Current Issue: A4_Vulnerability Assessments and Adaptation Strategies Flashcards
(26 cards)
What is Adaptive Capacity (AC)?
The ability of a system or species to cope with change, particularly in relation to climate change.
What is Afforestation?
The establishment of a forest or stand of trees in an area where there was no previous tree cover.
What is Assisted Migration?
The human-assisted movement of species or populations to areas outside their established range or to more favorable environments to help them adapt to climate change.
What is Autecology?
The study of the interactions between an individual organism or a single species and its environment.
What are Bioclimatic Conditions?
Climatic factors that are relevant to living organisms, influencing their distribution and survival.
What is a Boreal Forest?
A vast circumpolar forest biome characterized by coniferous trees, typically found in cold regions with long, severe winters.
What is a Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment (CCVA)?
An evaluation of the potential impacts of climate change on a resource or place, providing an understanding of why it is vulnerable and leading to potential adaptation actions to reduce vulnerability.
What does Ectothermic mean?
Organisms that rely on external physiological sources of heat to control body temperature, such as reptiles, amphibians, and most fishes.
What is an Ecozone?
A large geographic area characterized by a distinct set of ecological factors, including climate, geology, and predominant vegetation types.
What is Exposure in the context of climate change?
The extent to which climate and climate-related changes may affect a resource or place.
What is Niche Conservatism?
The tendency of species to retain their ancestral ecological traits, which can limit their ability to adapt to new conditions.
What is Nitrogen Saturation?
A phenomenon that develops when the atmospheric and microbial supply of available nitrogen exceeds biotic demand in an ecosystem.
What does Nitrophilous mean?
Species that thrive in environments with high nitrogen availability.
What is Overstory?
The upper layer of foliage in a forest, formed by the crowns of the tallest trees.
What is Phenology?
Seasonally recurring events of an organism’s life cycle and their timing and relationship with the physical environment.
What is Phenotypic Plasticity?
The ability of an organism to change its phenotype in response to changes in the environment.
What is Permafrost?
Ground that remains frozen for two or more consecutive years.
What does Sessile mean?
Organisms that are unable to move actively or spontaneously during their adult phase, typically being permanently attached to a substrate.
What is Sensitivity in the context of climate change?
A measure of how responsive a system or species is to climate change exposure.
What is Sustainable Forest Management?
Management practices that aim to maintain the health, productivity, and diversity of forests for present and future generations.
What is Synecology?
The study of groups of organisms in relation to their environment.
What is a Temperate Forest?
Forests located in the temperate zone, characterized by distinct seasons and typically including both deciduous and coniferous trees.
What is Thermoperiod?
Daily and seasonal patterns of change in temperature.
What is a Trophic Niche?
The role of a species in its ecosystem in terms of its feeding habits and position in the food web.
