Glossary

B

Whales that use baleen plates to feed by sieving plankton and other small organisms from the water. 

All organic and inorganic material that accumulates below the ground, and principally in soils to a depth of around 2 metres, both living and dead (e.g. tree roots, soil organisms and microbes, soil humus, organic and organic–mineral complexes of carbon). 

Associated with the sea floor. 

The variety of all life forms. There are 3 levels of biodiversity: 

  • genetic diversity – the variety of genetic information contained in individual plants, animals and microorganisms 
  • species diversity – the variety of species  
  • ecosystem diversity – the variety of habitats, ecological communities and ecological processes. 

The quantity of living biological organisms in a given area or ecosystem at a given time (usually expressed as a weight per unit area or volume). 

A large geographically distinct area that has a similar climate, geology, landform, and vegetation and animal communities. The Australian land mass is divided into 85 bioregions under the Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia. Australia’s marine area is divided into 41 provincial bioregions under the Interim Marine and Coastal Regionalisation for Australia. 

Processes, programs and structures in place to prevent entry by, or to protect people and animals from, the adverse impacts of invasive species and pathogens. 

Living organisms in a given area; the combination of flora, fauna, fungi and microorganisms. 

Species taken incidentally in a fishery where other species are the target.