Glossary
of RAP Terms
aphid:
A small soft-bodied and slow-moving insect that feeds by sucking the juices of plants.
assessment:
The act of determining the importance, size, or value of (biodiversity
of species).
biodiversity:
The sum of life and its processes including the variety of
living plants, animals and other organisms, the genetic differences
among them, the communities and ecosystems in which they occur,
and the ecological and evolutionary process that keep them
functioning.
biological
importance: Describes the significance of a species in
comparison to others determined by its function in nature.
botanist: a specialist in a branch of biology dealing with plant life.
camera
trap: A method of collecting species information that
does not require killing the animal.
cassava:
Any of several tropical American plants with a tuberous root
that yields a nutritive starch.
circumference:
The perimeter of a circle; the external boundary or surface of a figure or object.
closed-canopy
rainforest: The uppermost spreading branchy layer of a
forest that allows for very little sunlight to penetrate the
layers below.
community-based
environmental conservation: Work that promotes a balanced
approach to economic and community development that is based
on the long-term maintenance of environmental integrity.
compass: An instrument for determining direction, especially one with a horizontal magnetic needle that rotates freely until it points to the magnetic north.
cross-referencing
with current literature: Refers to act of referencing
literature from different resources to make sure the data
in the literature corresponds.
diameter: The length of a straight line through the center of an object.
dichotomous key: a method for determining the identity of something (like the name of a bird, a plant, or a fish) by going through a series of choices that leads the user to the correct name of the item.
diversity:
The condition of being diverse; composed of distinct or unlike elements or qualities.
drink:
A sizable body of water.
echo-locates:
a physiological process for locating distant or invisible objects (as prey) by means of sound waves reflected back to the emitter (as a bat) by the objects
ecotourism:
The practice of touring natural habitats in a manner meant to minimize ecological impact.
endangered:
Refers to organisms that have fallen below a sustainable population
threshold for survival. A species threatened with extinction.
extract:
To remove or take out.
fauna:
Animals collectively, especially of a particular period, region, or environment.
fiddlehead:
The curled tip of a young fern frond.
flora:
Plants collectively, especially those of a particular area, period, or environment.
frequencies:
Any of the electromagnetic waves that are used for radio and television transmission.
habitat: The place or environment where a plant or animal naturally or normally lives and grows.
hectare: A unit of area equal to 10,000 square meters or 2.471 acres, used in measuring land.
humidity: The percent concentration of water vapor in the atmosphere.
habitats:
The place or environment where a plant or animal naturally or
normally lives and grows.
herpetologists:
A person who studies the biology of reptiles and amphibians.
hinterland:
a region remote from urban areas.
ichthyologists:
A person who studies the biology of fishes.
indigenous:
Having originated in and being produced, growing, living, or occurring naturally in a particular region or environment.
latex:
A milky usually white fluid that is produced by cells of various seed plants (as of the milkweed, spurge, and poppy families) and is the source of different forms of rubber.
lease:
A contract or agreement for the occupancy or use of one party's property by another for a specified period of time and in exchange for monetary or other compensation; a rental agreement.
lichen:
Any of numerous complex plants growing in symbiotic association (a mutually beneficial relationship) on a solid surface such as a rock.
logging concession:
A grant of land or property especially by a government in return for services or for a particular use, in this case to clear land of trees to sell as lumber.
machete:
A large heavy knife used for cutting underbrush.
marsupials:
Any of an order (Marsupialia) of mammals comprising kangaroos, wombats, bandicoots, opossums, and related animals that usually have a pouch on the abdomen of the female which covers the teats and serves to carry the young.
metabolism:
The physical and chemical processes by which food is converted by a living organism to provide energy and produce and maintain cells and tissues.
metamorphosis:
The developmental changes in living organisms, such as the
successive stages from caterpillar to butterfly or from tadpole
to frog.
noctunal:
Active at night.
peer-review:
An organized method for evaluating scientific work which is
used by scientists to certify the correctness of procedures.
pi:
The ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter; a number having a value to eight decimal places of 3.14159265.
plaster of paris:
A white powdery substance used chiefly for casts and molds in the form of a quick-setting paste with water.
pristine: Pure, fresh, or clean as new; unspoiled.
protected
area system: A system that legally establishes sites managed
for conservation objectives and are an essential means for
saving biodiversity.
radio telemetry:
The science, technology, or process of gathering and transmitting data automatically over great distances, as from an artificial satellite to a monitoring station on earth.
RAP:
The Rapid Assessment Program of the Center for Applied Biodiversity
Science at Conservation International.
rodents: Any of an order (Rodentia) of relatively small gnawing mammals (as a mouse, a squirrel, or a beaver) that have in both jaws a single pair of teeth with a chisel-shaped edge.
run-off: Rainfall not absorbed by soil.
satellite
phone: A mobile telephone that communicates directly with
a communications satellite.
server:
A file server and/or a computer that processes requests for
HTML and other documents that are components of web pages.
short-wave:
A radio wave having a wavelength between 10 and 100 meters;
a short-wave radio.
sonar:
A method or device for detecting and locating objects by means of sound waves sent out to be reflected by the objects.
specimen:
An individual, item, or part considered typical of a group,
class, or whole.
specimen
identification: Identifying species taxonomically based
on their physical traits.
square
root: A factor of a number that when squared gives the
number (the square root of 9 is 3).
all-taxa
survey: A taxonomic survey of various groups of plants and
animals.
taxonomy:
The classification of organisms in an ordered system that
indicates natural relationships.
terrestrial:
Of or relating to the land as distinct from air or water.
transceiver:
A single unit that both transmits and receives radio or electronic signals.
transmissions:
The sending of a signal, picture, or other information from
a transmitter.
voucher
specimen: where a part of a plant, invertebrate or less
commonly a vertabrate animal is collected to make the case
for its identification as a newly discovered species.
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