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.
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 British Columbia; in addition, six supporting manuals.
CDC (CONSERVATION DATA CENTER): The B.C.'s Conservation Data Centre is a program of the Resources Inventory Branch of the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks. The CDC systematically collects information on the rare and endangered plants, animals and plant associations in the province. This information is compiled and maintained in a computerized database which provides a centralized, objective source of information on the status, locations and level of protection of these rare organisms and ecosystems. Their goal is to assist in preserving the biodiversity of the province by providing accurate information on rare species and plant associations. See http://www.elp.gov.bc.ca/rib/wis/cdc/
CHIN: Canadian Heritage Information Network.
CWS: Canadian Wildlife Service.
DAVFP: Department of Agriculture, Victoria, Forest Pathology. The name of the Forest Pathology Herbarium at the Pacific Forestry Centre.
DFO: Department of Fisheries and Ocean.
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 BC'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.
FCSN: Forest Continuing Studies Network.
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.
MELP: Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks.
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.
POPULATION: A group of organisms of the same species occupying a particular space at a particular time.
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: 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.
RBCM: Abbreviation for the Royal British Columbia Museum.
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 British Columbia. Threatened species are any indigenous taxa that are likely to become endangered in British Columbia, 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 BC 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/ ]
SPECIMEN: In this manual the term specimen includes diverse materials such as photographs and tape recordings, but usually refers to more traditional preparations like skins, skulls, pressed plants or dead animals in preserving fluids.
SPI: Abbreviation for `Species Inventory'; generally used in reference to the Species Inventory Datasystem and its components.
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.
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS TASK FORCE: One of the 7 tasks 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 British Columbia.
VOUCHER (SPECIMEN): Representative specimen that are collected in biological field surveys and research, and are preserved to permit independent verification of results and to allow further study. Specimen in this manual includes diverse materials such as photographs and tape recordings, but usually refers to more traditional preparations like skins, skulls, pressed plants or dead animals in preserving fluids.
YELLOW-LIST: Includes any native species which is not red- or blue-listed.