GLOSSARY

ABSOLUTE ABUNDANCE: The total number of organisms in an area. Usually reported as absolute density: the number of organisms per unit area or volume.

ACCIDENTAL: With regard to the status of a bird species, this refers to an irregularly occurring species with only one recorded occurrence in B.C. (Campbell et al. 1990a).

ACCURACY: A measure of how close a measurement is to the true value.

BIODIVERSITY: Jargon for biological diversity: "the variety of life forms, the ecological roles they perform, and the genetic diversity they contain" (Wilcox, B.A. 1984 cited in Murphy, D.D. 1988. Challenges to biological diversity in urban areas. Pages 71 - 76 in Wilson, E.O. and F.M. Peter, eds. 1988. Biodiversity. National Academy Press, Washington, DC. 519 pp.).

BLUE LIST: Taxa listed as BLUE are sensitive or vulnerable; indigenous (native) species that are not immediately threatened but are particularly at risk for reasons including low or declining numbers, a restricted distribution, or occurrence at the fringe of their global range. Population viability is a concern as shown by significant current or predicted downward trends in abundance or habitat suitability.

BRACKISH WATER: Water with salinity greater than fresh water (>0.5%), but lower than salt water (35%) (Dunster and Dunster 1996).

CALL RESPONSE SURVEYS: For the purpose of this manual, used interchangeably with "call playback" surveys.

CASUAL: With regard to the status of a bird species, this refers to an irregularly occurring species for which two to six good records exist (Campbell et al. 1990a).

CBCB (Components of B.C.'s Biodiversity) Manuals: Wildlife species inventory manuals that have been/are under development for approximately 36 different taxonomic groups in B.C.; in addition, six supporting manuals.

CREPUSCULAR: Active at twilight (see also Diurnal and Nocturnal).

DESIGN COMPONENTS: Georeferenced units which are used as the basis for sampling, and may include geometric units, such as transects, quadrats or points, as well as ecological units, such as caves or colonies.

DIURNAL: Active during the daytime (see also Crepuscular and Nocturnal).

EMERGENT VEGETATION (NON-WOODY): Herbaceous (non-woody) plants that are rooted in the marsh bottom and rise up out of the water.

EUTROPHICATION: Natural or human-induced addition of nutrients (esp. nitrogen and phosphorous) to a body of water. This usually results in high organic production that can create seasonally low oxygen levels, and reduced survival of fish (Dunster and Dunster 1996).

EWG (Elements Working Group): A group of individuals that are part of the Terrestrial Ecosystems Task Force (one of 7 under the auspices of RIC) which is specifically concerned with inventory of the province's wildlife species. The EWG is mandated to provide standard inventory methods to deliver reliable, comparable data on the living "elements" of B.C.'s ecosystems. To meet this objective, the EWG is developing the CBCB series, a suite of manuals containing standard methods for wildlife inventory that will lead to the collection of comparable, defensible, and useful inventory and monitoring data for the species populations.

HYPOTHETICAL: With regard to the status of a bird species, this refers to a species for which only a few questionable, and unconfirmed, observations exist in British Columbia.

INVENTORY: The process of gathering field data on wildlife distribution, numbers and/or composition. This includes traditional wildlife range determination and habitat association inventories. It also encompasses population monitoring which is the process of detecting a demographic (e.g. growth rate, recruitment and mortality rates) or distribution changes in a population from repeated inventories and relating these changes to either natural processes (e.g. winter severity, predation) or human-related activities (e.g. animal harvesting, mining, forestry, hydro-development, urban development, etc.). Population monitoring may include the development and use of population models that integrate existing demographic information (including harvest) on a species. Within the species manuals, inventory also includes, species statusing which is the process of compiling general (overview) information on the historical and current abundance and distribution of a species, its habitat requirements, rate of population change, and limiting factors. Species statusing enables prioritization of animal inventories and population monitoring. All of these activities are included under the term inventory.

MARK-RECAPTURE METHODS: Methods used for estimating abundance that involve capturing, marking, releasing, and then recapturing again one or more times.

MARSH HABITAT: A vegetated wet area that is periodically or regularly inundated with nutrient rich water up to a depth of 2 m. The area is usually dominated by emergent non-woody vegetation such as cattails, bulrushes, reeds, grasses and sedges. In comparison, swamps, bogs and fens are generally dominated by trees and shrubs.

MONITOR: To follow a population (usually numbers of individuals) through time.

NIDICOLOUS: Young remain in nest after hatching until ready to fly.

NOCTURNAL: Active at night (see also Crepuscular and Diurnal).

OBSERVATION: The detection of a species or sign of a species during an inventory survey. Observations are collected on visits to a design component on a specific date at a specific time. Each observation must be georeferenced, either in itself or simply by association with a specific, georeferenced design component. Each observation will also include numerous types of information, such as species, sex, age class, activity, and morphometric information.

POINT COUNT: Counting all species observations (either at a fixed distance or unlimited distance) from a single location.

POPULATION: A group of organisms of the same species occupying a particular space at a particular time.

PRECISION: A measurement of how close repeated measures are to one another.

PRESENCE/NOT DETECTED (POSSIBLE): A survey intensity that verifies that a species is present in an area or states that it was not detected (thus not likely to be in the area, but still a possibility).

PROJECT AREA: An area, usually politically or economically determined, for which an inventory project is initiated. A project boundary may be shared by multiple types of resource and/or species inventory. Sampling for species generally takes place within smaller, representative Study Areas so that results can be extrapolated to the entire project area.

PROJECT: A species inventory project is the inventory of one or more species over one or more years. It has a georeferenced boundary location, to which other data, such as a project team, funding source, and start/end date are linked. Each project may also be composed of a number of surveys.

RANDOM SAMPLE: A sample that has been selected by a random process, generally by reference to a table of random numbers. For further discussion, refer to the introductory manual Species Inventory Fundamentals No. 1, Krebs (1989), or other biostatistical text books.

RED LIST: Taxa listed as RED are candidates for designation as Endangered or Threatened. Endangered species are any indigenous (native) species threatened with imminent extinction or extirpation throughout all or a significant portion of their range in B.C. Threatened species are any indigenous taxa that are likely to become endangered in B.C., if factors affecting their vulnerability are not reversed.

RELATIVE ABUNDANCE: The number of organisms at one location or time relative to the number of organisms at another location or time. Generally reported as an index of abundance.

RIC (Resources Inventory Committee): RIC was established in 1991, with the primary task of establishing data collection standards for effective land management. This process involves evaluating data collection methods at different levels of detail and making recommendations for standardized protocols based on cost-effectiveness, co-operative data collection, broad application of results and long term relevance. RIC is comprised of seven task forces: Terrestrial, Aquatic, Coastal/Marine, Land Use, Atmospheric, Earth Sciences, and Cultural. Each task force consists of representatives from various ministries and agencies of the Federal and B.C. governments and First Nations. The objective of RIC is to develop a common set of standards and procedures for the provincial resources inventories. [See http://ilmbwww.gov.bc.ca/risc/ ]

SPI: Abbreviation for `Species Inventory'; generally used in reference to the Species Inventory Datasystem and its components.

STRATIFICATION: The separation of a sample population into non-overlapping groups based on a habitat or population characteristic that can be divided into multiple levels. Groups are homogeneous within, but distinct from, other strata.

STUDY AREA: A discrete area within a project boundary in which sampling actually takes place. Study Areas should be delineated to logically group samples together, generally based on habitat or population stratification and/or logistical concerns.

SURVEY: The application of one RIC method to one taxonomic group for one season.

SURVIVORSHIP: The probability of a new-born individual surviving to a specified age.

SYSTEMATIC SAMPLE: A sample obtained by randomly selecting a point to start, and then repeating sampling at a set distance or time thereafter.

TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS TASK FORCE: One of the 7 task forces under the auspices of the Resources Inventory Committee (RIC). Their goal is to develop a set of standards for inventory for the entire range of terrestrial species and ecosystems in B.C.

WETLAND: A general term used to describe land that is inundated by surface water or groundwater

YELLOW-LIST: Includes any native species which is not red- or blue-listed.