Idaho Ecosystems


Glossary

A

altitude
 - the height above sea level
amphibians
 - vertebrate animals with wet or moist skin such as frogs, toads or newts

B

bitterbrush
 - an evergreen shrub with yellow flowers
bunchgrass
 - a grass which grows in clumps

C

camas
 - a tall purple flower known for the eating of its bulbs by the native americans
conifers
 - pine bearing trees
conserve
 - protect
constitute
 - make up

D

deciduous
 - trees which lose their leaves in the fall
distinct
 - different or separate
distribution
 - supply of
diurnal
 - animals that hunt in daytime
diverse
 - consisting of many different parts

E

ecosystems
 - The interaction between living and nonliving organisms in a community
environment
 - the surroundings in which a plant or animal lives

F

fescue
 - a stiff narrow grass often found in lawns

I

investigate
 - to study and learn

M

marshes
 - an area of poorly drained land that often lies on the edge of lakes or streams

N

navigate
 - to travel
nocturnal
 - animals that hunt at night

O

occasional
 - once in a while
occupied
 - lived in

P

panhandle
 - the narrow portion of our state
pollutants
 - materials that are unhealthy for the environment
pristine
 - clean and untouched

R

rabbitbrush
 - a desert plant with white branches and yellow flowers
rangelands
 - grassland
recreational
 - related to sports or activities done for fun
recycled
 - to use again
regions
 - parts of the land or areas
remnant
 - left over

S

sagebrush
 - a silvery-green colored bush
snowpack
 - snow that falls and is packed over the winter
substantial
 - large or sizable
succession
 - the replacement of one community by another
sustain
 - keep alive
swamps
 - waterlogged ground that grows grasses and some trees

V

volcanic
 - coming from a volcano

W

wheatgrass
 - a common grass
wilderness
 - a wild region untouched by humans
wildlife
 - animals that live in an area naturally