A
- Algae
- Chlorophyll-containing organisms that range from microscopic and unicellular (single-celled) to very large and multicellular.
E
- Ecosystem
- The biotic community and its abiotic environment.
- Endangered species
- A plant or animal that is in immediate danger of becoming extinct and needs protection to survive.
- Erode (erosion)
- The wearing away of the land by the action of water, ice or wind.
- Estuary
- A partially closed coastal body of water where freshwater and saltwater mix.
- Extirpation
- Local extinction of an organism or species, where it/they cease to exist in a particular area but continue to exist elsewhere.
F
- Fishery
- Area where fish are caught for commercial or recreational purposes
H
- Habitat
- The place where an organism lives.
- Harmful algal bloom (HABs)
- Occurs when colonies of algae grow out of control and produce toxic or harmful effects on people, fish, shellfish, marine mammals and birds.
I
- Invasive species
- Non-native species of plants or animals that out-compete native species in a specific habitat.
M
- Mangrove
- Tree species that grow in non-freezing estuaries. There are about 12 species though the black, red, and white are most common.
N
- Nonpoint source
- All pollutants that are picked up and carried to waterbodies by runoff moving over a wide variety of landscapes.
P
- Point source
- Refers to pollution that is discharged from a single point, such as a factory pipe.
S
- Salt marsh
- Wetland flooded regularly by tidal, brackish water.
- Species
- A classification of related organisms that can freely interbreed.
- Stormwater
- Refers to rainwater as well as water from washing cars, overwatering lawns, and other sources. Stromwater washes down storm drains on the curbs of roads and leads directly into lakes, rivers, and streams untreated. Stormwater can carry pollution directly into our natural water resources.
T
- Tides
- The rise and fall of ocean waters produced by the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun.
W
- Watershed
- The area of land that drains into a particular body of water.