Glossary - Environmental Disasters...del Moral

From Hawaiian for “stony rough lava”, it has a rough rubble surface composed of broken, loose and sharp fragments

Pertaining to non-biological factors such as wind, temperature or erosion

Anno Domini, literally “year of the (Christian) lord”; year since the accepted date of the birth of Jesus. Also called “Christian era”

Any plant tissue with large, air-filled cavities

occurring in the presence of oxygen

A species from another region; non-native organism (see exotic species)

A form of inhibition based on the release of chemicals

Changes in the number and distribution of species within a community

Stable vegetation that results from a common origin

Flat, open area with shallow soil over calcareous bedrock

Physical processes that reduce environmental stresses

Occurring in the absence of oxygen

Caused by humans

Predictions concerning mechanisms of community organization

A rabbit-like marsupial from Australia

Date in years before the Christian era (see AD); used for dates related to human events

Changes in the number and distribution of species along environmental (and temporal) gradients

Number and distribution of species; a measure of overall species richness

Study of the distribution of organisms

A geographical region with similar vegetation and climate (e.g. tropical forest, tundra - see also taiga)

Reclamation based on the use of plants to reduce toxicity

Pertaining to biological factors

A wetland with a low pH, usually saturated soil and dominance by mosses

Before the present, used for long, pre-historic dates.