Knock on Wood – Vol. 1 No. 21

• adaptation

  (ad ap tā shən): Change in an organism or its parts that fits it better for the conditions of its environment.

• cavity

  (ka vǝ tē): An unfilled space within a mass, especially a hollowed-out space.

• forage

  (fȯr ij): (noun) Food for browsing or grazing animals.

  (verb) To wander in search of forage or food.

• girth

  (gərth): A measure around a body.

• hardwood

  (härd wud): The wood of a tree (such as an oak or maple) that produces flowers and usually has broad leaves as compared to the wood of a tree that bears cones and has needlelike leaves.

• hotshot crew

  (hät shät krü): A highly trained fire crew used mainly to build firelines by hand.

• hydraulic

  (hī drȯ lik): Of or relating to water or other liquid in motion.

• invasive

  (in vā siv): Tending to spread especially in a quick or aggressive manner, such as a nonnative species growing and dispersing easily, usually to the detriment of native species and ecosystems.

• land use

  (land yüs): How people are using the land.

• mesa

  (mā sə): A flat-topped hill or small plateau with steep sides.

• mitigation

  (mit ə gā shən): The act of making (something) less severe.

• old-growth forest

  (ōld grōth fȯr ǝst): A forest characterized by the presence of large old trees, dead standing trees, and fallen rotting trees and that is usually in a late stage of development.

• pervasive

  (pər vā siv): Spread throughout so thoroughly as to be seen or felt everywhere.

• pine barrens

  (pīn ber ənz): An ecosystem characterized by sandy soil that is low in nutrients, has acidic water, is adapted to fire, and often contains pine trees and shrubs.

• prescribed fire

  (pri skrībd fīr): The controlled use of fire under specific weather conditions to restore health to an ecosystem that depends on fire; also known as a prescribed burn or controlled burn.

• restore

  (ri stȯr): To bring back to or put back into a former or original state.

• suppress

  (sǝ pres): To slow or stop the growth or development of.

• susceptibility

  (sə sep tə bil ət ē): Lack of ability to resist some outside agent (such as a disease-causing germ or drug).

• taproot

  (tap rüt): A primary root that grows vertically downward and gives off small lateral roots.

• threatened

  (thre tǝnd): Having an uncertain chance of continued survival; likely to become an endangered species.

Mrs. Kristin Howell’s 7th Grade Science Class

• West Jackson Middle School
• Jefferson, GA

Editorial Review Board Comments

• “I learned how fires are affecting trees, animals, and the environment.”

• “The glossary at the end was very helpful. The article was terrific.”

• “Longleaf pine forests need periodic fire to maintain healthy ecosystems.”

• “When a place contains or stores a lot of carbon, it is called a carbon sink!”

• “The most important thing I learned is that longleaf pines are important because the forests are diverse ecosystems with different types of animal and plant species.”

• “I love the article; just maybe make the photos more interesting and organize the text better to make it look more interesting.”

• “Great magazine, informed me of stuff I didn’t know about.”

• “I learned that gopher tortoises are considered a keystone species!”

• “Some wording was a tad hard to grasp. Besides that nothing but good vibes!”

Additional Resources