(bī ō dǝ vǝr sǝ tē ): Biological variety in an environment as indicated by numbers of different species of plants and animals.
cottonwood
(kä tǝn wu̇d): Any of several poplars having seeds with cottony hairs.
dependent
(di pen dǝnt): Relying on another for support.
diversity
(dǝ vǝr si tē): The condition of having or being composed of differing elements; variety.
ecology
(i kä lǝ gē): A branch of science concerned with the relationships between living things and their environment.
extinction
(ik stiŋk shən): The state of no longer existing.
habitat
(ha bә tat): The place or environment where a plant or animal naturally or normally lives and grows.
hectare
(hek tär): A unit of area equal to 10,000 square meters.
landscape
(lan(d) skāp) verb: To make changes to improve the appearance of an area of land. noun: The visual land, such as trees, water, and sky
native
(nā tiv): Living or growing naturally in a particular region.
nonnative
(nän nā tiv): Not naturally occurring in an area.
relationship
(ri lā shǝn ship): The state of being connected through a relation that is known or can be discovered.
scale
(skāl): (1) Something graduated especially when used as a measure or rule: such as a series of marks or points at known intervals used to measure distances or a range of responses to a statement that vary from strongly agree to strongly disagree; (2) A distinctive relative size, extent, or degree.
species
(spē sēz orspē shēz): A category of living things that ranks below a genus, is made up of related individuals able to produce fertile offspring, and is identified by a two-part scientific name.
wetlands
(wet landz): Land or areas (such as marshes or swamps) that are covered, often intermittently, with shallow water or have soil saturated with moisture.