Glossary
waters, and the description of waters that are subject to joint jurisdiction are described in North Carolina’s Administrative Code (15A NCAC 03Q.0201 and 03Q.0202). Colonial —Animals that live together in groups. Commensal —Diferent organisms living in close association with each other where one is benefted and the other is neither benefted nor harmed; in close association with humans. Critical habitat —Habitats required for an organism to survive. Designated critical habitat is defned by the USFWS for species listed for protection under the Endangered Species Act. Tis designated critical habitat includes specifc areas within the geographical area occupied by the species with the physical or biological features essential to the conservation of the species and which may require special management considerations or protection. Te Secretary of the Interior may also determine specifc areas outside the geographical area occupied by the species at the time of listing as being essential for the conservation of the species. Deforestation —Removal of trees from an area without adequate replanting. Detritus —Fragments of organic material. Disjunct —A group or population separate from other parts of a group or population. Dispersal —Movements that occur within the lifetime of the individual, as, for example, when it leaves its natal site. Disperse —To move away from the place of birth or from centers of population density. Distend —To push out. Diurnal —Active during the daytime. Dormant —Sleeping or otherwise inactive with some bodily processes such as heart rate and breathing slowed down. Echolocate —Emit high frequency sound pulses and gain information about the surround- ing environment from the retuning echoes. Ecoregion —An area defned by environmental conditions and natural features; a region defned by its ecology. An area of land or water that is characterized by distinct plant communities and geologic features. Ecosystem —An ecosystem is a community of living organisms (plants, animals, and microbes) in conjunction with the nonliving components of their environment (air, water, and mineral soil), interacting as a system. It is a system of environ- mental conditions, habitats, natural communities, and species that interact.
Ecotone —A zone of transition between habitat types.
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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