Accelerated life cycle A very short life cycle of a plant or animal. Some desert dwellers have accelerated life cycles, which allow them to flourish during rainy periods without suffering during droughts. For example, the seeds of African grass lie dormant until there is rain, when they grow, flower and produce seeds in just over two weeks.

Algae Plants without true stems, roots and leaves. Algae are found in water or moist ground. The still waters of ponds and lakes are an ideal habitat for algae.

Alpine meadow Grassland that grows above the tree line on mountain slopes. It is often rich with flowers.

Alpine zone The region of mountain above the tree line. The alpine zone is inhabited by mountain goats and small mammals such as marmots and pikas. Insects abound, but are mostly flightless, as they cannot contend with the winds. The plants here are short and hardy.

Altitudinal migration The movement of animals up and down a mountain as the seasons change. In the colder months, many animals move to lower ground where there is more food and shelter.

Aquatic A plant or animal that lives in water.

Baobab tree A type of tree ideally suited to its environment of the savanna grasslands. It survives the dry season by storing water inside its huge, bottle-shaped trunk. The largest ever measured had a circumference of nearly 50 metres (160 feet).

Benthic zone The region at the bottom of a lake or river (or the sea). Most of the animals that live in the benthic zone are worms, snails, insects or small crabs that burrow into the mud.

Bog A type of wetland formed of spongy waterlogged soil. Bogs can sustain very little life. Bogs in cool regions are dominated by mosses. Tropical bogs are sometimes home to carnivorous plants. Because there are few nutrients in the poor soil, the plants trap and eat insects as an alternative source of nutrition.

Boreal forest The dense, coniferous forest that covers northern parts of the world, such as Russia and North America.

Broadleaves Trees such as elms and oaks that have wide, flat leaves. Most broadleaves are deciduous but a few are evergreen.

Browsers Animals that feed on leaves and twigs from trees and bushes, rather than grasses. Browsers avoid competition by feeding at different levels. On the savanna, the giraffe’s long neck and the elephant’s trunk allow them to eat the highest leaves, while smaller animals feed lower down.

Burrow A hole or tunnel dug in the ground by an animal. Burrows provide animals with a safe place to live or rear their young. Common burrowers include mammals, such as rabbits and gophers, birds, such as puffins, and many varieties of insects, spiders and worms.

Buttress roots Large, wide tree roots that grow above ground to support a shallowly-rooted tree. Buttress roots are mostly found in rainforests where the soil is so poor tree roots do not grow deep.

Cactus A type of desert plant that stores rainwater in its thick stem and branches. Cacti have adapted the way they carry out photosynthesis, opening their stoma (pores) to take in carbon dioxide only in the cool of the night. Most types of cactus are covered in spines to deter animals from eating them. Despite this, some animals, such as the Gila woodpecker and the elf owl, make their homes inside cactus stems.

Canopy The second highest layer of rainforest vegetation. It forms a “roof” of foliage where many fruits and flowers grow. This layer is where most birds, insects and monkeys live.

Cloud forest Forests that grow on tropical mountain slopes. The leaves on the trees trap moisture from the clouds around them. Mosses grow in abundance in a cloud forest.

Cold desert An area with less than 25 centimetres (10 inches) of precipitation (snow or rain) a year, and with an average temperature of less than 10°C (50°F). Antarctica is a cold desert, because its water is locked up in ice. The Gobi desert in Mongolia is cold and dry because mountains block warm, moist air currents.

Coniferous forest Forest that is mainly made up of coniferous trees. Coniferous forests grow in northern and mountainous areas. Berries and fungi provide food for animals. Conifer trees provide animals with shelter and some warmth during the winter.

Coniferous trees Trees such as pines and firs that grow their seeds inside cones and have needle-like leaves. Conifers grow in a conical shape to shed heavy snow that would otherwise break their branches. Most are evergreen but some, such as larches, lose their leaves in the autumn.

Deciduous Trees such as oak, maple and birch that shed their leaves in the autumn. This allows them to conserve water over winter. In spring, deciduous trees grow new leaves from buds.

Deciduous woodland An area that is mainly made up of broadleaved trees. Deciduous woodlands grow in areas with warm summers but cool winters. The soil is rich and some light reaches the woodland floor, so there is a rich layer of ground vegetation growing between the trees.

Den A home made by wild animals.

Dry season A long period of dry weather. It is one of the two seasons that occur in tropical grasslands, such as the savanna. When the dry season begins, most plant-eaters migrate from their breeding grounds to wetter areas.

Emergent layer The highest layer of the rainforest, formed by a few trees called emergents that stand above the forest canopy. Some of these trees can be up to 70 metres (230 feet) high. The emergent layer is home to large birds such as eagles.

Emergent plants Plants that have roots underwater but whose tops reach above the water’s surface.

Epiphytes Small plants that grow on other plants. They are also known as air plants. Epiphytes could not survive on the dark forest floor, so they root themselves among the sunlit canopy. They take moisture and nutrients from the rain and from falling fruit and leaves. Some varieties collect rain in their leaves, which animals may use to drink from, bathe in and even live in.

Estuary The wide part of a river where it meets the sea. The animals that live in estuaries are adapted to both fresh and salt water as well as the constant change between high and low tide. Estuaries are home to many tiny shelled animals, as well as fish and wading birds.

Everglades An area of swampland in Florida, USA. In the Everglades, wading birds such as flamingos feed in the shallows, while alligators roam the deeper waters.

Evergreens Trees such as holly and pines that have leaves all year round. Evergreen trees constantly lose and replace their leaves throughout the year.

Floating plants Plants that float on the surface of the water. Their roots hang beneath them in the water. Floating plants can reach more sunlight than emergent or submerged plants.

Forest floor The lowest level of the rainforest. Because of the thick canopy, little sunlight can reach the forest floor and few plants can grow. Insects feed on decaying plant matter that falls from the trees. They break it down into nutrients that are absorbed by the soil. Small ground-dwelling animals feed on the insects and are themselves eaten by large predators such as cats and snakes.

Fossorial Adapted for digging. Fossorial animals include badgers, rabbits and moles.

Freshwater Water that is not salty. Freshwater is found in streams, rivers, lakes and some swamps.

Grasslands Open areas of land where grasses and low-lying bushes thrive. Grasslands grow in areas that have more rainfall than deserts but less than forests. Tropical grasslands have a dry season and a wet season. Temperate grasslands have four seasons, and may endure cold winters. The steppes of Asia, the prairies of North America and the pampas of South America are dominated by grasses, while the African savanna and Australian grasslands, with their tropical climates, have more trees.

Grazers Animals that feed on grasses. Deer, horses and cows are all grazers. Browsers and grazers have to eat for much of the day to gain sufficient nourishment.

Groundwater Water below ground level that collects from rain seeping through the ground. Most of it flows into rivers or seas but some seeps to the surface and forms oases or wetlands.

Herd A large group of animals that live and travel around together. Most hooved animals and many other plant-eaters live in herds. The herd offers them some protection, as a large group is more likely to spot predators. Herds move from place to place, according to where fresh grass and water can be found.

Hibernation The process whereby some animals spend winter in a state of reduced activity. Breathing and other body systems slow down, conserving energy. Some woodland animals, such as bats, hedgehogs and dormice, hibernate in the winter to save energy.

Hot desert An area with less than 25 centimetres (10 inches) of rainfall a year, and an average temperature of over 20°C (68°F). Some deserts have temperatures reaching up to 50°C (about 120°F). Large mammals have thick coats to keep out the heat. Smaller creatures often live underground to escape the daytime heat.

Hummock A hump or mound covered in vegetation, rising above a swamp, marsh, ice field, woodland, grassland or moor.

Lagoon A shallow pool of seawater cut off from the sea by a barrier of sand or coral. Lagoons may be home to a range of crustaceans and fish.

Lake A large, still, natural pool of water surrounded by land. Most lakes are filled by rivers, but some are filled by rainwater or melted snow and ice.

Leaf litter A layer of fallen leaves that builds up on the forest floor. In a deciduous woodland, earthworms live among the litter, breaking it down into nutrients that are taken up by growing plants.

Lentic ecosystem A still water ecosystem, such as a lake or pond. Still waters are an ideal habitat for algae. They are fed upon by tiny animals called zooplankton, which are themselves eaten by insects and small fish.

Lianas Woody vines that climb up other plants to reach the light of the canopy. Once there, they loop between trees, enabling animals to climb between branches.

Littoral zone The region at the edge of a lake or river (or the sea). Light from the sun penetrates the water, allowing plants to grow. This is where most life is found.

Living stone A type of desert plant that lives among rocks, taking in water that seeps into the rock crevices. Living stones have thick leaves and a waxy surface to prevent water loss. To avoid being eaten, they have evolved shapes and colours which make them look much like the surrounding rocks.

Lodge A beaver’s home. Beavers use trees to dam a stream and create a small, protective lake around a central lodge, made from mud and branches. The lodge is reached by several underwater tunnels.

Lotic ecosystem A moving water ecosystem, such as a river. In their upper reaches, rivers are fast-flowing. Plants cannot root and only strong-swimming fish can swim in them. Downstream, rivers become slower and more creatures can inhabit the waters.

Mangrove A tree or shrub that grows on warm, sheltered coastlines. To avoid drowning, mangroves have shallow roots that stand up above the water line. They both support the tree and allow it to breathe. Nutrient-rich mud collects in the roots, providing food for many animals.

Mangrove forest An area of mangroves found on tropical, sheltered coastlines. Fish swim in the shallow waters and small creatures burrow into the mud. Monkeys and birds perch in the trees, always on the look out for predatory snakes or crocodiles.

Marsh A low-lying, shallow wetland often found near rivers or the coast. Most marsh plants are grasses and reeds.

Montane zone The region of mountain below the subalpine zone. This zone is cool, with high rainfall. It is typically covered in forest.

Mountain zones The different ecosystems that form at various levels up a mountain. At the bottom of a mountain there is often deciduous woodland, then coniferous forest, with plant life becoming increasingly sparse above this.

Mudflat A wetland formed from mud and sand dumped by rivers as they near the sea and flow slowly. Mudflats are home to a range of crustaceans, worms and fish. They are also an important habitat for wading birds such as herons.

Nocturnal Active during the night and inactive during the day.

Oasis An area of plant life in the middle of a desert. Most oases form where groundwater emerges at the surface. Many desert animals visit oases regularly to drink, sometimes travelling great distances. For example, the male sandgrouse flies many kilometres every day, soaking its feathers in water which it then carries back to its chicks.

Pampas The grasslands of South America, east of the Andes mountains. The weather in the pampas is mild with fairly regular rainfall. Frequent wildfires prevent large bushes or trees from establishing themselves, so long grass is the main vegetation. The pampas are home to a variety of birds and other animals, such as maned wolves and the ostrich-like rhea.

Papyrus swamp A freshwater swamp, found in subtropical regions. The main plant life in these swamps is the tall, reed-like plant papyrus.

Peat A type of dark soil that forms in bogs and swamps. It is produced over a long period of time when dead plants decompose away from oxygen. Other plants grow in the peat, then die and add to it. Dried peat can be burned as fuel.

Pelagic zone The region of open water in the centre of a lake or river (or out to sea).

Permafrost The frozen top layer of soil in the tundra. Plants can only grow here in the brief summer when the permafrost melts enough for roots to grow.

Phreatophyte A desert plant with long roots that take up water from deep underground. Phreatophytes include the desert willow and the mesquite bush, which has roots longer than 50 metres (160 feet).

Pond A pool of freshwater shallow enough for sunlight to reach its bottom. The major predators in ponds are usually newts and frogs.

Prairies The flat, treeless grasslands of North America. The prairies are hot in the summer and cool in the winter. They are home to many animals, including bison, snakes, birds and small mammals such as prairie dogs.

Riverbank The land on the edge of a river. Riverbanks provide shelter for many animals. Small mammals such as voles live in holes above the waterline, while birds nest among the tall reeds and rushes that often grow in the shallows.

Riverbed The bottom of a river, often covered in mud and silt. In shallow waters, plants grow in the riverbed. Small animals may also burrow here.

Root mat A layer of interwoven tree roots on the surface of the rainforest floor. Most of the nutrients in rainforest soil lie close to the surface, so trees do not grow their roots deep. Instead, they spread them over a wide surface area to obtain as many nutrients as possible.

Salinity The salt content of water. Water with high salinity is very salty.

Savanna An area of grassland found close to the Equator. The largest savanna grasslands are in Africa. Savanna is dominated by grass, but is also scattered with bushes and trees. The climate is hot, with a dry season followed by a wet season. The savanna supports many plant-eating animals, including herds of giraffe, zebra and wildebeest. They are preyed upon by large carnivores such as lions, leopards and hyenas.

Scavenger An animal that feeds on the remains of food that has been killed by another animal. In the savanna, hyenas, vultures and jackals are all scavengers.

Scrubland A plant community mostly made up of shrubs and grasses. Scrubland plants are perfectly adapted for dry environments and can grow in some semi-arid regions.

Semi-desert A region that has a semi-arid climate, one that lies between a desert (or arid) and a humid (wet) climate. Semi-deserts usually have short wet seasons, and are often found on the edges of deserts. The vegetation is dominated by scrubland or dry grasses.

Sett A badger’s underground den, made up of different “rooms” or chambers, linked by a network of tunnels. Chambers for sleeping or rearing young are lined with grass or leaves. Badgers leave their setts at night to hunt above ground.

Snow line The height on a mountain above which snow lies all year round.

Steppes The treeless grasslands of Asia. They are cold because they are exposed to winds from the Arctic. They are home to many animals including the saiga antelope, the Prezwalski horse and the marmot.

Subalpine zone The region of mountain above the montane zone and below the tree line. Trees thin out towards the tree line, above which no trees can grow.

Submerged plants Plants that grow completely underwater. They grow in shallow, sunlit waters.

Succulent A plant that stores water, either in its stem, its leaves or its roots. Most succulents have small leaves and are coated in a waxy layer, which helps prevent loss of water through evaporation. The cactus is a type of succulent.

Swamp A type of wetland created by groundwater. Swamps have more plant life than other wetlands, including trees. They are home to various fish, insects, amphibians, reptiles and a range of birds.

Taiga The vast coniferous forests of northern Russia and Canada. During the winter, animals that feed on the tundra in the summer, such as elk and reindeer, shelter in the forest, scraping away the snow to feed on mosses.

Tree line The height on a mountain above which trees cannot grow because of cold and the thinness of the soil.

Tropical rainforest A tall, dense forest found in regions that are hot and wet all year round. Different creatures live in different layers of vegetation. Most rainforest animals live high in the sunlit treetops, rarely, if ever, descending to the ground. Others live in the rivers, or roam the forest floor searching for food.

Tropical rivers Rivers that flow through hot, wet, tropical areas. Tropical rivers teem with fish, such as piranha, arawana and electric eels. Rivers are rich hunting grounds for birds as well as a source of food for land-dwelling animals.

Tundra An area with little plant growth because the soil is almost always frozen. Tundra is found on the land that borders the Arctic Ocean. It is also found on some mountain slopes. For most of the year, the tundra soil is frozen, and plant and animal life is scarce. During the summer, the ground thaws and small plants grow.

Understorey The middle layer of rainforest vegetation, between the canopy and the forest floor. It is also known as the shrub layer. Understorey plants reach around 20 metres (about 70 feet) high and have large leaves to catch as much light as possible. This layer is home to insects, snakes, lizards and birds.

Wading birds Any of the long-legged birds such as storks and herons that wade out into water to hunt.

Warren A burrow dug by rabbits.

Wet season A long period of wet weather. It is one of the two seasons that occur in tropical climates, such as the savanna. During the wet season, plants grow quickly and animals can move around more freely because there are more watering holes.

Wetland An area of waterlogged land. Wetlands are found on the edge of lakes, near the coast, or where rain or rivers flood the land. They can be either freshwater or saltwater environments, and vary depending on climate, location and the nutrients present in their water. A range of wildlife thrives in wetland environments. They are especially important to birds, as they provide a safe site for nests, and an abundance of insects for food.

Wildfire A fire that takes place in grassland or forest. The most common cause of wildfire is lightning. Some ecosystems depend on wildfire because certain species, such as the Australian bottlebrush, cannot drop their seeds until after a fire.

Consultant: Chris Jarvis