Statistical Terms Glossary

A biocycle is the cycle through which energy and essential substances are transferred among species and between the biotic and abiotic segments of the environment

Is matter capable of decomposing rapidly under natural conditions

Measure used as other technical means in some fisheries to prevent ghost fishing.

Biodegradation is the process by which organic substances are decomposed by micro-organisms (mainly aerobic bacteria) into simpler substances such as carbon dioxide, water and ammonia.

This category includes all liquid fuels of natural origin (e.g. produced from biomass and/or the biodegradable fraction of waste), suitable to be blended with or replace gas/diesel oil from fossil origin. Biodiesels are composed of pure biodiesels and blended biodiesels.

Biodiversity refers to the range of genetic differences, species differences and ecosystem differences in a given area

See United Nations Conference on Environment and Development

A subcategory of biodiversity and is defined as the variety and variability of animals, plants and micro-organisms at the genetic, species and ecosystem levels that sustain the ecosystem structures, functions and processes in and around production systems, and that provide food and non-food agricultural products.

Biodiversity indices are measures of species diversity expressed as ratios between numbers of species and “importance values” (numbers, biomass, productivity and so on) of individuals. The term may also refer to genetic diversity and diversity of habitats or communities

Bio-drainage uses the evapotranspirative power of vegetation, especially trees to keep groundwater tables deep.

Bioecology is the branch of biology that studies the relationship among different living organisms and their environment

An analytical tool to facilitate management decisions. Bio-economic models establish functional relationships between specific characteristics of the natural resource base, (e.g. a fishery resource), and the activities of man to make use of such resource. The formalization of such relationships require certain abstractions from reality, as well as assumptions about the biological processes and human behaviour. To the extent that these assumptions may be partially violated in a specific fishery under study, the results of models should be considered as theoretical and potentially biased. While the reliability of models increases with the validity of the as sumptions, there are limits to formalizing and to interpreting the results of highly complex systems.

A field of resource economics including the dynamics of living resources in economical modelling.; A field that integrates resource biology and ecology with the economics of fisher behaviour, considering space, time and uncertainty dimensions.

Products containing living or dormant micro-organisms, such as bacteria and fungi, which provide nutrients to enhance plant growth.

The process of passing a liquid through a biological filter containing fixed media on the surfaces of which develop zoogleal films that absorb and adsorb fine suspended, colloidal, and dissolved solids and release end products of biochemical action.

The development of nutritionally enhanced food.; The process of breeding food crops that are rich in bioavailable micronutrients. These crops fortify themselves - they load high levels of minerals and vitamins in their seeds and roots, which are then harvested and eaten.

Fuel, such as biogas or biodiesel, which is produced from renewable resources, especially plant biomass, vegetable oils or treated municipal and industrial wastes.

Biofuels are fuels in the form of a liquid, solid, or gas, which is produced by converting the biomass, such as the production of bioethanol from sugar cane or corn, charcoal, wood chips, or biogas from anaerobic decomposition of waste. Note: FAO distinguishes between primary biofuels such as firewood, wood chips and pellets, are those where the organic material is used essentially in its natural form (as harvested). Such fuels are directly combusted, usually to supply cooking fuel, heating or electricity production needs in small- and largescale industrial applications. Secondary biofuels in the form of solids (e.g. harcoal), liquids (e.g. ethanol, biodiesel and bio-oil), or gases (e.g. biogas, synthesis gas and hydrogen) can be used for a wider range of applications, including transport and high-temperature industrial processes.

Fuels derived directly or indirectly from biomass.

Biogases arise from the anaerobic fermentation of biomass. They can be derived from several sources, including landfills, sewage sludge and agricultural residues. They also include synthesis gas produced from biomass.

The biogases from anaerobic fermentation are composed principally of methane and carbon dioxide and comprise landfill gas, sewage sludge gas and other biogases from anaerobic fermentation.

Biogases from thermal processes (by gasification or pyrolysis) of biomass.

This category includes all liquid fuels of natural origin (e.g. produced from biomass and/or the biodegradable fraction of waste), suitable to be blended with or replace motor gasoline from fossil origin. Biogasoline is composed of pure biogasoline and blended biogasoline.

Construction of databases on genomes, protein sequences; modelling complex biological processes, including systems biology.