Glossary

This glossary includes most relevant terms used in this handbook. First version of the glossary was created during the development of the ‘Wildlife and Traffic’ handbook (Action COST 341) and it has been expanded with contributions from partners of the project Horizon 2020 ‘BISON’. Terms definitions are provided by legal texts, reference documents or by agreement between experts from both ecology and infrastructure. The organisations IENE, PIARC, UIC, and ISO have also assisted and will contribute in future updates.

Last update: October 2023 – How to cite

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There are currently 7 names in this directory beginning with the letter T.
Target species
A species or group of species that is the subject of a conservation or mitigation action or the focus of a study.
Taxon
Category in the Linnean classification of living organisms, e.g. species. The plural from is 'Taxa'.
Terrestrial
Pertaining to land or earth.
Top soil 
The top layer of soil that supports vegetation.
Transport corridor
Areas which concentrate linear transport infrastructure, such as roads, railways, waterways or powerlines, and which may impede or facilitate movement across the landscape. See also ‘Ecological corridor’.
Transport ecology
Science that seeks an understanding of the interactions between roads/railways/utility easements etc. and the natural environment, including wildlife, natural resources, land use and climate change. Synonym: ‘Road Ecology’.
Tree-top overpass 
Rope, net or pole suspended above transport infrastructure from vertical poles or trees, for arboreal and scansorial species. While fencing would improve rates of use, fence designs are yet to be developed due to the climbing ability of the target species. Similar structures have been proposed for bats, the success of which has yet to be demonstrated. Synonyms: 'Canopy bridge'; 'Arboreal crossing structure'.