Rocky Mountain sculpin, eastslope populations (Cottus sp.) recovery strategy: chapter 12

12. Glossary

Anoxia
is the absence of oxygen, which is necessary to sustain most life. In aquatic ecosystems, this refers to the absence of dissolved oxygen in water.

Bankfull channel
is the maximum width the stream attains and is typically marked by a change in vegetation, topography, or texture of sediment.

Benthic
organisms live in, on, or near the bottom of a waterbody.

Biota
is the animal and plant life of an area.

Ephemeral
streams flow when there is runoff from snowmelt or precipitation but otherwise remain dry.

Fish habitat,
as it is defined under the Fisheries Act, includes “the spawning grounds and nursery, rearing, food supply and migration areas on which fish depend directly or indirectly in order to carry out their life processes.”

Habitat deterioration
occurs when fish habitat is altered and fish health or production is adversely affected.

Habitat loss
occurs when fish habitat is altered until it can no longer support fish.

Lentic
habitats are those with still water such as lakes, ponds, swamps, and reservoirs.

Lotic
habitats are those with flowing water such as rivers and streams.

Polygamous
males mate with more than one female at a time.

Riparian zone
the vegetated corridor along the banks of streams and rivers.

A subpopulation
consists of individuals that are isolated from the rest of the population. A population can consist of many subpopulations.

A threatened species
is likely to become endangered (i.e. at imminent risk of extinction or extirpation) if limiting factors are not reversed; or is, because of low or declining numbers, particularly at risk if the factors affecting its vulnerability are not reversed.

Total length (TL)
is the distance from the tip of the snout to the tip of the tail.

Unit conversions:
1 km = 1000 m = 0.6214 miles
1 km 2 = 100 hectares = 247.1 acres
1 m 3 = 0.001 dam 3 = 35.31 ft 3 = 0.000810713 acre-ft
1 m 3/s = 35.31 cfs

Page details

Date modified: