533
Conservation science Interdisciplinary study of the protection and maintenance
of biodiversity.
Constellation in the context of remote sensing, a group of satellites operating in
concert with coordinated ground coverage under shared control and synchronized to optimize overlap and coverage.
Contingency An event whose occurrence depends on the existence of other
events. In evolution, this refers to the different ways evolution could have shaped
current life based on the random occurrences of mutations and the inheritance of
those across the history of life.
Continuum removal Normalization of reflectance spectra by their local maxima,
allowing comparison of individual absorption features. This is done by fitting a
straight line segment to connect local spectral maxima (forming a “continuum”)
and then using those values to assess the individual spectral features (absorptions). The “removal” is performed by subtracting the spectral feature value from
the line value at each wavelength, thus estimating the area of the enclosed feature. This procedure highlights a spectral feature of interest against a changing
spectral background.
Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) A multilateral international treaty signed by
150 nations and entered into force on December 29, 1993. The treaty has three
main objectives: 1) conservation of biological diversity, 2) the sustainable use
of the components of biodiversity, and 3) the fair and equitable sharing of the
benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources. Or a treaty between
nations with the objective of developing national strategies for conservation and
sustainable use of biological diversity, as well as equitable sharing of benefits
arising from the use of genetic resources.
Convergent evolution When the same traits evolve independently in different
clades, typically in response to the same selective pressure. For example, the
multiple independent evolution of red, tubular flowers across flowering plants
that are pollinated by hummingbirds is convergent.
Convex hull volume Volume enclosed by the smallest convex set or envelope
that contains a group of points, a commonly used metric for functional diversity.
Critical zone The part of the Earth where biotic and abiotic processes support life
on Earth’s surface.
Cross-validation A method for internally validating a model, often used in studies where data are repeatedly jackknifed (split) to compare differences in model
output among subsets of data.
Cryosphere The component of the Earth’s geosphere made up of frozen water.
The cryosphere is composed of glaciers, snow, floating ice on the sea and on
lakes and rivers, and frozen ground (permafrost).
CSR strategy Plant functional type classification according to Philip Grime in
which plant traits are related to their stressors and to disturbance regimes (C,
competitor; S, stress tolerator; R, ruderal).
Cuticle Outer waterproof covering of the plant epidermis synthesized by the epidermal cells and consisting of hydrocarbon polymers and various lipids (including wax).
Glossary
Conservation science Interdisciplinary study of the protection and maintenance
of biodiversity.
Constellation in the context of remote sensing, a group of satellites operating in
concert with coordinated ground coverage under shared control and synchronized to optimize overlap and coverage.
Contingency An event whose occurrence depends on the existence of other
events. In evolution, this refers to the different ways evolution could have shaped
current life based on the random occurrences of mutations and the inheritance of
those across the history of life.
Continuum removal Normalization of reflectance spectra by their local maxima,
allowing comparison of individual absorption features. This is done by fitting a
straight line segment to connect local spectral maxima (forming a “continuum”)
and then using those values to assess the individual spectral features (absorptions). The “removal” is performed by subtracting the spectral feature value from
the line value at each wavelength, thus estimating the area of the enclosed feature. This procedure highlights a spectral feature of interest against a changing
spectral background.
Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) A multilateral international treaty signed by
150 nations and entered into force on December 29, 1993. The treaty has three
main objectives: 1) conservation of biological diversity, 2) the sustainable use
of the components of biodiversity, and 3) the fair and equitable sharing of the
benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources. Or a treaty between
nations with the objective of developing national strategies for conservation and
sustainable use of biological diversity, as well as equitable sharing of benefits
arising from the use of genetic resources.
Convergent evolution When the same traits evolve independently in different
clades, typically in response to the same selective pressure. For example, the
multiple independent evolution of red, tubular flowers across flowering plants
that are pollinated by hummingbirds is convergent.
Convex hull volume Volume enclosed by the smallest convex set or envelope
that contains a group of points, a commonly used metric for functional diversity.
Critical zone The part of the Earth where biotic and abiotic processes support life
on Earth’s surface.
Cross-validation A method for internally validating a model, often used in studies where data are repeatedly jackknifed (split) to compare differences in model
output among subsets of data.
Cryosphere The component of the Earth’s geosphere made up of frozen water.
The cryosphere is composed of glaciers, snow, floating ice on the sea and on
lakes and rivers, and frozen ground (permafrost).
CSR strategy Plant functional type classification according to Philip Grime in
which plant traits are related to their stressors and to disturbance regimes (C,
competitor; S, stress tolerator; R, ruderal).
Cuticle Outer waterproof covering of the plant epidermis synthesized by the epidermal cells and consisting of hydrocarbon polymers and various lipids (including wax).
Glossary