Glossary
Anthropogenic —Relating to, or resulting from, the infuences of humans; used to describe an impact caused by humans or human activities. Aquatic —An organism that lives in water at least most of its life. Aquatic habitat —Te wetlands, streams, lakes, ponds, and estuaries where aquatic organ- isms (e.g., fsh, benthic macroinvertebrates) live and reproduce. Tis habitat includes the water, substrate, aquatic vegetation, and other physical compo- nents (e.g., woody debris) upon and within which the organisms occur. Area-sensitive species —Area-sensitive species are animals that are highly sensitive to the conversion of large areas of habitat into collections of smaller patches of habitat. Benthic —Associated with the bottom area of bodies of water. Benthic macroinvertebrates —Organisms living in or on the bottom substrate of aquatic habitats, including insect larvae, worms, snails, crayfsh, and mussels. Macroinvertebrates are often used as indicators of stream water quality and stream habitat condition. Best management practices (BMPs) —Any land or stormwater management practice or structure used to mitigate fooding, reduce erosion and sedimentation, improve water quality, or otherwise control water pollution from runof. Examples of BMPs include retention basins, sediment ponds, agriculture/forestry BMP practices, and alternate watering systems for livestock operations. Biodiversity —Te word “biodiversity” is a contracted version of “biological diversity.” It is the variability among living organisms on the earth, including the variability within and between species and within and between ecosystems. Biodiversity includes the genetic variants within a population and transient or migratory species that occur in an ecosystem. Boreal —Occurring in the temperate and subtemperate zones of the Northern Hemisphere. Burrow —A hole or tunnel in the ground made by an animal for habitation and refuge. By-catch —Te portion of a fshing catch that is discarded as unwanted or commercially unusable. Cache —A place where some animals store food and other supplies. Coastal waters —Coastal fshing waters are the Atlantic Ocean, the various coastal sounds, and estuarine waters up to the dividing line between coastal fshing waters and inland fshing waters agreed upon by the Marine Fisheries Commission and the Wildlife Resources Commission. All waters which are tributary to coastal fshing waters and which are not otherwise designated by agreement between the Marine Fisheries Commission and the Wildlife Resources Commission are coastal fshing waters. Internal Coastal Waters are all coastal fshing waters except the Atlantic Ocean. Te boundaries between inland waters, coastal
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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