DUCKS L2 Vocab: Principles of Habitat Conservation & Management

Aquatic

related to water

Aquifer

subterranean layer of rock permeable to water

Bathypelagic Sub-zone

part of the oceanic zone habitat which is below 1,000 meters

Bogs

wetland areas with clay soil where water will not seep into ground

Continental Shelf

area of land underneath the sea and near a continent

Crustaceans

invertebrate aquatic animals such as crab, lobster or shrimp

Cultural Services

non-material benefits provided by a habitat such as tourism and recreation

Deciduous Forests

habitat in mid-latitude areas covered in broad-leaved trees which shed leaves during the winter season

Deserts

habitats with annual rainfall of less than 10 inches a year with temperatures reaching more than 110°F (43°C)

Ecosystem

interconnected biological system made up of living organisms and their physical environment

Epipelagic Sub-zone

part of the oceanic zone habitat which ranges from the surface of the ocean to about 200 meters deep

Glacier

mass or river of ice formed by compressed snow and ice

Grasslands

habitat made up of flat plains covered in few trees with a temperature range of 40 to 100°F (4 to 38°C)

Habitat

area in which animals, plants and other organisms live

Habitat Degradation

act of polluting a habitat until the quality of the habitat can no longer support life

Habitat Destruction

act of complete loss of habitat through direct human involvement

Habitat Fragmentation

breaking up habitats to the point where the habitat can no longer remain functional

Marshes

wetland areas constantly filled with water

Mesopelagic Sub-zone

part of the oceanic zone habitat which ranges from the epipelagic sub-zone to about 1,000 meters deep

Neritic Zone

marine habitat extending from the coast to the continental shelf

Oceanic Zone

aquatic habitat in the ocean beyond the continental shelf

Phytoplankton

microscopic marine algae

Preservation

non-use of natural resources having little-to-no human intervention and interaction

Provisional Services

products obtained from a habitat; used every day, such as food, water, wood and oil

Regulating Services

natural processes the habitat regulates, such as biological control of predator and prey populations and prevention of soil erosion

Restoration

taking an area which has been degraded and rebuilding the area

Supporting Services

natural processes the habitat facilitates to maintain the conditions of the earth, such as oxygen production and nutrient cycling

Taiga

habitat located below the tundra which is covered in coniferous forest

Terrestrial

related to soil or dry land

Tropical Rainforest

habitat with annual rainfall between 50 and 260 inches, constant humidity level between 77 and 90 percent and covered in trees creating a canopy

Tundra

northern-most terrestrial habitat which is treeless and the subsoil is frozen year-round

Wetlands

habitat in which shallow pools of water form where there is poor drainage in the land