The transition zone between two biotic communities, such as between the Ponderosa pine foresttype and the mixed conifer forest, which is found at higher elevations than the pine.

A population of a species in a given ecosystem that is adapted to a particular set of environmental conditions.

The margin where two or more vegetation patches meet, such as a meadow opening next to a matureforest stand, or a ponderosa pine stand next to an aspen stand.

Environmental Impact Statement

An identifiable component, process, or condition of an ecosystem.

The date on which your response to the formal scoping statement is due; this is usually 30 days after release of the scoping statement. Especially valuable at this early stage are your concerns regarding potential environmental impacts of our proposed actions. Scoping determines the "scope" of the subsequent environmental analysis conducted by an interdisciplinary team of resource specialists.

As defined in the Federal Endangered Species Act, any species which is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. For terrestrial species, the USFWS determines endangered status.

A plant or animal that occurs naturally in a certain region and whose distributionis relatively limited geographically.

Plants or animals that occur naturally in a certain region and whose distribution is relatively limited to a particular locality. Endemism is the occurrence of endemic species in an area.