Glossary

  • Accretionary prism
    An accretionary prism is a rocky fold-and-thrust belt created by the accumulation and compression of oceanic sediments at underwater trench level as an effect of subduction.
  • Anchialine
    An anchialine environment refers to a hydrological system with a subterranean connection to the ocean.
  • Anticline
    An anticline is a dome-shaped geological entity, as opposed to a synclinal, which is basin-shaped.
  • Barcode
    A barcode is a DNA sequence allowing to match a specimen with a species. Hence, molecular barcoding is a technique used to identify the species to which an individual belongs from a sample of blood, feather, etc.
  • Bathymetry
    Bathymetry is the measurement of ocean or lake depths in order to produce a chart of its floor.
  • Biometry
    Biometry is about measuring life. In other words, it refers to the quantitative study of the biological characteristics of living beings
  • Bryophyte
    Bryophytes or mosses are terrestrial or fresh water plants, epitomized by the lack of vascular system, i.e. roots. They feature structures called rhizoids to adhere to the substrate.
  • Collembola
    Collembola are small arthropods which live on the surface and up to 12” underground.
  • Doline
    Dolines are circular excavations ranging from a few tens to hundreds of metres in diameter, issued from the erosion and collapse of karst lime stones.
  • Echinoderm
    Echinoderms are marine animals such as sea urchins or starfish, the body of which can be divided into five symmetrically from the centre.
  • Endemism
    Endemism refers to the characteristics of fauna and flora specific to a territory or geographical area. A species is called endemic when it cannot be found anywhere else in the world.
  • Endorheism
    Endorheism refers to regions where water drainage does not reach the sea.  Endhoreic watersheds, valleys or lakes are closed hydrological systems, as opposed to exorheic watersheds, which flow on the surface towards the ocean.
  • Epiphyte
    Epiphytes are plants that use other plants as a support to anchor their roots, such as algae, lichens, ferns, orchids, etc.
  • Herpetofauna
    Herpetofauna refers to all the species of reptiles and amphibians (frogs and other  batrachians). Herpetology is the science to study herpetofauna.
  • Hymenopter
    Hymenoptera are a type of insects, significantly featuring mandibles and two pairs of membranous wings : it is, for instance, the group including bees, wasps, ants, …
  • Hypogeum
    An hypogeum is an underground structure. “Hypogeum” species are those which have developed underground
  • Ichthyology
    Ichthyology is the study of fishes.
  • Karst
    Karsts are limestone rocks that have been worn and dissolved by the run-off of rainwater over millions of years, creating unique geological formations.
  • Lapiez
    Lapiez are geological formations on the surface of limestone rocks issued from their dissolution : the rocky plateau features numerous trenches, cracks and crevices.
  • Meristic
    An adjective referring to the count of a number of organs (fin rays, muscular segments of an eel, gill rakers on a gill arch, etc.)
  • Mitochondria
    The mitochondria is an element of the cell which converts the glucose into energy molecule. The mitochondrial markers are the DNA markers contained in the mitochondria. Contrary to the nuclear DNA, the mitochondrial DNA comes only from the mother of the individual.
  • Odonate
    Odonata refers to the dragon fly family. They are insects with an elongated body, featuring two pairs of membranous wings and compound, voluminous eyes.
  • Oligotroph
    An oligotrophic environment is, generally in an aquatic environment, one which is particularly poor in nutrients.
  • Orogenesis
    Orogenesis refers to all the formation mechanisms of mountains and varied relief.
  • Osteology
    Osteology is the study of bones and more generally the skeleton.
  • Polje
    Poljes are flat-floored depressions enclosed between steep slopes, and several kilometres wide, characteristic of karst environments.
  • Pteridophyte
    Pteridophytes are flowerless and seedless plants such as ferns and horsetails, which only reproduce via spores.
  • Relict species
    A relict species is one of very ancient origin, nearly extinguished, which is concentrated within a very limited area, and most often features archaic characteristics.
  • Subduction
    Subduction is the process that takes place at convergent boundaries by which one tectonic plate moves under another plate.
  • Taxon
    A taxon is a group of living beings descending from a common ancestor. Branches, classes, orders, families, species… are taxons. Taxonomy is the science classification science for organisms.
  • Uplift
    Uplift is the process by which a portion of the lithosphere is lifted, creating the varied relief.