Prepared by Melanie Walker
Adaptation: a special feature of an organism. This feature
helps the organism to survive in the environment.
Algae: tiny plants made from one to many cells. The single-celled
algae can only be seen with a microscope. Algae live near the surface
of lakes and ponds.
Alkaline ponds: ponds which contain a large amount of
salt. Alkaline ponds look very different than normal ponds.
Altitude: how high an area is above sea level.
Amphibian: a type of animal that can live on land and
in the water. It is cold-blooded and can breathe through its skin or lungs.
An example of an amphibian is the Tiger Salamander.
Antennae: the long pointed objects found on the heads
of insects. They are used to touch and taste the environment.
Aquatic: things that are found in water. Aquatic plants
grow in water.
Arid: an area of land that is very hot and gets very little
rain or snow. A desert is an arid place.
Behaviour: how an organism reacts to certain things.
Biological control: a way to get rid of insect pests,
like aphids, by using natural things, like predatory bugs.
Biome: a large area such as a desert, forest, grasslands
or wetlands.
Blue List: a list of plant and animal species created
by wildlife biologists. Species on this list are not in trouble right
now, but could become endangered if humans are not careful.
Burrow: a hole in the ground that is a shelter and a home
for animals such as jackrabbits, foxes and burrowing owls.
Camouflage: the special markings that an animal uses to
hide from its enemies.
Carnivore: an animal that eats only meat.
Cold-blooded: animals like amphibians need the warmth
of the sun to heat them. Cold-blooded animals can not make their own body
heat.
Conservation: protecting the environment, especially wildlife
habitats and natural ecosystems.
Decomposers: organisms like bacteria, earthworms and small
bugs that eat dead organic material and break it down into tiny soil particles.
Ecosystem: a group of plants and animals that rely on
each other to survive.
Endangered: an animal or plant species that has very few
of its type left in the world.
Environment: surrounding conditions which affect the plants
and animals living in a place.
Extinct: a plant or animal species that does not exist
any more.
Extirpated: the loss of a plant or animal species from
a part of the area it used to inhabit.
Food Chain: a series of plants or animals in which one
serves as food for the next one in the chain. An example of a food chain
could be -- grass is eaten by a cow, then the cow is eaten by humans.
Graze: the way cattle eat plants and grasses while they
are at pasture.
Habitat: the environment which provides food, shelter
and space for a plant or animal species.
Herbivore: an animal that eats only plants.
Hibernation: a deep sleep that some amphibians, mammals
and reptiles have during the winter months.
Hypothesis: a smart guess at why something is happening.
This guess is based on information you already have but needs more information
to prove.
Insect: a small invertebrate with wings and three pairs
of legs and a hard covering instead of skin or fur.
Invertebrate: an organism that does not have a backbone
like other animals.
Larvae: the organisms that hatch from eggs and then live
on their own until they grow into adults. Tiger Salamanders start off
as larvae in ponds.
Mammal: a warm-blooded animal that gives birth to live
babies and feeds them with milk glands. Animals like mice, bats, whales
and humans are mammals.
Migration: moving from one habitat to another during certain
times of the year. The Canada Goose flies south for the winter months
and returns in the spring to Canada.
Moisture: water in the form of rain or snow that is important
in an environment.
Nutrient: a source of nourishment or food for living things.
Omnivore: an animal species that eats both plants and
animals.
Organisms: living creatures, like plants or animals.
Pesticides: chemicals used by people to kill pests such
as insects
Predator: an animal that eats other animals for food.
Prey: a creature that is hunted and eaten by a larger
creature. Worms are prey for birds.
Red List: a list of plant and animal species created by
wildlife biologists. Species on this list are endangered and may become
extinct if humans do not help them to survive.
Reintroduction: putting endangered animals or plants back
into places where they used to live.
Reptile: a cold-blooded creature that has scales instead
of skin. Snakes, turtles, and lizards are reptiles.
Rodents: small mammals that have special teeth for gnawing.
Porcupines, rats, squirrels and mice are rodents.
Shelter: a place to hide from danger and bad weather.
A shelter is a home.
Species: a group of plants or animals that look and act
the same. They live in similar places and can reproduce their kind.
Status: the importance of one species compared with another.
Territory: an area of land that a creature lives in and
defends.
Threatened: a plant or animal species that may become
endangered.
Toxin: any substance which can kill an animal or plant
or make it sick.
Unique: an animal or plant that is different than all
others.
Wetlands: an area of land that has lots of marshes, ponds
and rivers.
Venom: a poisonous liquid that some animals use to paralyze
their prey. Venom can be injected into the prey through the bite of a
snake.
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