ABSOLUTE ABUNDANCE: The total number of organisms in an area. Usually reported as absolute density: the number of organisms per unit area or volume.
BIODIVERSITY: Jargon for biological diversity: the variety of life forms, the ecological roles they perform, and the genetic diversity they contain (Wilcox 1984 cited in Murphy 1988).
BLUE LIST: Includes any indigenous species or subspecies (taxa) considered to be Vulnerable in British Columbia. Vulnerable taxa are of special concern because of characteristics that make them particularly sensitive to human activities or natural events. Blue-listed taxa are at risk, but are not extirpated, endangered or threatened.
CIVIL TWILIGHT: The period of twilight that occurs: (1) between sunset and the time at which the sun is 6° below the horizon, and (2) between the time at which the sun is 6° below the horizon and sunrise.
CREPUSCULAR: Active at twilight
CRYPTIC: Difficult to distinguish from its surroundings.
DIURNAL: Active during the daytime
FORAGING SALLY: To leap upwards in a short burst of flight to catch a prey item flying overhead.
HIBERNATION: A lethargic condition in which endothermic animals slow metabolism and lower body temperature in order to avoid the energetic costs associated with maintaining an elevated body temperature. Hibernation is normally long-term over weeks or months.
MARK-RECAPTURE METHODS: Methods used for estimating abundance that involve capturing, marking, releasing, and then recapturing again one or more times.
NAUTICAL TWILIGHT: The period of twilight that occurs: (1) between sunset and the time at which the sun is 12° below the horizon and (2) between the time at which the sun is 12° below the horizon and sunrise.
NOCTURNAL: Active at night
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 generally takes place within smaller study areas within this project area.
RANDOM SAMPLE: A sample that has been selected by a random process, generally by reference to a table of random numbers.
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.
RED LIST: Includes any indigenous species or subspecies (taxa) considered to be Extirpated, Endangered, or Threatened in British Columbia. Extirpated taxa no longer exist in the wild in British Columbia, but do occur elsewhere. Endangered taxa are facing imminent extirpation or extinction. Threatened taxa are likely to become endangered if limiting factors are not reversed. Red-listed taxa include those that have been, or are being, evaluated for these designations.
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 taxanomic group for one season.
SYSTEMATIC SAMPLE: a sample obtained by randomly selecting a point to start, and then repeating sampling at a set distance or time thereafter.
THERMOREGULATION: The process of maintaining a consistent body temperature, elevated above ambient temperatures.
TORPOR: A lethargic condition in which endothermic animals slow metabolism and lower body temperature in order to avoid the energetic costs associated with maintaining an elevated body temperature. Torpor is normally short-term over a few hours or at most a few days.
YELLOW-LISTED SPECIES: Any native species which is not red- or blue-listed.