Glossary

(ver ē ə bəl): (1) A factor, trait, or condition that can be changed or controlled; (2) a quantity that may assume any one of a set of values.

(ver ē ā shən): A change in the form, position, condition, or amount of something.

(va skyə lər): Of, relating to, or affecting a channel for the movement of a body fluid (such as blood of an animal or sap of a plant) or a system of such channels.

(ve jǝ tā shǝn): Plant life or total plant cover of an area.

(ve jǝ tā tiv kǝ vǝr): Plants that cover the ground.

(və lä sə tē): Speed of movement.

(ve nə məs): Producing venom in a specialized gland and capable of inflicting injury or death.

(vərt ə brət or vərt ə brāt): Any of a large group of animals (such as mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes) that typically have a bony or cartilaginous backbone which replaces the notochord, a distinct head containing a brain which arises as an enlarged part of the nerve cord, and an internal usually bony skeleton and including some primitive forms (such as lampreys) in which the backbone is absent and the notochord persists throughout life.

(vər ti kəl): Going straight up or down from a level surface.

(vōl): Any of various small rodents (Microtus and related genera) that typically have a stout body, rather blunt nose, and short ears, inhabit both moist meadows and dry uplands and do much damage to crops, and are closely related to muskrats and lemmings.

(väl yüm): The amount of a substance.

(vəl n(ə-) rə bi lə tē): The state of being vulnerable.

(vəl n(ə-) rə bi lə tē in deks): A system for generating a number that indicates how vulnerable something is to something harmful. In this study ("Wild Ways"), scientists collected data about each species and then answered questions about how each species could be affected by climate change. The scientists then were able to calculate numbers, called scores. Higher scores indicated higher predicted vulnerability.

(vəl n(ə-)rə bəl): Open to attack or damage.

(wāst wä tər): (1) Water that has been used; (2) sewage.

(wȯ tər sī kəl): The process by which water travels around and through Earth and its atmosphere. Water from rivers and oceans evaporates into the air (evaporation), where it gathers to form clouds (condensation). The water then falls as rain (precipitation) and snow to fill the rivers and oceans. The process of evaporation, condensation, and precipitation repeats over and over again. It is a cycle.

(wȯ tər vā pər pre shər): The amount of pressure put forth by the water that is in air at different temperatures.

(wa tür bôrn): Carried in or by water.

(wȯ tər fau̇(-ə)l): A bird that is found in or near water.

(wȯ tǝr shed): A region or area bounded on the edge by a dividing ridge and draining ultimately to a particular watercourse or body of water.