soil at any given instant, usually expressed in inches per hour. The rate can be limited by the infiltration capacity of the soil or the rate at which water is applied at the surface.
ecological diversity
The variety of forest, desert, grasslands, oceans, stream, and other biological communities interacting with one another and with their nonliving environment.
biological diversity
The variety of life forms in a given area. Diversity can be categorized in the number of species, the variety in the areas of plant and animal communities, the genetic variability of the animals, or a combination of these elements.
clay
Fine-grained soil with particles less than .002 millimeters; plastic when wet, but hardens when dry
pelvic fins
Fins on each side of a fish's belly.These fins aid in positioning and balance.
sport fishing
Fishing for recreation, not for profit or commercial reasons.
sedges
Grass-like plants with solid stems and leaves that grow in threes.
glacial outwash
Gravel, sand, and silt, commonly stratified, deposited by glacial meltwater.
aquatic
Growing, living in, or frequenting waters.
R layer
Hard, consolidated bedrock beneath the soil. The bedrock commonly underlies a C horizon but can be directly below an A or a B horizon.
pollution
Harmful substances deposited in the air, water, or land leading to a state of dirtiness, impurity, or unhealthiness.
exclusion
Keeping something out of an area.
oligotrohpic
Lake type used to describe bodies of water characterized by low amounts of nutrients in proportion to their total volume of water.
oligotrophic
Lake type used to describe bodies of water characterized by low amounts of nutrients in proportion to their total volume of water.
interior basin
Land areas that are generally bowl-shaped and surrounded by hills and mountains. Usually drained by one river system and isolated from ocean influence by mountains and hills.
upland
Land at a higher elevation, in general, than the alluvial plain or stream terrace; land above the lowlands along streams.
land capability class
Land capability classification shows, in a general way, the suitability of soils for most kinds of field crops. Crops that require special management are excluded. The soils are grouped according to their limitations for field crops, the risk of damage if they are used for crops, and the way they respond to management. The criteria used in grouping the soils do not include major and generally expensive landforming that would change slope, depth, or other characteristics of the soils, nor do they include possible but unlikely major reclamation projects. Capability classification is not a substitute for interpretations designed to show suitability and limitations of groups of soils for rangeland, for forestland, or for engineering purposes. A specially engineered site for disposing of solid waste on land, designed to confine the refuse to the smallest practical area and reduce it to the smallest practical volume.
public land
Land owned by the citizens and administered and managed by the local, state, or federal government agencies.
marginal land
Land that does not consistently produce a profitable crop because of infertility, drought, or other physical limitations such as shallow soils.
macrofauna
Large animals; extremely visible.
coastal plain
Large, nearly level areas of land near ocean shores.
zero population growth
Maintaining population numbers at a fixed level resulting in no increase in population.
dioecious
Male and female flowers produced on separate plants.
manipulate
Manage or influence to achieve desired results.
lacustrine deposit
Material deposited in lake water and exposed when the water level is lowered or the elevation of the land is raised
glacial deposits
Material moved by glaciers and subsequently sorted and deposited by streams flowing from the melting ice. The deposits are stratified and occur as kames, eskers, deltas, and outwash plains. Sediment left after glaciers recede.
alluvium
Material, such as sand, silt, or clay, deposited on land by streams.
alluvium, recent
Material, such as sand, silt, or clay, deposited on land by streams. These deposits are young in age and are found on flood plains that continue to flood and deposit new material.
alluvium, old
Material, such as sand, silt, or clay, deposited on land by streams. These deposits have been in place for a long period of time and are found on stream terraces that no longer flood.
olfactory
Nerves involved in the sense of smell.
redoximorphic concentrations
Nodules, concretions, soft masses, pore linings, and other features resulting from the accumulation of iron or manganese oxide. An indication of chemical reduction and oxidation resulting from saturation.
abiotic
Non-living factor in an environment; for example, light, water, temperature, or rocks.
nonrenewable resources
Nonliving resources such as rocks and minerals; resources which do not regenerate themselves; substances, such as petroleum, coal, copper, and gold which, once used, cannot be replaced—at least not in this geological age.
detrimental
Having harmful effects.
turbid
Having sediment or foreign particles stirred up or suspended; muddy.
benthic
Having to do with the ecosystem at the bottom of a lake.
solar energy
Heat from the sun that can be used to do work.
geothermal energy
Heat transferred from the earth's interior to underground concentrations of water trapped in fractured or porous rock to form steam or hot water.
nuclear fusion
Nuclear change in which two nuclei of isotopes of elements with a low mass number (such as hydrogen- 2 and hydrogen-3) are forced together at extremely high temperatures until they fuse to form a heavier nucleus (such as helium-4). This process releases a large amount of energy.
density
Number of organisms per unit of space.
acid rain
Rain, snow, or other forms of water that are made more acid by the waste gases that come mainly from the burning of coal and oil products. The gases (usually sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen) mix with water and other materials in the air. Acid rain falls on the land and water, and can affect wildlife, plants, soil, and building materials.
redoximorphic features
Redoximorphic concentrations, redoximorphic depletions, reduced matrices, a positive reaction to alpha,alpha-dipyridyl, and other features indicating the chemical reduction and oxidation of iron and manganese compounds
organic
Referring to or derived from living organisms; in chemistry, any compound containing carbon.
rare
Referring to wildlife species not presently in danger but of concern because of its low numbers.
needleleaf
Refers to a trees or shrub with narrow, needle-like leaves.
niche
Refers to specific place where an individual organism can live.
drainage class (natural)
Refers to the frequency and duration of periods of saturation or partial saturation during soil formation, as opposed to altered drainage, which is commonly the result of artificial drainage or irrigation but may be caused by the sudden deepening of channels or the blocking of drainage outlets. Seven classes of natural soil drainage are recognized:
forage
Refers to the vegetation eaten by animals.
caudal
Related to, or being a tail; the tail fin.
pelagic
Relating to or living in deep, open water as opposed to along the banks.
grass
Relatively short plants (less than 4 to 5 feet) typically having long narrow leaves and hollow jointed stems. Flowers for grasses are inconspicuous and often in clusters.
secluded
Removed or screened from view of other areas and disturbances.
zooplankton
Plankton that consists of animals including coral, sea anemones, and jellyfish.
hydrophytic vegetation
Plants adapted to growing in water or very wet soil conditions.
legume
Plants that bear seeds in a pod. Typically have characteristics that allow them to improve the fertility of the soil by adding nitrogen. Some examples are: alfalfa, clover, soybeans, and peas.
contour farming
Plowing along the contour lines of uneven terrain to help prevent erosion
point source pollution
Pollution that comes from a specific place such as a drain or pipes.
non-point-source pollution
Pollution that enters water through run-off from farmland, forestland, and urban areas. It can not be determined exactly where this pollution comes from.
resource
Portions of an environment upon which people have placed or assigned value or see as being available for use.
innate
Possessed at birth.
wind energy
Power harnessed from the wind by the use of windmills or turbines.
prime farmland
Prime farmland is one of several kinds of important farmland defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Prime farmland is of major importance in meeting the Nation's short- and long-range needs for food and fiber. The acreage of high-quality farmland is limited, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture recognizes that governments at local, State, and Federal levels, as well as individuals, must encourage and facilitate the wise use of our Nation's prime farmland. The soils in a survey area that are considered prime farmland are listed in the prime farmland table.
glacial drift
Pulverized and other rock material transported by glacial ice and then deposited. Also, the sorted and unsorted material deposited by streams flowing from glaciers.
precipitation
Rain, snow, and other forms of water that fall to earth.
macropores
The ___________ are the larger pores and they allow air and water to move through the soil
infiltration
The act of permeating a porous area with a liquid or gas.
depredation
The act of preying upon, usually in relation to wildlife damage to people's crops or animals.
spawn
The act of releasing eggs into the water by female fish for fertilization by male fish.
alkalinity
The alkali concentration or quantity
productivity
The amount of crops or animals that can be harvested from land. It can also mean the general amount of goods made in a given time or in a given area.
biota
The animal and plant life of a region or period.
wildlife management
The application of scientific knowledge and technical skills to protect, preserve, conserve, limit, enhance, or extend the value of wildlife and its habitat.
home range
The area in which an animal travels in the scope of normal activities; not to be confused with territory.
pore spaces, pores
The area of the soil through which water and air move. The space between soil particles.
anthropomorphism
The attribution of human characteristics to nonhumans, especially animals. Biologists recognize that animals may exhibit emotions and behavior patterns resembling those of humans. Anthropomorphism is generally used to refer to a fictionalized portrayal of animals such as those found in children books, cartoons, and so on.
climatic
The average condition of the weather as defined by temperature, precipitation, and wind velocities; the environmental conditions relating to weather.
Montane zone
The band of vegetation that occurs at intermediate elevations in mountainous regions between foothills and subalpine zones.
carrion
The bodies of dead animals, usually found in nature in the process of decay;not "fresh meat".
ichthyology
The branch of zoology that deals with fish, their classification, structure, habits, and life history.
bioaccumulation
The build-up of chemicals in a plant or animal. For example, DDT in bluebirds.
biotic potential
The capacity of a population of animals or plant to increase in numbers under optimum environmental conditions.
stickiness
The capacity of soil to adhere to other objects. Stickiness is estimated at the moisture content that displays the greatest adherence when pressed between thumb and forefinger.
available water capacity
The capacity of soils to hold water available for use by most plants. It is commonly defined as the difference between the amount of soil water at field moisture capacity and the amount at wilting point. It is commonly expressed as inches of water per inch of soil. The capacity, in inches, in a 60-inch profile or to a limiting layer is expressed as: Very low 0 to 3, Low 3 to 6, Moderate 6 to 9, High 9 to 12, Very high more than 12
ecological succession
The changes, over time, in the structure and function of an ecosystem. When no previous vegetation exists on a site, the process is called primary succession. When a site supported vegetation previously but was disturbed, the process is called secondary succession.
carbon cycle
The circulation and recycling of carbon atoms, especially through the processes of photosynthesis, respiration, and decomposition.
slope
The inclination of the land surface from the horizontal. Percentage of slope is the vertical distance divided by horizontal distance, then multiplied by 100. Thus, a slope of 20 percent is a drop of 20 feet in 100 feet of horizontal distance.
interdependencies
The interrelationships of wildlife with one another and with the various elements of their environments
drought
The lack of normal precipitation for an extended period of time. A long period with little or no rain.
watershed
The land area where all rain drains into a body of water—delivering both runoff water and sediment to a major river or stream and its tributaries.
range
The land where animals live; an area grazed bylivestock and/or wildlife.
herb layer
The layer of soft-stemmed plants growing close to the forest floor.
springwood
The less dense, larger-celled, first-formed part of a growth layer.
playa
The level area at the bottom of a basin that is often covered with water from rain runoff and snow melt.
biotic
The living components of an ecosystem (fauna and flora); a reference to the living components of the biosphere or of an ecosystem as distinguished from the non-living components.
biotic community
The living organisms in a given community. It includes all plant and animal life within the community. The non-living parts are considered the abiotic parts of the community.
symbiosis
The living together in close association of two or more dissimilar organisms; includes parasitism, mutualism, and neutralism.
global climate change
The long term changes in temperature, moisture, and air mass movements occurring globally as a result of changes in the earth's atmosphere.
bulk density
The mass of dry soil per unit volume, including the air space.
mycelium
The mass of interwoven filaments that forms the vegetative portion of a fungus.
vegetation
The mass of plants that cover a given areas. (Flora sometimes used—incorrectly—as a synonym for vegetation is actually a list of the species of plants that compose the vegetation.
sediment
The matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid (such as water).
A horizon
The mineral horizon at or near the surface in which an accumulation of humified organic matter is mixed with the mineral material. Also, a plowed surface horizon, most of which was originally part of a B horizon.
B horizon
The mineral horizon below an A horizon. The B horizon is in part a layer of transition from the overlying A to the underlying C horizon. The B horizon also has distinctive characteristics, such as (1) accumulation of clay, sesquioxides, humus, or a combination of these; (2) prismatic or blocky structure; (3) redder or browner colors than those in the A horizon; or (4) a combination of these.
E horizon
The mineral horizon in which the main feature is loss of silicate clay, iron, aluminum, or some combination of these.
tilth, soil
The physical condition of the soil as related to tillage, seedbed preparation, seedling emergence, and root penetration.
gas
The physical state of a compound that characteristically has no fixed shape or size. Gases will fill and take the shape of any container in which they are placed.
dominant species
The plant or animal species which exerts major controlling influence on the community. Removal of dominant species results in important changes in the community. Generally, dominants have the greatest total bio-mass represented by total number or weight.
phloem
The plant tissue that transports dissolved nutrients from the leaves to the other parts of the plant.
runoff
The precipitation discharged into stream channels from an area. The water that flows off the surface of the land without sinking into the soil is called surface runoff. Water that enters the soil before reaching surface streams is called ground-water runoff or seepage flow from ground water.
transitional
The process of changing from one form to another.
Very slow
0.0015 to 0.06 inch
Slow
0.06 to 0.2 inch
Moderately slow
0.2 to 0.6 inch
Moderate
0.6 inch to 2.0 inches
Slightly alkaline
7.4 to 7.8
Moderately alkaline
7.9 to 8.4
Strongly alkaline
8.5 to 9.0
Very strongly
9.1 and higher alkaline
DDT
A colorless contact insecticide. Banned in the United States for most uses since 1972
food web
A complex and interlocking series of food chains.
cellulose
A complex carbohydrate that constitutes the chief part of the cell walls of higher plants and yields fiber.
rock
A complex mineral aggregate.
hydric
A descriptive term referring to plants and soils existing in flooded, saturated, or ponded areas. (For example, hydric soils.)
clinometer
A device used in measuring the angle of elevation from eye level to the top of a tree. This instrument is used to help calculate slope.
map
A drawing of land or physical features. Maps are useful to find streams and access points to rivers and lakes.
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
A federal program designed to remove highly erodible, marginal farmland from production through a one-time cost-sharing payment to establish trees, grass, or other cover. The landowner receives a 10-year annual rental payment to maintain the cover.
dorsal fin
A fin located on the back or upper-most part of a fish.
glacier
A flowing body of ice, formed in a region where snowfall exceeds melting.
bottomlands
A forest area near a stream, river, or other moving body of water. Bottomlands are subject to periodic flooding and usually have wetland hardwood species.
ozone
A form of oxygen that has three atoms to a molecule.
aquifer
A geological formation that is permeable; a waterbearing layer of rock or soil. An aquifer has an impervious layer of rock or soil at the top and at the bottom of a pervious layer that contains water.
catfish
A group of fish without scales named for the long barbels around their mouths that look like the whiskers of a cat.
high-grading
A harvesting technique that removes only the biggest and most valuable trees from a forest stand.
propane
A heavy, flammable, gaseous, paraffin hydrocarbon found in crude petroleum and natural gas; used especially as fuel and in chemical synthesis.
iceberg
A large floating mass of ice detached from a glacier or polar ice cap.
biome
A large geographic area with somewhat uniform climatic conditions; a complex of communities characterized by a distinctive type of vegetation and maintained under the climatic conditions of the region.
nymph
A larval phase of an aquatic insect.
horizon, soil
A layer of soil, approximately parallel to the surface, having distinct characteristics produced by soil- forming processes. In the identification of soil horizons, an uppercase letter represents the major horizons. Numbers or lowercase letters that follow represent subdivisions of the major horizons.
flora
A list of the species of plants that make up the vegetation for an area. (See also vegetation.)
estuary
A partly enclosed body of water where sea water and fresh water meet and mix.
cycle
A periodically repeated sequence of events.
biologist
A person who studies living organisms and their relationship to one another.
ethics
A personal or social moral code.
evaporation
A physical change of state in which a liquid is transformed into a vapor or gas.
rotation
A planned multi-year succession of crops designed to maximize productivity and minimize erosion and plant diseases.
hydrophyte
A plant adapted to grow in water.
epiphyte
A plant that grows on the surface of another plant but is not a parasite since it gets its nourishment from the air.
perennial
A plant that lives for several years and, when mature, usually produces seeds each year.
biennial
A plant that lives for two growing seasons, producing foliage during the first season and flowers, fruit, and seeds during the second.
decomposer
A plant, animal, or fungi which feeds on dead material and causes its mechanical or chemical breakdown.
herbivore
A plant-eating animal.
courtship
A pre-mating behavior where the male tries to woo or court the female in order to mate.
natural selection
A process in nature resulting in the survival and perpetuation of only those forms of plants and animal life that have certain favorable characteristics that enable them to adapt best to a specific environment.
undulating
A regular rising and falling or side-to-side motion.
commensalism
A relationship between two organisms of different species in which one organisms benefits, while the other is generally neither helped nor harmed.
gamate
A reproductive cell having the haploid number of chromosomes capable of fusing with a gamate cell of the opposite sex to produce a fertilized egg.
renewable resource
A resource that has the capacity to be replaced through natural processes. Trees are a renewable resource. (Nonrenewable resources are in limited supply and cannot be replenished by natural processes—at least not for thousands of years. Fossil fuels are a nonrenewable resource.)
perpetual resource
A resource, such as solar energy, that is virtually inexhaustible on a human time scale.
knee
A round or spurlike growth rising from the roots of some swamp trees such as bald cypress and tupelo.
cross section
A sample meant to representative of a whole
ecologist
A scientist who studies the interrelations of living things to one another and their environment.
breeding
A series of complex behavioral interactive patterns from courtship to mating; rearing of young, which are necessary for the continuation of a species.
cove
A small bay or inlet in a body of water.
microhabitat
A small habitat within a larger one in which environmental conditions differ from those in the surrounding area. A hole in a tree trunk or a decaying log is a mircohabitat within the forest.
stoma
A small opening found in the epidermal layer of plants that allows: access for carbon dioxide; the release of water; and the release of oxygen. Stomata are surrounded by guard cells that control the opening size.
rootlet
A small root.
passive solar power
A solar energy collection system in which natural materials or large stationary absorptive surfaces absorb and temporally store the heat of the sun. Heat collected during the day is usually released from the absorptive surfaces at night.
active solar power
A solar energy collection system in which water, air, or another heat-absorbing fluid is actively pumped
botanist
A specialist in the study of plants.
naturalist
A specialist who studies and/or teaches about nature.
zoologist
A specialist who studies the animal kingdom with respect to the behavior of individual animals, species, or both.
landfill
A specially engineered site for disposing of solid waste on land, designed to confine the refuse to the smallest practical area and reduce it to the smallest practical volume.
endangered
A species that is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. (A threatened species is one that is likely to become endangered.)
exotic species
A species that is not native to the ecosystem; also known as an invader species.
threatened species
A species that, in nature, is abundant, but because of a decline in its numbers, may become endangered. tissue A group of cells, usually a particular kind of cells, that function together and form the structural material in an organism.
hormones
A substance produced by one tissue and conveyed by the bloodstream to another to affect physiological activity like growth.
Abney level
A surveying instrument designed to measure angles of elevation or depression. Measurements made with an Abney level are expressed in degrees or in percentages.
sloughs
A swampy place or marshy inlet.
lateral line system
A system of sense organs in fish, a series of pores or canals running along a line on each side of the body and on the head; detects pressure changes (including vibrations) in the water.
ecosphere
A term for the total of all the regions on the earth capable of supporting life.
multiple-use
A term referring to a system of management in which the same lands and waters are managed for a variety of purposes. The uses are not necessary simultaneous but are intended to be compatible. For example, a forest can serve as a home for wildlife, provide clean air and water, provide recreation, be used to grow trees for products, and be aesthetically pleasing—all at the same time also multiple-use management The practice of managing forest resources for a variety of benefits including water quality and yield, forage, wildlife habitat, wood, recreation, wilderness, and minerals.
creel limit
A term to indicate the number of fish, by species, that can be legally caught in one day.
biodiversity (biological diversity)
A term used to represent the variety of life forms in a given area.
amnion
A thin, fluid-like sack that encloses the embryo in an egg
fiber
A thread-like body or filament many times longer than its diameter. Paper pulps are composed of fibers— usually of vegetable origin, but sometimes animals, minerals, or synthetic—for special types of papers.
hyphae
A threadlike filament forming the mycelium of a fungus.
pedon
A three-dimensional soil body depicting the range of characteristics of a given soil.
Wedge Prisim
A type of angle gauge made of glass that bends light that lets a forester determine which trees should be counted or tabulated in a forest sample and which should not. Prisms may also be used for timber cruising, for locating points at a desired distance from a target, or for determining the basal area of growth.
eutrophic
A type of body of water that has high levels of nutrients.
marl
A type of bottom under a body of water; a mixture of clay and carbonate of lime.
rill
A type of erosion.
decibel
A unit of intensity of sound. A measurement of 50 decibels is considered moderate sound; 80 is loud; sound beyond 100 becomes intolerable.
acre
A unit of measurement of land equal to the area of land inside a square that is 209 feet on each side (43,560 square feet).
grassland
A vegetation community in which grasses are the dominant plants.
swamp
A wetland dominated by trees.
bog
A wetland formed in a former glacial depression by the accumulation of organic matter, known as peat, and which supports mosses tolerant of acidic conditions
marsh
A wetland without trees which often has standing water.
barbel
A whisker-like projection for the jaws of some fish such as a carp or catfish. Barbels help a fish to taste and feel.
carrying capacity
A wildlife management term for the equilibrium expressed by the availability of habitat components and the number of animals in a given area. In general ecological usage, carrying capacity is the dynamic equilibrium established between any life form and its environment. It is frequently expressed as a number indicating the population of any given animal a given area can support. Carrying capacity varies throughout the year. The population number varies from year to year, dependent upon conditions within the habitat such as rainfall, weather, and habitat conditions.
keystone species
A wildlife species whose removal will effect many different plants and animal species. For example, a
woodlands (or open forest)
A wooded area in which the crowns of the trees do not form a closed canopy.
fingerling
A young fish, about as long as the length of your finger.
seedling
A young tree grown from a seed to a small sapling.
water table
A zone of saturation at the highest average depth during the wettest season. It is at least 6 inches thick, persists in the soil for more than a few weeks, and is within 6 feet of the surface. Indicated in the "Water Features" table of a soil survey are the depth to the seasonal high water table, the kind of water table, and the months of the year when the water table usually is highest. An apparent water table is indicated by the level at which water stands in a freshly dug, unlined borehole after adequate time for adjustments in the surrounding soil. A perched water table is one that is above an unsaturated zone in the soil. The basis for determining that a water table is perched may be general knowledge of the area. The water table is proven to be perched if the water level in a borehole is observed to fall when the borehole is extended.
VOC (Volatile Organic Compound)
A"naturally"derived compound that can cause serious environmental and health threats when found in high concentrations or used in poorly ventilated areas. VOC can be found in several products, including household cleaners, paints, wood finishes, and pesticides.
IGFA
Abbreviation for the International Game Fish Association, a group that keeps records on fish catches and supports sport fishing.
instinctive
Actions taken as a result of an inborn pattern of behavior.
crepuscular
Active at dawn and dusk.
diurnal
Active by daylight; the opposite of nocturnal.
nocturnal
Active by night; the opposite of diurnal.
porous
Admitting the passage of gas or liquids through pores.
row crops
Agricultural crops, such as corn and soybeans, that are grown in rows.
chemical weathering
All chemical changes produced in rocks or other deposits at or near the earth's surface by atmospheric agents. These changes result in disintegration and decomposition of the material.
herbaceous
All grasses and forbes having soft rather than woody stems, including plants called weeds and flowers.
ecosystem
All living things and their environment in an area of any size where all are linked together by energy and nutrient flow. Also, the interacting system of a biological community and its nonliving environment; the place where these interactions occur.
drainageway
An area of ground at a lower elevation than the surrounding ground and in which water collects and is drained to a closed depression or lake or to a drainageway at a lower elevation. A drainageway may or may not have distinctly incised channels at its upper reaches or throughout its course.
riparian buffer
An area of trees and shrubs located adjacent to streams, lakes, ponds, and wetlands.
wilderness
An area that has never been developed by humans
wetland
An area that is regularly wet or flooded where the water table stands at or above the land surface for a least part of the year. Wetland plant communities are made up of species which require hydric soils.
desert
An arid habitat with limited amounts of vegetation.
vegetative reproduction
An asexual means of propagating new plants through root shoots, bulbs, leaf cutting, or underground stems.
community
An association of organisms—plants and animal— each occupying a certain position or ecological niche, inhabiting a common environment and interacting with each other; all the plants and animals in a particular habitat that are bound together by food chains and other interrelationships.
plant communities
An associations of plants, each occupying a certain position or ecological niche, inhabiting a common environment and interaction
terrace
An embankment, or ridge, constructed across sloping soils on the contour or at a slight angle to the contour. The terrace intercepts surface runoff so that water soaks into the soil or flows slowly to a prepared outlet. A terrace in a field is generally built so that the field can be farmed. A terrace intended mainly for drainage has a deep channel that is maintained in permanent sod.
feed lot
An enclosed area in which animals, such as hogs or cattle, are fed before being sold for meat.
respiration
An energy-yielding oxidation process that goes on in living plants and animals; an exchange of gasses.
ped
An individual natural soil aggregate, such as a granule, a prism, or a block.
cation
An ion carrying a positive charge of electricity. The common soil cations are calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium, and hydrogen.
anion
An ion that bears a negative charge.
display
An observable behavioral pattern that carries a specific message. The message may be inter- or intra-specific.
O horizon
An organic layer of fresh and decaying plant residue.
microorganism
An organism microscopic in size, observable only through a microscope.
parasite
An organism that lives on or in an organism of another species and derives nutrients from it.
consumer
An organism that obtains energy by feeding on other organisms and their remains.
anaerobic
An organism, like bacteria, that lives without the presence of oxygen
combustion
An oxidative chemical process that results in the creation of heat and light.
pest
An undesirable, harmful, or noxious organism.
species
Animals and plants that are the same and successfully reproduce the same kind of plant or animal; a category of biological ranking just below the genus or subgenus category. Members of the same species are closely related organisms that are potentially able to breed with one another.
invertebrate
Animals lacking a backbone. Some examples are insects, spiders, mollusks, and crustaceans.
animal community
Animals of various species living within a certain habitat, each occupying a specific position in that particular environment; directly parallel to plant communities.
prey
Animals that are killed and eaten by other animals.
resident wildlife
Animals which are residents to a specific area on a year-round basis as opposed to migratory.
fauna
Animals, especially the animals of a particular region or period considered as a group.
soil genesis
the part of soil science that deals with the factors and processes of soil formation.
Excessively drained
—These soils have very high and high hydraulic conductivity and a low water-holding capacity. They are not suited to crop production unless irrigated.
epilimnion
The warm layer of water above the thermocline.
Brackish
The water in the area where fresh and salt water meet; often has varying salinity but is saltier than fresh water.
erosion
The wearing away of the land surface by wind or water. Erosion occurs, naturally from weather or runoff, but it is often intensified by some human practices.
key plant species
Those plant species that are used to indicate the general condition of a habitat. For example, when
natural resources
Those raw materials supplied by the Earth and its processes. Natural resources include nutrients, minerals, water, plant animals, and so on.
cultivate
Tilling or working the soil for the purpose of growing crops and other desiredplants.
mulching
To add materials to soil to protect the soil from cold, to reduce evaporation, to control weeds, or to enrich the soil. Common materials for mulching include: sawdust, bark, and leaves.
parasitic
To be a parasite on. For example, mistletoe is a parasite growing on trees.
codominate
To be one of two or more of the most characteristic species in a biotic community
invade
To enter, to encroach upon, to spread over into. In wildlife usage, this usually describes when an organism is removed from a community and another organism spreads over into this community.
yard up
To gather in a sheltered area in winter; used typically in reference to deer, moose, and similar animal populations
aggregate
To gather into a group or mass
excavate
To make a cavity or hole. To hollow out.
mitigate
To make up for; to substitute some benefit for losses incurred.
hibernate
To pass the winter in a dormant state.
denitrification
To remove nitrogen or nitrogen-containing gases
regenerate
To replace lost or damaged parts with new tissue.
rejuvenate
To stimulate and return to youthful health and vigor.
irrigate
To supply cropland, parks, yards, and so on, with water through the use of diversions, ditches, and pipes.
aerate, aeration
To supply with air or oxygen; to loosen the soil to add air space to it; to supply running water with additional oxygen, as when a stream runs over falls or rapids or when wind creates waves on a lake.
fluctuate
To vary; or rise and fall irregularly.
gross national product
Total market value in current dollars of all goods and services produced by a country's economy for final use during a year.
windthrow
Trees uprooted by excessive wind. Shallow-rooted trees are almost always affected.
True
True or false. Many soils form from weathered bedrock while others form from material that has been transported and deposited by wind, water, glaciers, or volcanoes
naval stores
Turpentine and resin derived from the distillation of oleoresins from slash and longleaf pine.
amphibian
Typically, an animal that, when young, lives in an aquatic habit and breathes by gills; as an adult, an amphibian lives primarily in a terrestrial habitat breathing by lungs and through moist glandular skin. For example, frogs and salamanders are amphibians.
residuum
Unconsolidated, weathered or partly weathered mineral material that accumulated as consolidated rock disintegrated in place.
glacial till
Unsorted, nonstratified glacial drift consisting of clay, silt, sand, and boulders transported and deposited by glacial ice.
ecosystem management
Use of ecosystem concepts to predict the effects of management actions on the ecosystem and to guide management planning and actions.
transpiration
Vapor water lost or given off by land plants.
genetic diversity
Variability in genetic or hereditary makeup among individuals within a single species.
diversity
Variety.
cover
Vegetation and other land features that provide areas for wildlife to hide, sleep, feed, and reproduce.
silt
Very fine particles of soil often transported by water and deposited as sediment.
microfauna
Very small animals, barely visible to the eye.
dew
Water droplets condensed from the air onto cool surfaces such as grass or leaves. Usually occurs at night.
freshwater
Water that contains little or no salt.
groundwater
Water that infiltrates the soil and is stored in slowly flowing and slowly renewed underground reservoirs called aquifers.
waste water
Water that runs off cropland during irrigation.
saltwater
Water with salt in it, such as in an ocean or sea.
behavior
What an animal does.
congregate
When animals group together in an area.
competition
When two or more organisms compete to use the same resource; may be inter- or intra-specific.
loess
Windblown deposit of fine-grained silt or clay.
Moderately rapid
2.0 to 6.0 inches
Extremely acid
3.5 to 4.4
Very strongly acid
4.5 to 5.0
Exposure
5 factors responsible for soil formation are: Parent Materials Climate Relief or Topography Biological Factors Time/__________
Biological factors
5 factors responsible for soil formation are: Parent Materials Climate Relief or Topography _____________________ Time/Exposure
Relief
5 factors responsible for soil formation are: Parent Materials Climate ______ or Topography Biological Factors Time/Exposure
climate
5 factors responsible for soil formation are: Parent Materials __________ Relief or Topography Biological Factors Time/Exposure
Parent materials
5 factors responsible for soil formation are: _________ ______________ Climate Relief or Topography Biological Factors Time/Exposure
Strongly acid
5.1 to 5.5
Moderately acid
5.6 to 6.0
Rapid
6.0 to 20 inches
Slightly acid
6.1 to 6.5
Neutral
6.6 to 7.3
pectoral fins
Side fins on fish
fungi
Simple plantlike organisms that lack chlorophyll. Fungi get their nutrition from living on or in other organisms (parasitically), from living with other organisms (symbiotically), or by breaking down dead organic materials (saprophytically). Examples of fungi include: mushrooms, molds, and yeast.
bacteria
Single celled microorganisms that lack chlorophyll. Many bacteria break down organic matter in the air, the water, and the soil. Some bacteria are capable of causing diseases in humans, other animals, and plants.
stagnant
Sluggish, not producing to potential.
ecological islands
Small spaces of wildlife and plant habitat remaining when land is cleared for farming or urban development.
pith
Soft, spongy center of the stem of most flowering plants.
colluvium
Soil material, rock fragments, or both, moved by creep, slide, or local wash and deposited at the base of steep slopes.
soil survey
Soil surveys include general information about the survey area, descriptions of the detailed soil map units and soil series in the area, and a description of how the soils formed. The survey also describes the use and management of the soils and the major soil properties. In addition, general and detailed soil maps are provided to let the user know about the type and location of soils in the survey area.
hydric soil
Soils that formed under conditions of saturation, flooding, or ponding long enough during the growing season to develop anaerobic conditions in the upper part. These soils are either saturated or inundated long enough during the growing season to support the growth and reproduction of hydrophytic vegetation. If soils are wet enough for a long enough period to be considered hydric, they should exhibit certain properties that can be easily observed in the field. These visible properties are indicators of hydric soils. The indicators used to make onsite determinations of hydric soils in this survey area are specified in "Field Indicators of Hydric Soils in the United States" (Hurt and others, 1998). Hydric soils are identified by examining and describing the soil to a depth of about 20 inches. This depth may be greater if determination of an appropriate indicator so requires. It is always recommended that soils be excavated and described to the depth necessary for an understanding of the redoximorphic processes. Then, using the completed soil descriptions, soil scientists can compare the soil features required by each indicator and specify which indicators have been matched with the conditions observed in the soil. The soil can be identified as a hydric soil if at least one of the approved indicators is present.
generalists
Species that have broad adaptability; more likely to survive changes in habitat
rare species
Species that populate a site or region infrequently, or in very low numbers. Rare species are not necessary endangered.
ponding
Standing water on soils in closed depressions. Unless the soils are artificially drained, the water can be removed only by percolation or evapotranspiration.
alkaline
Substances with a pH greater than 7.
acid
Substances with a pH of less than 7.
carbohydrates
Sugars, starches, and cellulose that are produced by green plants and are important nutritional sources of energy for many animals.
condensation
The physical change of state in which a gas or vapor is transformed into a liquid, as in the formation of water droplets when water vapor cools.
Impermeable
less than 0.0015 inch
Ultra acid
less than 3.5
gaff
A "j" shaped, barbless hook on a long handle used to hook large fish while landing them.
chart
A "map" of water areas;showing water depths for the shorelines, reefs, rocks, shoals, wrecks, and other areas of dangers.
microclimate
A "small climate ;" the environmental conditions within a restricted area.
delta
A body of alluvium having a surface that is nearly flat and fan shaped; deposited at or near the mouth of a river or stream where it enters a body of relatively quiet water, generally a sea or lake.
gill
A breathing organ located behind the gill cover on a fish's head.
phosphate
A chemical compound that aids root growth and is essential in energy transfer. It is commonly incorporated into beds as triple super phosphate (TSP) at time of planting.
macronutrient
A chemical element necessary in large amounts for the growth of plants.
micronutrient
A chemical element necessary in very small amounts for the growth of plants.
pheromones
A chemical secreted by an animal or insect that influences the behavior or development of others of the same species.
pigment
A chemical substance that reflects and transmits only certain light rays and thus imparts color to an object.
mutualism
A close association between two different species whereby each species derives some benefits. For example, the yucca plant and the yucca moth each benefit from their relationship.
fragipan
A loamy, brittle subsurface horizon low in porosity and content of organic matter and low or moderate in clay but high in silt or very fine sand. A fragipan appears cemented and restricts roots. When dry, it is hard or very hard and has a higher bulk density than the horizon or horizons above. When moist, it tends to rupture suddenly under pressure rather than to deform slowly
windrow
A long, narrow row of vegetation, debris, and some soil created during site preparation and clearing operations.
wildlife
A loose term that includes nondomesticated animals, especially mammals, birds, and fish.
dune
A low mound, ridge, bank, or hill of loose, windblown, granular material (generally sand), either bare or covered with vegetation, capable of movement from place to place but always retaining its characteristic shape.
impoundment
A man-made body of water.
reaction, soil
A measure of acidity or alkalinity of a soil, expressed in pH values. A soil that tests to pH 7.0 is described as precisely neutral in reaction because it is neither acid nor alkaline. The degrees of acidity or alkalinity, expressed as pH values, are:
rupture resistance
A measure of the strength of soil to withstand an applied stress.
carnivore
A meat eater.
bromeliad
A member of a family of tropical American and epiphytic herbaceous plants that includes the pineapple and various other ornamentals.
chromatography
A method of analyzing materials of various compounds by testing their absorption rates.
gully
A miniature valley with steep sides cut by running water and through which water ordinarily runs only after rainfall. The distinction between a gully and a rill is one of depth. A gully generally is an obstacle to farm machinery and is too deep to be obliterated by ordinary tillage; a rill is of lesser depth and can be smoothed over by ordinary tillage.
buffer strip
A narrow zone or strip of land, trees, or vegetation bordering an area. Common examples include visual buffers, which screen the view along roads, and streamside buffers, which are used to protect water quality. Buffers may also be used to prevent the spread of forest pests.
soil
A natural, three-dimensional body at the earth's surface. It is capable of supporting plants and has properties resulting from the integrated effect of climate and living matter acting on earthy parent material, as conditioned by relief and by the passage of time.
mineral
A naturally occurring in organic crystalline material found in the Earth's crust.
flood plain
A nearly level alluvial plain that borders a stream and is subject to inundation under flood-stage conditions unless protected artificially. It is usually a constructional landform built of sediment deposited during overflow and lateral migration of the stream.
redd
A nest dug on the bottom of a body of water by spawning trout. reintroduction of species A wildlife management technique where a species is reintroduced into their historic range; the repopulation of animals in areas where they have become extinct.
school
A number of fish of the same species that are grouped together.
mechanical weathering
All physical changes produced in rocks or other deposits at or near the earth's surface. These changes result in the physical breakdown and disintegration of the material without affecting the material's chemical compostion.
nongame
All wildlife species which are not commonly hunted, killed, or consumed by humans, such as songbirds and raptors.
pesticide
An agent to control undesirable organisms. This can be an insecticide for insect control, a herbicide for weed control, a fungicide for control of fungal plant diseases, or a rodenticide for killing rats and mice. Some pesticides can contaminate water, air soil, or accumulate in the tissues of living organisms, and should therefore be used carefully.
montmorillonite
An aluminosilicate clay mineral in the smectite group with a 2:1 expanding crystal lattice, with two silicon tetrahedral sheets enclosing an aluminum octahedral sheet. Considerable expansion may be caused by water moving between silica sheets of contiguous layers.
kaolinite
An aluminosilicate clay mineral of the 1:1 crystal lattice group; that is consisting of single silicon tetrahedral sheets alternating with single aluminum octahedral sheets.
scavenger
An animal that eats the dead remains and wastes of other animals and plants.
predator
An animal that hunts or captures other animals for food.
Streamside Management Zone (SMZ)
An area adjacent to a stream in which vegetation is maintained or managed to protect water quality. The width depends on slope, but 50 feet is the normal minimum. Trees may be removed from SMZs as long as the stream bed is not disrupted and sufficient vegetation is left to protect water quality.
zone
An area composed of groups of tree species having the same specific moisture and nutrient requirements for growth.
wilderness area
An area established by the federal government to be managed and preserved in an essentially untouched condition. Wilderness areas are open to some recreational activities. Use of machinery, mining, logging, and many other commercial pursuits are generally not allowed in wilderness areas.
angiosperm
Any class of flowering plants characterized by seeds that are fully enclosed by fruits.
wildfire
Any fire other than a controlled or prescribed burn occurring on wild land.
herb
Any flowering plant or fern that has a soft, rather than woody, stem.
organism
Any form of life (composed of mutually dependent parts) that maintains various vital processes.
root restrictive layer
Any layer found in the soil which restricts the growth of plant roots. The most common root restrictive layer is bedrock.
current
Any movement of water, whether caused by tides, ocean water movements, or flowing water in rivers and stream.
daphnia
Any of many kinds of water fleas
algae
Any of numerous chlorophyll-containing plants of the phylum Thallophyte, ranging from unicellular to mufticellular forms in fresh or salt water.
parasitism
Any relationship in which a consumer organism lives on or in and feeds on a living plant or animal, known as the host. The parasite draws nourishment from it and may gradually weaken its host and kill it.
catadromous
Any species of fish that lives in freshwater and spawns in saltwater, such as the eel.
anadromous
Any species of fish that lives in saltwater and spawns in freshwater. Some examples are salmon, shad, and striped bass.
filter
Any substance (paper, charcoal, sand, cloth, or fiber) through which air, smoke or liquid passes to remove impurities or recover solids.
BMP
Best Management Practices
impervious
Cannot be penetrated
eolian deposits
Earthy parent material accumulated through wind action; commonly refers to sandy material in dunes or to loess in blankets on the surface.
amphibole/pyroxenes
Easily weathered group of minerals that provides calcium and magnesium; not as abundant as feldspars.
hydropower
Electric energy produced by falling or flowing water.
valley
Elongated lowland between mountains, hills, or other upland areas that often has a river or stream running through it.
eutrophication
Enrichment of water due to fertilization, sewage, effluent or other waters that carry a high plant-nutrient
recreation
Entertainment, frequently implying activity in the out of-doors.
flyway
Fly routes established by migratory birds
runoff water
Fresh water from precipitation and melting ice that flows on the ground into nearby streams, lakes, wetlands, and reservoirs.
greenhouse gases
Gases in Earth's lower atmosphere (troposphere) that trap heat. Examples are carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, ozone, methane, water, vapor, and nitrous oxide.
coloration
Genetically-controlled patterns or markings that can protect an individual organism.
micropores
In ___________, the air movement is greatly slowed and water movement is restricted mainly to slow capillary movement
mucus
In fish, a slimy substance that coats the skin and helps protect fish from infection and disease. Also helps them move through the water.
consumptive use
In general terms related to wildlife, any use resulting in the use of wildlife after harvest. Examples may be the death of an individual animal as in hunting, fishing, and trapping.
nonconsumptive use
In general terms related to wildlife, any use which does not directly kill wildlife. For example, most forms of bird watching, photography, hiking and other pursuits involving activity as well as various forms such as movie, television, and gallery viewing of wildlife.
management
In general terms related to wildlife, the intentional manipulation or non-manipulation of habitat and/or the organisms within the habitat.
vigor
In plants and animals, refers to the capacity for strong growth and high survival.
limiting factors
Influences in the life of any animal, population of animals, or species such as: food, water, shelter, space, disease, perdition, climatic condition, population, hunting, poaching and accident. When one or more of these exceeds the limit of tolerance of that animal, population of animals, or species, it then becomes a limiting factor and can directly affect the well-being of that animal and may even cause the animal's death. Limiting factors may result from causes in nature as well as human activities
IPM
Integrated pest management; a pest management system that can reduce the amount of pesticides applied to crops.
mottled
Irregular spots of different colors that vary in number and size. Mottling generally indicates poor aeration and impeded drainage. Descriptive terms are as follows: abundance—few, common, and many; size—fine, medium, and coarse; and contrast—faint, distinct, and prominent. The size measurements are of the diameter along the greatest dimension. Fine indicates less than 5 millimeters (about 0.2 inch); medium, from 5 to 15 millimeters (about 0.2 to 0.6 inch); and coarse, more than 15 millimeters (about 0.6 inch).
salinity
Level of salt in a given substance (like water).
aerobic
Living or occurring only in the presence of oxygen
sand
Loose soil made up of small rock particles.
forb(es)
Low growing herbaceous plants, both annuals and perennials.
redoximorphic depletions
Low-chroma zones from which iron and manganese oxide or a combination of iron and manganese oxide and clay has been removed. These zones are indications of the chemical reduction of iron resulting from saturation.
iron depletions
Low-chroma zones having a low content of iron and manganese oxide because of chemical reduction and removal, but having a clay content similar to that of the adjacent matrix. A type of redoximorphic depletion
phytoplankton
Microscopic floating and suspended aquatic plants. Phytoplankton are the first step of the food chain in many aquatic systems.
peat
Moist, semi-decayed, organic matter.
biogeochemical cycles
Movement of matter within or between ecosystems caused by the interaction of living organisms, geologic forces, or chemical reactions.
littoral
Of or on a shore.
riparian
On or near the bank of water areas. The land area and plants that are influenced by the adjacent water.
stream terrace
One of a series of platforms in a stream valley, flanking and more or less parallel to the stream channel. It originally formed near the level of the stream and is the dissected remnants of an abandoned flood plain, streambed, or valley floor that were produced during a former stage of erosion or deposition.
scale
One of the small covering plates on the body of many fish.
plankton
Organisms suspended in an aquatic habitat that bcontrol their own movements. Plankton are usually microscopic and include bacteria, algae, protozoan, rotifers, larvae, and small crustaceans. Phytoplankton are plant plankton zooplankton are the animal species of plankton.
autotroph
Organisms that directly use the sun's energy to make their own food.
omnivores
Organisms that eat both animals and plants.
heterotrophs
Organisms that must feed on other organisms in order to get the energy-rich food they need
producers
Organisms that synthesize organic compounds from inorganic substances by way of photosynthesis (green plants) or chemosynthesis (anaerobic bacteria).
allantois
Part of an egg that receives waste from the embryo.
endemic
Pertaining to a population that is restricted to a particular geographic area.
indigenous
Pertaining to plants or animals that are native to a particular region or country.
igneous rock
Rock formed by the cooling of magma, or molten rock, from within the Earth. Igneous rocks include basalt, lava, and granite.
metamorphic rock
Rock formed when a pre-existing rock is exposed to high heat or pressure or when it undergoes a chemical reaction.
residium
Rock that is altered either chemically or physically but not moved from its place of origin.
sedimentary rock
Rock that is formed by the accumulation of sediments that are compacted and solidified by heat, pressure, or chemical reactions.
drainage, surface
Runoff, or surface flow of water, from an area.
marine deposits
Sediment deposited in oceans.
Cr horizon
Sedimentary beds of consolidated sandstone and semiconsolidated and consolidated shale. Generally, roots can penetrate this horizon only along fracture planes.
alluvial deposits
Sedimentary deposits (like a delta) in fresh water.
aesthetic
Sensitivity to or appreciation of beauty through recognition of its unique and varied components or through its orderly appearance.
protoplasm
The complex of protein, other organic and inorganic substances, and water that constitutes the living nucleus, cytoplasm, plastids, and mitochondria of a cell.
xylem
The complex woody tissue of higher plants that includes systems for transporting water, storing nutrients, and supporting the plant's structure.(See transpiration.)
soil compaction
The compression of soil to a smaller volume.
stewardship
The concept of responsible care taking is based on the premise that we do not own resources but are managers of resources and are responsible to future generations for their condition.
extinction
The condition of having been removed from existence. An animal or plant facing extinction is one in danger of vanishing from our world.
humus
The dark organic part of soil formed from decaying plant and animal matter; often called topsoil.
mortality rate
The death rate—usually expressed in deaths per thousand.
plasticity
The degree to which"puddled"or reworked soil can be permanently deformed without rupturing.
sedimentation
The deposition or accumulation of sediment.
percolation
The downward movement of water in soil; leaching.
evapotranspiration
The evaporation of water from the soil and the transpiration of water from the plants that live in that soil. Approximately one-quarter of a forest's annual rainfall returns to the air through evapotranspiration.
alluvial fan
The fanlike deposit of a stream where it issues from a gorge upon a plain or of a tributary stream near or at its junction with its main stream.
adipose fin
The fatty fin on some species of fish, such as catfish and bullheads.
anal fin
The fin found on the lower portion of a fish's body near the tail.
chlorophyll
The green coloring matter in plants necessary for photosynthesis.
pH
The hydrogen-ion activity used in expressing both acidity and alkalinity on a scale whose values range from 0-14, with 7 representing neutrality. Numbers less than 7 represent increasing acidity; numbers greater than 7, represent increasing alkalinity. Also, pH describes the condition represented by such a number.
C horizon
The mineral horizon or layer, excluding indurated bedrock, that is little affected by soil-forming processes and does not have the properties typical of the overlying soil material. The material of a C horizon may be either like or unlike that in which the solum formed. If the material is known to differ from that in the solum, the number 2 precedes the letter C.
genesis,soil
The mode of origin of the soil. Refers especially to the processes or soil forming factors responsible for the formation of the solum, or true soil, from the unconsolidated parent material.
field capacity
The moisture content of a soil, after the gravitational, or free, water has drained away; the field moisture content 2 or 3 days after a soaking rain; also called normal field capacity, normal moisture capacity, or capillary capacity.
wilting point
The moisture content of soil, on an oven dry basis, at which a plant (specifically a sunflower) wilts so much that it does not recover when placed in a humid, dark chamber.
feldspars
The most abundant group of minerals in the earth's crust.
migration
The movement of animals—including fish—from one area to another.
spawning run
The movement of fish to an area for the purpose of spawning.
habitat
The native environment of an animal or plant, or the kind of place that is natural for an animal or plant; an area that provides adequate food, water, shelter and living space.
nares
The nostrils in the snoot of a fish, used for smelling.
species diversity
The number of different species and their relative abundance in a given area.
litter
The number of young born per birthing; the leaves or needles that fall from trees and lie on the ground to decompose and form soil.
global warming
The observed increase in the average temperature of the Earth's innermost atmosphere;believed to be a result of the greenhouse effect of trapping gases.
brood
The offspring of a bird or mammal.
energy flow
The one-way passage or transfer of energy through an ecosystem according to the laws of thermodynamics.
chorion
The outer membrane enclosing the embryo.
epidermis
The outermost layer or layers of cells in a plant or animal.
effluent
The outflows from sewage or industrial plants.
dissolved oxygen
The oxygen mixed into water and used by fish. Dissolved oxygen is originally put into water by things such as wind, current, plants, and micro-organisms..
biosphere
The part of the earth's crust(water and atmosphere) where living organisms can exist.
life cycle
The phases, changes, or stages through which an organism passes during its lifetime.
interaction
The relationships of one organism to another; the action of one population affecting the growth or death rate of another population. For example, one population may eat members of the other population, compete for food, excrete harmful wastes, or otherwise interfere with the other population. Some interactions are positive; some negative; and some are completely neutral.
texture, soil
The relative proportions of sand, silt, and clay particles in a mass of soil. The basic textural classes, in order of increasing proportion of fine particles, are sand, loamy sand, sandy loam, loam, silt loam, silt, sandy clay loam, clay loam, silty clay loam, sandy clay, silty clay, and clay. The sand, loamy sand, and sandy loam classes may be further divided by specifying "coarse," "fine," or "very fine."
sheet erosion
The removal of a fairly uniform layer of soil material from the land surface by the action of rainfall and surface runoff.
defoliation
The removal of leaves or needles from trees or plants, usually caused by insects, diseases, or chemicals and often causing mild to severe damage—even death—to the tree.
leaching
The removal of soluble substance from soil by percolating water.
ecological niche
The role played by an organism in a biological community: its food preferences, its requirements for shelter; its special behaviors, and the timing of its activities (nocturnal or diurnal). The ecological niche of organism has little to do with where it is found but much more to do with its function or role in the community (for example, predator or decomposer) and how it performs that function.
recycle
The salvage and reprocessing of used materials (paper, metals, glass, cloth or fiber).
fisheries management
The science of management of fish populations through research, habitat manipulation, stocking, water quality control, and regulations.
ecology
The scientific study of the relations of living things to one another and to their environment.
soil profile
The sequence of natural layers, or horizons, in a soil. The profile extends from the surface down into the unconsolidated material in which the soil formed. The unconsolidated material is devoid of roots and other living organisms and has not been changed by other biological activity.
sere
The series of communities that follow one another in a natural succession, as in the change from a bare field to a mature forest. A serial stage refers to one such community.
shrink-swell
The shrinking of soil when dry and the swelling when wet. Shrinking and swelling can damage roads, dams, building foundations, and other structures. It can also damage plant roots.
cell
The smallest living unit of an organism.
Munsell soil color chart
The soil color chart commonly used by soil scientists to determine soil color. The chart designates color by degrees of three simple variables—hue, value, and chroma. For example, a notation of 10YR 6/4 is a color with hue of 10YR, value of 6, and chroma of 4.
pores
The spaces between the rocks and organic material that make up the soil. These spaces are important because they allow air and water to penetrate the soil and reach the roots of plants.
chloroplasts
The structures within plants that contain chlorophyll and enable photosynthesis to occur.
entomology
The study of insects
biology
The study of living organisms
pathology
The study of the nature of disease and its causes.
ethnobotany
The study of the relationship between societies and the plants of their environment.
environment
The sum of all external conditions and influences, living and nonliving, that affect the development and survival of an organism (or group of organisms); includes other plants, animals, climates, and locations.
mycorrhiza
The symbiotic association between the mycelium of a fungus and the roots of certain plants.
Soil Taxonomy
The system of soil classification used by the National Cooperative Soil Survey has six categories. Beginning with the broadest, these categories are the order, suborder, great group, subgroup, family, and series. Classification is based on soil properties observed in the field or inferred from those observations or from laboratory measurements. The table "Classification of the Soils" shows the classification of the soils in the survey area. The categories are defined in the following paragraphs. ORDER. Twelve soil orders are recognized. The differences among orders reflect the dominant soil-forming processes and the degree of soil formation. Each order is identified by a word ending in sol. An example is Alfisol. SUBORDER. Each order is divided into suborders primarily on the basis of properties that influence soil genesis and are important to plant growth or properties that reflect the most important variables within the orders. The last syllable in the name of a suborder indicates the order. An example is Udalf Ud, meaning humid, plus alf, from Alfisol). GREAT GROUP. Each suborder is divided into great groups on the basis of close similarities in kind, arrangement, and degree of development of pedogenic horizons; soil moisture and temperature regimes; type of saturation; and base status. Each great group is identified by the name of a suborder and by a prefix that indicates a property of the soil. An example is Hapludalfs (Hapl, meaning minimal horizonation, plus udalf, the suborder of the Alfisols that has an aquic moisture regime). SUBGROUP. Each great group has a typic subgroup. Other subgroups are intergrades or extragrades. The typic subgroup is the central concept of the great group; it is not necessarily the most extensive. Intergrades are transitions to other orders, suborders, or great groups. Extragrades have some properties that are not representative of the great group but do not indicate transitions to any other taxonomic class. Each subgroup is identified by one or more adjectives preceding the name of the great group. The adjective Typic identifies the subgroup that typifies the great group. An example is Typic Hapludalfs. FAMILY. Families are established within a subgroup on the basis of physical and chemical properties and other characteristics that affect management. Generally, the properties are those of horizons below plow depth where there is much biological activity. Among the properties and characteristics considered are particle-size class, mineralogy class, cation-exchange activity class, soil temperature regime, soil depth, and reaction class. A family name consists of the name of a subgroup preceded by terms that indicate soil properties. An example is fine-silty, mixed, active, mesic Typic Hapludalfs. SERIES. The series consists of soils within a family that have horizons similar in color, texture, structure, reaction, consistence, mineral and chemical composition, and arrangement in the profile. The texture of the surface layer or of the substratum can differ within a series. structure, soil The arrangement of primary soil particles into compound particles or aggregates. The principal forms of soil structure are: platy (laminated), prismatic (vertical axis of aggregates longer than horizontal), columnar (prisms with rounded tops), blocky (angular or subangular), and granular. Structureless soils are either single grain (each grain by itself, as in dune sand) or massive (the particles adhering without any regular cleavage, as in many hardpans).
flooding
The temporary covering of the soil surface by flowing water, caused by overflow from streams or by runoff from adjacent slopes. Shallow water standing or flowing for short periods after rainfall or snowmelt is not considered flooding. Standing water in marshes and swamps or in closed depressions is considered to be ponding.
cation-exchange capacity (CEC)
The total amount of exchangeable cations that can be held by the soil, expressed in terms of milliequivalents per 100 grams of soil at neutrality (pH 7.0) or at some other stated pH value. The term, as applied to soils, is synonymous with base-exchange capacity but is more precise in meaning.
biomass
The total weights of all living matter in a particular habitat, at a given moment in time.
food chain
The transfer of food energy from organisms in one nutritional level to those in another.
root collar
The transition zone between stem and root at the ground line of a tree or seedling.
edge habitat
The transition zone between two different habitat types.
greenhouse effect
The trapping of heat by gasses, such as chlorofluorocarbons and carbon dioxide, in the Earth's atmosphere.
parent material
The unconsolidated organic and mineral material in which soil forms.
conservation
The use of natural resources in a way that ensures their continuing availability to future generations; the intelligent use of natural resources for long-term benefits.
Somewhat poorly drained
These soils are wet close enough to the surface or long enough that planting or harvesting operations or crop growth is markedly restricted unless a drainage system is installed. Somewhat poorly drained soils commonly have a layer with low hydraulic conductivity, a wet layer high in the profile, additions of water through seepage, or a combination of these.
Moderately well drained.
These soils are wet close enough to the surface or long enough that planting or harvesting operations or yields of some field crops are adversely affected unless a drainage system is installed., Moderately well drained soils commonly have a layer with low hydraulic, conductivity, a wet layer relatively high in the profile, additions of water by seepage, or some combination of these.
Very poorly drained
These soils are wet to the surface most of the time. The wetness prevents the growth of important crops (except rice) unless a drainage system is installed.
Poorly drained
These soils commonly are so wet at or near the surface during a considerable part of the year that field crops cannot be grown under natural conditions. Poorly drained conditions are caused by a saturated zone, a layer with low hydraulic conductivity, seepage, or a combination of these.
Well drained
These soils have an intermediate water-holding capacity. They retain optimum amounts of moisture, but they are not wet close enough to the surface or long enough during the growing season to adversely affect yields.
Somewhat excessively drained
These soils have high hydraulic conductivity and a low water-holding capacity. Without irrigation, only a narrow range of crops can be grown and yields are low.
dense
Thick, or crowded closely together.
profundal
Zone of water at the bottom of deep, open water.
Parent material
______ ________ is defined as the material underlying the soil (in the C horizon) from which, in most cases, the soil develops. ______ ________influences both the physical and chemical properties of the soil.
Very rapid
more than 20 inches
True
true/false In general, the average soil sample is 45 to 50 percent minerals (clay, silt, sand, gravel, stones), 50 percent pore space (air and water, the relative amounts will change depending upon the moisture content of the soil), and 0 to 5 percent organic matter (living and dead organisms).
