Glossary of Biodiversity Terminology M

The following terms are used by UNEP-WCMC and as such have been defined as UNEP-WCMC interprets them. Whilst we have attempted to include all current thinking on biodiversity terms, there will without a doubt be differences of opinion with respect to definitions.

A-E

F-L

M| N| O| P |Q| R

S-Z

M	Marine Protected Area (MPA)	An area of sea (or coast) especially dedicated to the protection and maintenance of biological diversity, and of natural and associated cultural resources, and managed through legal or other effective means.
	Megadiversity countries	The small number of countries, located largely in the tropics, which account for a high percentage of the world's biodiversity by virtue of containing very large numbers of species.
	Micro-organisms	In practice, a diverse classification of all those organisms not classed as plants or animals, usually minute microscopic or submicroscopic and found in nearly all environments. Examples are bacteria, cyanobacteria (blue-green algae), mycoplasma, protozoa, fungi (including yeasts), and viruses.
	Minimum Viable Population (MVP)	The smallest isolated population having a good chance of surviving for a given number of years despite the foreseeable effects of demographic, environmental, and genetic events and natural catastrophes.
	Multiple use	An on-site management strategy that encourages an optimum mix of several uses on a parcel of land or water or by creating a mosaic of land or water parcels, each with a designated use within a larger geographic area.
N	Native	A plant or animal indigenous to a particular locality.
	Native species	Plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms that occur naturally in a given area or region.
	Nitrogen fixation	A process whereby nitrogen fixing bacteria living in mutualistic associations with plants convert atmospheric nitrogen to nitrogen compounds that plants can utilise directly.
	Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO)	A nonprofit group or association organised outside of institutionalised political structures to realise particular social objectives (such as environmental protection) or serve particular constituencies (such as indigenous peoples). NGO activities range from research, information distribution, training, local organisation, and community service to legal advocacy, lobbying for legislative change, and civil disobedience. NGOs range in size from small groups within a particular community to huge membership groups with a national or international scope.
O	Off-site	Propagation and preservation of plant, animal, and micro-organism species outside their natural habitat.
	On-site	Preservation of species in their natural environment.
	Open-pollinated	Plants that are pollinated by physical or biological agents (e g, wind, insects) and without human intervention or control)
	Orthodox seeds	Seeds that are able to withstand the reductions in moisture and temperature necessary for long-term storage and remain viable.
P	Parataxonomists	Field trained biodiversity collection and inventory specialists recruited from local areas.
	Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA)	Also known as Rapid Rural Appraisal, PRA is a relatively new and different approach for conducting action-oriented research in developing countries. PRAs are used to help involve villagers and local officials leaders in all stages of development work, from the identification of needs and decision making to the assessment of completed projects. The term can be used to describe any new methodology which makes use of a multidisciplinary team.
	Patent	A government grant of temporary monopoly rights on innovative processes or products.
	Pathogen	A disease causing microorganism, bacterium or virus.
	Phenotype	The observable appearance of an organism, as determined by environmental and genetic influences (in contrast to genotype).
	Phytochemical	Chemicals found naturally in plants.
	Phylogenetic	Pertaining to the evolutionary history of a particular group of organisms.
	Phylum	In taxonomy, a high-level category just beneath the kingdom and above the class; a group of related, similar classes.
	Population	A group of individuals with common ancestry that are much more likely to breed with one another than with individuals from another such group.
	Population and Habitat Viability Assessment (PHVA)	The theoretical modelling of minimum areas, habitat types and population sizes, to sustain any one or more species. Population size will be determined by the carrying capacity of the habitat.
	Population Viability Analysis (PVA)	The theoretical determination of the minimum viable (in terms of genetic make-up) breeding population for any one species to survive in a given range.
	Predator	An animal that obtains its food primarily by killing and consuming other animals.
	Primary (or natural) forest	A forest largely undisturbed by human activities.
	Primary productivity	The transformation of chemical or solar energy to biomass. Most primary production occurs through photosynthesis, whereby green plants convert solar energy, carbon dioxide, and water to glucose and eventually to plant tissue. In addition, some bacteria in the deep sea can convert chemical energy to biomass through chemosynthesis.
	Protected Area (PA)	An area of land and/or sea especially dedicated to the protection and maintenance of biological diversity, and of natural and associated cultural resources, and managed through legal or other effective means.
	Provinciality effect	Increased diversity of species because of geographical isolation.
R	Recalcitrant seeds	Seeds that cannot survive the reductions in moisture content or lowering of temperature necessary for long-term storage.
	Rehabilitation	The recovery of specific ecosystem services in a degraded ecosystem or habitat.
	Restoration	The return of an ecosystem or habitat to its original community structure, natural complement of species, and natural functions.
	Riparian	Related to, living, or located on the bank of a natural watercourse, usually a river, sometimes a lake or tidewater.