Glossary
Migration —Te periodic movement of animals from one region of land or water to another. Molting —Te seasonal replacement of hair (in mammals) or feathers (in birds). Mortality —Death, usually expressed as a rate. Native species —With respect to a particular ecosystem, a species that historically occurred or currently occurs in that ecosystem, other than as a result of an introduction (of a nonnative species). Natural community —An interactive assemblage of organisms, their physical environ- ment, and the natural processes that afect them. Natural communities contain a distinct collection of plants and animals (and fungi and bacteria) associated with each other and with their physical environment. Te community consists of both biotic (living: plants and animals) and abiotic (nonliving: soil and water) factors. Nocturnal —Active during night hours. Nonnative species —Any species that has been introduced (either intentionally or acciden- tally) to an area outside its natural past or present distribution. Tis includes any part (gametes, seeds, eggs, or propagules) of such species that might sur- vive and subsequently reproduce. Nonnative species can be invasive, injurious, or benefcial where they occur. Nursery areas —Tose areas in which for reasons such as food, cover, bottom type, salinity, temperature and other factors, young fnfsh and crustaceans spend the major portion of their initial growing season. Objective —A concise statement of intended achievement; something toward which efort is directed. Omnivorous —Having the ability or natural inclination to use both animal and plants as food. Optimum sustainable population (as defned by the Marine Mammal Protection Act) — Te number of animals which will result in the maximum productivity of the population or the species, keeping in mind the optimum carrying capacity of the habitat and the health of the ecosystem of which they form a constit- uent element; a population size which falls within a range from the carrying capacity of the ecosystem to the population level that results in maximum net productivity. Outstanding resource waters (ORW) —Supplemental NCDWQ classifcation intended to protect unique and special waters having excellent water quality and being of exceptional state or national ecological or recreational signifcance. Palustrine system —Ponds; isolated water bodies with salinity below 0.5 ppt and situated in a topographic depression or dammed stream channel. Ponds are generally less than 8 ha (20 acres) in size and water depth is no greater than 2 m (6.6 ft).
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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