Glossary
Annual - a plant that grows , sets seed and dies on a yearly basis . Biodiversity - refers to all living matter in the environment ( the plants and animals ) and the links between these and water , soil and nutrients . Biomass - is the volume of plant or animal material that occurs in an environment . Camouflage - the shape or colour of a plant or animal that makes it blend into its surroundings . Canopy - the tallest layer of trees in a woodland . Carnivore - an animal that eats other animals ( i . e . meat eating ). Decreaser - a species of plant or animal that declines in number or populations due to grazing pressure , fire or other disturbance . Diversity - refers to the number and variety of different plants and animals . Friable - refers to soil that is loose with good organic matter that allows water to easily infiltrate . Gleaners - a bird that searches for and eats insects from leaves , branches and stems of plants . Ground cover - is the protective layer of material covering the soil surface , such as grass , leaf litter , twigs , logs and stones . Ground layer - is the layer of vegetation closest to the ground , usually composed of grass , but includes litter , rocks and the soil cover itself . Hydrology - anything that relates to the movement and flow of water . Increaser - a species of plant or animal that is tolerant of disturbance ( grazing pressure , fire or other disturbance ) and increases in number . Infiltration - the movement or seepage of water into the soil . Invertebrates - an animal with no backbone , such as an insect or spider . Macropod - a kangaroo or wallaby . Micro-habitat - a place where an animal hides , feeds or nests , such as a hollow log or tree ( e . g . owl ), or dense leaf litter ( e . g . small lizard ). Nutrient - a chemical element found in soil or vegetation that is essential for animal life ( e . g . nitrogen , carbon ). Organic - something that is derived from dead plants and animals ( e . g . dead leaf material mixed into soil ). Perennial - a plant that resprouts from its base , grows , and dies back , but lives many years . Predator - an animal that eats other animals . Recruitment - a plant ’ s regrowth or seedling . Refuge - an area of significant resources for animals ( e . g . wetland ) or an area where animals can survive free from threats ( e . g . remote tablelands ). Riparian - associated with rivers , creeks or waterbodies . Soil compaction - trampling of soil by stock that causes excessive water runoff . Structural diversity - refers to the number of vegetation layers within a woodland ( canopy , under storey , ground layer ). Texture contrast - refers to soils that have two distinct layers ( e . g . sandy top and clay beneath ). Transformer weed - a weed that changes the grass layer from a diverse rich ecosystem . Tropical savannas - the grasslands and woodlands found north of the Tropic of Capricorn . Under storey - the layer of vegetation under the trees , which is usually made up from shrubs and bushes .
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