The glossary below consists of terms used in the standard background pages and easy background pages.
biodiversity
The number and variety of living things found within a region. Made from the two words 'biological' and 'diversity'.
conservation
Looking after natural resources such as trees, water, soil, etc for future generations.
ecosystem
A community of living things and the environment in which they live.
endemic
Species found only in New Zealand e.g. kiwi.
environment
All the external factors influencing the life and activities of people, plants, and animals e.g. other animals and plants, water, soils, weather, daylight.
genus
Set of closely related species (plural = genera).
habitat
The natural home of a plant or animal.
hammer-mark bark
The pattern on kauri trucks caused by bark flaking off, believed to be an adaptation to reduce the competition from climbing plants.
humus
Dark organic material in soils produced by rotting plant and animal material.
introduced species
A plant or animal that has been brought by people to an area where it did not naturally live.
litter
Surface layer of the forest floor.
microbe
Microscopic organism.
native species
An animal or plant that is naturally found in that area.
nutrients
The chemicals and minerals that are used by plants to grow from its roots to the leafy canopy.
organism
An individual form of life, such as a plant, animal, bacterium, protist or fungus.
population
All the members of a species living in the same area and able to breed together.
spores
Reproductive cells - like seeds.
sustainability
Acting in ways that help protect the environment, people, and the planet.
