Glossary

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - L - M - N - O - P - R - S - T - W - X

A

Aquatic
living or growing in water.

Aquatic macrophyte
vascular plants with special adaptations to aquatic habitats (lakes, streams, springs).

Areas of Special Natural Resource Interest (ASNRI)
Includes state natural areas; trout streams; outstanding or exceptional resource waters; waters or portions of waters inhabited by any endangered, threatened, special concern species or unique ecological communities identified in the Natural Heritage Inventory; wild rice waters; waters in areas identified in a special area management plan (SAMP) or special wetland inventory study (SWIS); waters in ecologically significant coastal wetlands along Lakes Michigan and Superior and federal or state waters designated as wild or scenic rivers as defined at here.

• Y = Element is considered to be an ASNRI element.
• N = Element is not considered to be an ASNRI element.

B

Biodiversity - see diversity.

C

Back to Top

Common Name (CName)
The common name used in Wisconsin for the Element. Standard, contrived, or agreed upon common names.

Community: see natural community

Complex
Used here to reference an integrated mosaic of natural communities and/or aquatic features.

County (County)
Name of County in which the element occurrence is documented

Cover type
Cover typing is a generalized, but sometimes useful, method of broadly classifying vegetation based on the single species or species group comprising a majority of the living plants (usually commercially important trees when used in a forestry context). Cover types may also reference cultural features such as cornfields or pastures ("grass"). In cases where a clear plurality of a single species is not apparent, terms have been invented to reference groups of commonly co-occurring species, such as "northern hardwoods" (see definition below), and "swamp conifers." The terms and/or their meanings are not necessarily consistent across agency lines.

D

Back to Top

Data Sensitivity (Sensitive)
These species are particularly vulnerable to collection or disturbance. Locations of these species should be generalized when working with the public in order to minimize impacts to these species.

• Y = Sensitive
• N = Not sensitive

Diversity
A shortened form for biological diversity, or biodiversity. A general definition (Matthiae et al., 1993) is "the spectrum of life forms and the ecological processes that support and sustain them. Biological diversity is a complex of four interacting levels: genetic, species, community, and ecosystem."

E

Back to Top

Ecological landscape
Units that have been mapped by the WDNR based on similar ecological potential and geography. This classification borrows information both from the watershed based Geographical Management Units, and the ecological classification system known as the National Hierarchical Framework of Ecological Units (NHFEU) (Avers et al. 1994).

Ecoregion
Geographic units that are differentiated by climate, subsurface geology, physiography, hydrology, soils, and vegetation. These units have been defined and organized in different ways by various institutions but in this document we use the National Hierarchical Framework of Ecological Units (NHFEU). As described by Avers et al (1994), the NHFEU can provide a basis for assessing resource conditions at multiple scales.

Ecosystem management
An approach that blends human needs and values with ecosystem capability and sustainability. It is based on the premise that natural resources should be managed as natural systems, and that humans are an integral part of these systems.

Element
The basic building blocks of the Natural Heritage Inventory. They include natural communities, rare plants, rare animals, and other selected features such as colonial bird rookeries and mussel beds. In short, an element is any biological or ecological entity upon which we wish to gather information for conservation purposes.

Element occurrence
An Element Occurrence (EO) is an area of land and/or water in which a rare species or natural community is, or was, present. An EO should have practical conservation value for the Element as evidenced by potential continued (or historic) presence and/or regular recurrence at a given location. For species, the EO often corresponds with the local population, but when appropriate may be a portion of a population (e.g., a single nest territory or long distance dispersers) or a group of nearby populations (e.g., metapopulation). For communities, the EO may represent a stand or patch of a natural community or a cluster of stands or patches of a natural community. Because they are defined on the basis of biological information, EOs may cross jurisdictional boundaries.

Element Occurrence Data (EOData)
Biological information relating to the specific element occurrence (e.g., population size, community features, age distribution, etc.)

Element Occurrence Number (EONum)
Three digit number identifying each occurrence of a rare species, natural community or natural feature in Wisconsin.

Endangered species
Per Wisconsin State Statute, means any species whose continued existence as a viable component of this state's wild animals or wild plants is determined by the department to be in jeopardy on the basis of scientific evidence.

Extant
Still in existence in the state.Not extinct or extirpated.

Extirpated
Locally extinct: Elements known to have occurred naturally but which are not thought to be still living within the state.

F

Back to Top

Federal Status (F Status)
Federal protection status designated by the Office of Endangered Species, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service indicating the biological status of a species in the United States.

• LE = listed endangered
• LT = listed threatened
• LE-LT = listed endangered in part of its range, threatened in another part
• XN = nonessential experimental population(s) in part of its range
• LT,PD = listed threatened, proposed for de-listing
  
• C = candidate for future listing

Fragmentation
the breaking up of large and continuous ecosystems, communities, and habitats into smaller discontinuous areas that are surrounded by altered or disturbed lands or aquatic features.

G

Back to Top

General Description (GenDesc)
Brief description of the area in which the element occurrence is found.

Global Rank (G Rank)
Global element rank. The relative imperilment, or conservation status, of plants, animals, and ecological communities (elements) on a Global level.Refer to the Rank Definitions

• G1 = Critically imperiled globally because of extreme rarity (5 or fewer occurrences or very few remaining individuals or acres) or because of some factor(s) making it especially vulnerable to extinction.
• G2 = Imperiled globally because of rarity (6 to 20 occurrences or few remaining individuals or acres) or
  because of some factor(s) making it very vulnerable to extinction throughout its range.
• G3 = Either very rare and local throughout its range or found locally (even abundantly at some of its ocations) in a restricted range (e.g., a single state or physiographic region) or because of other factors making it vulnerable to extinction throughout its range; in terms of occurrences, in the range
  of 21 to 100.
• G4 = Apparently globally secure, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
• G5 = Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
• GH = Of historical occurrence throughout its range, i.e., formerly part of the established biota, with the expectation that it may be rediscovered.
• GU = Possibly in peril range-wide, but their status is uncertain. More information is needed.
• GX = Believed to be extinct throughout its range (e.g. Passenger pigeon) with virtually no likelihood that it
  will be rediscovered.
• G? =Not ranked.

Species with a questionable taxonomic assignment are given a "Q" after the global rank.

Subspecies and varieties are given subranks composed of the letter "T" plus a number or letter. The definition of the second character of the subrank parallels that of the full global rank. (Examples: a rare subspecies of a rare species is ranked G1T1; a rare subspecies of a common species is ranked G5T1.)

Groupname (Group)
Indicates Taxonomic group of the element Occurrence is an animal, plant, plant community, or natural feature A “~“ next to the group name indicates that the element is associated with wetlands or waterbodies.

H

Back to Top

Habitat
References those environmental attributes necessary to provide a niche that supports the needs of a species or group of species.

Habitat type
All sites capable of producing similar climax plant communities. This system uses the floristic composition of a plant community as an integrated indicator of those environmental factors that affect reproduction, growth, competition, and community development. These include soils, moisture, nutrient levels, and topography. Some professional foresters in the upper Great Lakes region have begun using this system as a forest management tool. To date, this system has been developed primarily for upland forest communities.

I

Invasive species
(Wisconsin Governor's Task Force draft definition) - A non-indigenous species whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.Many invasive non-indigenous species tend to be superior competitors and form monospecific stands at the expense of native species.

L

Back to Top

Landtype association (LTA)
This level in the ecoregional hierarchy covers areas of tens to thousands of acres. Landform, soils, and vegetation are the key factors.

Last Observed Date (LastObs)
The last confirmed observation date of the element occurrence extant at this site (not necessarily the date the site was last visited).

M

Managed Area (MaName)
The managed area, if one exists, where the element occurs. Typically, these are publicly-owned properties such as DNR Wildlife Areas, national, state or county forests, USFWS refuges, etc.

Mapping Precision (Prec)
Precision to which the element occurrence was mapped, as follows:

• S = Mapped to the Second (~200 ft. radius)
• F = Mapped to the Forty (40-acre or quarter-quarter radius)
• Q = Mapped to the Quarter (160-acre or 1/4 mi. radius)
• M = Mapped to the Minute (1 to 1.5 mi. radius)
• G = Mapped to the General Area (5 mi. radius)
• NM = Not Mapped
• U = Unmappable

Matrix
Used here to refer to the dominant land cover within which other features of the landscape are embedded.

Mesic
Used by ecologists to describe site conditions that are well-drained but almost never excessively dry or inundated.

Moraine
Landforms composed of unsorted materials deposited by glaciers. They can cover broad geographic areas of millions of acres. Topography can vary from nearly level “till” plains to rough end moraine landscapes composed of steep dry ridges interspersed with deep kettle holes. These glacial “kettles” are frequent locations for lakes and wetlands.

N

Back to Top

National Hierarchical Framework of Ecological Units (NHFEU)
A land unit classification system developed by the U.S. Forest Service and many collaborators. As described by Avers et al (1994): “The NHFEU can provide a basis for assessing resource conditions at multiple scales. Broadly defined ecological units can be used for general planning assessments of resource capability. Intermediate scale units can be used to identify areas with similar disturbance regimes. Narrowly defined land units can be used to assess specific site conditions including: distributions of terrestrial and aquatic biota; forest growth, succession, and health; and various physical conditions.”

Natural community
An assemblage of plants and animals, in a particular place at a particular time, interacting with one another, the abiotic environment around them, and subject to primarily natural disturbance regimes. Those assemblages that are repeated across a landscape in an observable pattern constitute a community type. No two assemblages, however, are exactly alike.

Wisconsin's remaining examples of intact native communities comprise a significant portion of the NHI database.These functioning natural communities capture much of our native biodiversity and support many of our state's endangered and threatened species.However, they are not assigned a state status nor provided protection under the Wisconsin Endangered Species Law.

Natural Heritage Inventory
A system developed by the Science Division of The Nature Conservancy for collection, management, and use of biological, ecological, and related information. In Wisconsin, the Natural Heritage Inventory was established by an act of the state legislature in 1985, after which the program was installed within the WDNR’s Bureau of Endangered Resources.

O

Back to Top

Old-growth
Various definitions exist, but among the points they usually share in describing old-growth attributes are large living trees, standing snags, coarse woody debris, pit and mound microtopography, and complex multi-layered canopies. Old-growth stages of many forest types were formerly common and/or widespread in northern Wisconsin but are now very rare (Frelich, 1995).

Outwash
Composed of materials sorted and deposited by glacial meltwaters. The resulting topography can be a level plain (“uncollapsed”) or very hilly (“collapsed” or “pitted”). Pitted outwash may contain numerous lakes, which originated when blocks of ice stranded by a receding glacier were buried within outwash deposits. As the ice melted, depressions were created that filled with water. This is the most extensive landform found on the NH-AL SF.

P

Protected Wild Animal
An animal for which a closed season, bag limit, size limit or possession limit has been provided by statute or administrative code. Includes: a) non-game species, unless designated as "unprotected"; b) game fish, game animals, game birds, and furbearing animals during closed season; c) endangered and threatened species.

R

Rare
Refers to native species and natural communities known or suspected to be rare and/or declining in the state (included on NHI’s “Working List”). Included are species legally designated as “Endangered” or “Threatened” by either the State of Wisconsin or the federal government, as well as species in the Department’s advisory “Special Concern” category and on the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s “Candidate” and “Species of Concern” lists.

Restoration
Refers to the re-establishment of a natural community, habitat, species population, or other ecological attribute, that has been eliminated or greatly reduced on a given property or landscape. Many factors, sociological as well as ecological, must be weighed when making a decision to engage in a restoration project.

S

Back to Top

Scientific Name (SName)
Scientific name used by the Wisconsin Natural Heritage Inventory Program

Sensitive species
Species and natural communities that are particularly vulnerable to collection or disturbance. Locations of these species or natural communities are generalized in order to minimize impacts to them. (see data sensitivity)

Special concern species
A species about which some problem of abundance or distribution is suspected but not yet proved.The main purpose of this category is to focus attention on certain species before they become threatened or endangered, they may be legally protected under other regulation.These species are tracked on the Wisconsin Natural Heritage Inventory Working List. (see state status for more information).

State Natural Area
Formally designated sites that contain outstanding examples of native biotic communities, both rare types and those that are common or representative, and are often the last refuges in the state for rare and endangered species of plants and animals. Areas are devoted to scientific research, the teaching of conservation biology, and especially to the preservation of their natural values and genetic diversity for future generations. The Department of Natural Resources currently administers 326 State Natural Areas encompassing more than 120,000 acres of land and water.

State Rank (S Rank)
State element rank. The relative imperilment, or conservation status, of plants, animals, and ecological communities (elements) on a State level.Refer to the Rank Definitions.

• S1 = Critically imperiled in Wisconsin because of extreme rarity (5 or fewer occurrences or very few remaining individuals or acres) or because of some factor(s) making it especially vulnerable to extirpation from the state.
• S2 = Imperiled in Wisconsin because of rarity (6 to 20 occurrences or few remaining individuals or acres) or because of some factor(s) making it very vulnerable to extirpation from the state.
• S3 = Rare or uncommon in Wisconsin (21 to 100 occurrences).
• S4 = Apparently secure in Wisconsin, with many occurrences.
• S5 = Demonstrably secure in Wisconsin and essentially ineradicable under present conditions.
• SA = Accidental (occurring only once or a few times) or casual (occurring more regularly although not every year); a few of these species (typically long-distance migrants such as some birds and butterflies) may have even bred on one or more of the occasions when they were recorded.
• SE = An exotic established in the state; may be native elsewhere in North America.
• SH = Of historical occurrence in Wisconsin, perhaps having not been verified in the past 20 years, and suspected to be still extant. Naturally, an element would become SH without such a 20-year delay if the only known occurrence were destroyed or if it had been extensively and unsuccessfully looked for.
• SN = Regularly occurring, usually migratory and typically non-breeding species for which no significant or effective habitat conservation measures can be taken in Wisconsin. This category includes migratory birds and bats that pass through twice a year or, may remain in the winter (or, in a few cases, the summer) along with certain lepidoptera which regularly migrate to Wisconsin where they reproduce, but then completely die out every year with no return migration. Species in this category are so widely and unreliably distributed during migration or in winter that no small set of sites could be set aside with the hope of significantly furthering their conservation.
• SZ =Not of significant conservation concern in Wisconsin, invariably because there are no definable occurrences in the state, although the taxon is native and appears regularly in the state. An SZ rank will generally be used for long-distance migrants whose occurrence during their migrations are too irregular (in terms of repeated visitation to the same locations), transitory, and dispersed to be reliably identified, mapped, and protected. Typically, the SZ rank applies to a non-breeding population.
• SR = Reported from Wisconsin, but without persuasive documentation which would provide a basis for either accepting or rejecting the report. Some of these are very recent discoveries for which the program hasn't yet received first-hand information; others are old, obscure reports that are hard to dismiss because the habitat is now destroyed.
• SRF =Reported falsely (in error) from Wisconsin but this error is persisting in the literature.
• SU = Possibly in peril in the state, but their status is uncertain. More information is needed.
• SX = Apparently extirpated from the state.

STATE RANKING OF LONG-DISTANCE MIGRANT ANIMALS:
Ranking long distance aerial migrant animals presents special problems relating to the fact that their non-breeding status (rank) may be quite different from their breeding status, if any, in Wisconsin. In other words, the conservation needs of these taxa may vary between seasons. In order to present a less ambiguous picture of a migrant's status, it is necessary to specify whether the rank refers to the breeding (B) or non-breeding (N) status of the taxon in question. (e.g. S2B,S5N).

State Status (S Status)
Protection category designated by the Wisconsin DNR that symbolizes the element’s legal protection, or recognized rarity within the state.

• END = endangered (legally protected)
• THR = threatened (legally protected)
• SC = Special Concern (those species about which some problem of abundance or distribution is suspected but not yet proved. The main purpose of this category is to focus attention on certain species before they become threatened or endangered, they may be legally protected under other regulation.)
  
  

  WDNR and federal regulations regarding Special Concern species range from full protection to no protection. The current categories and their respective level of protection are as follows:

• NA = Not Applicable (this is assigned to all natural community records in the database.)
• SC/P = fully protected
• SC/N = no laws regulating use, possession, or harvesting
• SC/H = take regulated by establishment of open closed seasons
• SC/FL = federally protected as endangered or threatened, but not so designated by WDNR
• SC/M = fully protected by federal and state laws under the Migratory Bird Act

Survey Site
Commonly accepted name for the site or waterbody - note that there may be aliases. The NHI database is a compilation of data from many sources. Thus, this field may be incomplete or inconsistent.

T

Back to Top

Tension zone
A narrow region extending from northwest to southeast across Wisconsin, approximating an s-shape and separating the northern hardwood and prairie floristic provinces (Curtis 1959).This zone contains species associated with both provinces where many occur at the extent of their respective ranges.

Terrestrial
living or growing on land.

Threatened species
Per Wisconsin State Statute, means any species of wild animals or wild plants which appears likely, within the foreseeable future, on the basis of scientific evidence to become endangered.

Town Range Section
Public Land Survey (PLS) Town, Range, Section location of the endangered resource element occurrence.

W

Back to Top

Waterbody
Numerical code of the primary waterbody associated with the endangered resource element occurrence.

Working list
The Wisconsin Natural Heritage Working List contains species known or suspected to be rare in the state and natural communities native to Wisconsin.It includes species legally designated as "Endangered" or "Threatened" as well as species in the advisory "Special Concern" category.

X

Xeric
Characterized by excessive dryness.