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Concord River Greenway Science Glossary
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- Adaptation/adapt: A component of an organism's body, which helps it to survive in its habitat. Example, a bird’s wings are an adaptation, which may allow it to fly.
- Anadromous: Refers to fish that regularly migrate. (Rheotaxis is the name for the bahavior organisms exhibit when they're reacting to currents, such as a fish swimming into the current, swimming upstream or up a fish ladder.)
- Aquatic: Referring to freshwater (no salt added).
- Aves: A class of vertebrates, otherwise known as “birds”.
- Benthic: Refers to the bottom of a body of water.
- Binocular vision: Forward facing eyes, as observed on raptors, common predatory birds. “Eyes on the front, born to hunt.”
- Birder: A person who enjoys bird watching.
- Buoyant: Afloat; ability to float.
- Camouflage: The ability to blend with backgrounds, by appearing as the same color or landscape pattern. Remaining motionless or slow moving is also an excellent means of camouflage.
- Carnivore: An animal that eats other animals.
- Confluence: Where two rivers join.
- Consumer: An animal that eats food, such as anything produced by plants or other animals.
- Cycles: The circular motion of occurrences in nature, such as the recycling of carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen, which are used by plants and animals.
- Decomposer: Any of the following; fungus, bacteria, invertebrates; those that eat dead things and recycle their nutrients, thus making those nutrients available to other organisms.
- Detritus: Decaying organic material, such as leaves, which are a food supply for invertebrates in particular.
- Diurnal: Active during the day.
- Drey: A nest-like home made by a squirrel in trees.
- Ecosystem: A community of plants, animals, etc. in relation to their surroundings, often related to geography and climate. Sometimes also noted as a biome.
- Ecotone: Where two ecosystems come together, such as a forest and wetland. A raccoon, for example, is sometimes noted as an ecotone hunter, because it will hunt frogs along the river and mice in the uplands next to the river.
- Elusive: Able to remain unseen or otherwise out of sight; hidden.
- Erosion: When water or wind or other natural phenomena wash away sand, soil, and other organic materials. Erosion is common along riverbanks.
- Eurtrophication: The addition of nutrients; in excess; may be caused by excessive plant decomposition or by way of human culture.
- Feather: Made of a protein called keratin. Feathers provide birds in general the ability to fly, insulate themselves, stay dry, display bright colors for status, and to camouflage for protection from predators.
- Food: Source of nutrients and energy consumed by living things, which allow organisms to grow and sustain life.
- Habitat: A natural home within an ecosystem; an ideal place to live due to the presence of appropriate sources of food, water, and shelter.
- Herbivore: An animal that eats plants.
- Interrelationship: The interactions and associations between plants and animals.
- Invasive: A non-native plant or animal that causes harm to native populations and may be detrimental to human health, water quality, economies, etc.
- Metamorphosis: A physical change, which insects and other organisms undergo when they transition from young to adults.
- Midden: Material left behind by wildlife, such as shells of consumed mollusks or pine cone husks; natural or organic litter.
- Monocular vision: One eye on either side of the head, as observed on songbirds; common in prey species. Eyes on the side, born to hide.
- Native: A plant or animal, which exists within its original range and has natural predators, consumers, or other forms of keeping its population balanced and in check.
- Natural resource: A part of the earth, which may be used by people and wildlife; comes from nature.
- Nest: A shelter used specifically to protect bird eggs; used to protect bird eggs and young during breeding season; made of various materials.
- Nocturnal: Active at night.
- Non-native: A plant or animal found outside of its native range; found where it did not historical or naturally exist.
- Omnivore: An animal that eats both plants and animals.
- Organism: Any living thing.
- Photosynthesis: A process a plant uses to create its own food, by capturing the energy of the sun and using nutrients from the air and soil.
- Plumage: A bird’s feathers.
- Predator: An animal that hunts and eats another animal; hunts prey.
- Preen: To clean and repair feathers using the beak.
- Prey: An animal that is hunted by another animal; hunted by predators.
- Produce(r): Something edible to an animal; food that grows on a plant or is the plant, which may be eaten by animals (food produced by a plant).
- Riparian (zone): Associated with rivers, streams, brooks, etc.
- Runoff: Water that sheds from the land and reaches rivers and eventually the ocean. Contains rain and anything carried by the flow of rain heading downhill.
- Scat: A fancy word (scientific) for wild animal poop!
- Seed dispersal: A method used by a plant to transport and deposit a seed to a new growing location.
- Shelter: protection from predators, weather elements, competition, etc.
- Substrate: The ground; soil; a surface, such as snow, sand, or mud, where wildlife tracks can be printed and suspended for observation.
- Tree cavity: A hole in a tree caused by animals or rot, often used as a home for wildlife; shelter.
- Viable: Alive and able to grow or sprout new life.
- Water: A resource essential to the survival of all living things; may serve hygienic purposes.
- Wetland: “Land” that is wet for all of or at least part of the year, such as a river or vernal pool.
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