Australia, Oceania, & Antarctica Vocab

Coral Islands

• An island created by a gradual buildup of coral skeletons.

Indigenous

• Native to the area in which something is found.

Invasive species

• Non-native plants or animals introduced to a new area, intentionally or unintentionally, that disturb habitats of native life forms.

Coral Reef

• Rock-like structure built by layers of coral organisms.

Atoll

• A ring-shaped reef, island, or chain of islands made of coral.

Ice Shelf

• A floating sheet of ice attached to a landmass.

Linguist

• A language scientist

Salinization

• the building up of salt in soil

Assimilation

• A process in which a minority group adopts the culture of the majority.

Reserve

• Land set aside for native people.

Marsupial

• A mammal whose females carry their babies in a pouch.

Artesian wells

Artesian Groundwater• large reservoir of underground waterArtesian Wells• A well is drilled to access underground

artesian water at a lower elevation so the water flows easily to the surface

Antarctic Treaty

• 1959 agreement by 12 countries to use Antarctica for peaceful purposes and to share scientific discoveries.