Elements of the landscape that connect similar areas. Streamside vegetation may create a corridor of willows and hardwoods between meadows where wildlife feed.
Any feature that conceals wildlife or fish. Cover may be dead or live vegetation, boulders, or undercut streambanks. Animals use cover to escape from predators, rest, or feed.
Stands of a particular vegetation type that are composed of similar species. The aspen cover type contains plants distinct from the pinyon-juniper cover type.
A group of common air pollutants (such as carbon monoxide, particulate matter, or ozone) regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the basis of criteria (information on health and/or environmental effects of pollution). Criteria air pollutants are widely distributed across the country.