Glossary
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Algae
 a collective term that refers to several taxonomic groups of autotrophic protists; can be single-celled or multicellular; includes diatoms, seaweeds, and dinoflagellates
Algicide
 a compound that kills algae
Anoxic
 without oxygen
Assay
 an analysis to determine the components of a sample
Autotroph
 an organism that makes organic material from inorganic material; a primary producer; examples include plants, phytoplankton, and some bacteria
Ballast water
water taken up or released by a ship to stabilize it, or to raise/lower it in the water column
Bioaccumulation
 the process by which compounds accumulate or build up in an organism at a rate faster than they can be broken down
Carbohydrate
 an organic molecule composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen; examples include sugars and starches
Carbon dioxide
a colorless, odorless gas in our environment; used in photosynthesis and produced in respiration; CO2
Carnivorous
 describes an organism that eats animal matter (meat)
Chemosynthesis
 the process of using the energy derived from inorganic compounds to convert carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates; carried out by some bacteria
Consumer
 an organism that obtains organic matter by consuming primary producers; a heterotroph; primary consumers are organisms that consume plants; secondary consumers are organisms that consume animals
Cyanobacteria
 a group of unicellular photosynthetic organisms without a well-defined nucleus; sometimes called "blue-green algae" although they are not actually algae
Decomposer
 an organism that breaks down organic matter into simpler compounds and eventually into inorganic matter; examples include bacteria and fungi
Denitrification
 the process of degrading nitrogenous compounds and releasing nitrogen
Dredge
 to remove dirt, silt, etc. to deepen a waterway
Ecosystem
 an ecological unit composed of the non-living environment and communities of organisms found living in a large geographic area
Energy
 usable power obtained from various sources; photoautotrophs obtain energy from the sun; heterotrophs obtain energy from their food
Eutrophication
 changes that occur after a water body receives nutrient inputs; usually includes high biological productivity resulting in reduced visibility of the water and decreased oxygen supply
Exotic species
an organism that is not native to an environment, but has been introduced from another location
Food chain
 a linear depiction of energy flow; each organism feeds on and derives energy from the preceding organism
Food web
 a complex network of many interconnected feeding relationships; a more realistic portrayal of energy flow than a food chain
Herbivorous
 describes an organism that eats plant matter
Heterotroph
 an organism that obtains its organic matter from the environment (usually from autotrophs); a consumer
Light penetration
the depth to which light can reach in the water column
Mitigation
 the process of making less severe or less painful
Molecular probe
labeled DNA or RNA used to detect complementary nucleic acid sequences (in this case of specific algae)
Monitoring
 using various techniques to check for the presence and concentration of phytoplankton and/or toxins that have be related to harmful algal blooms
Nucleus
 a complex body within a living cell that contains the cell's hereditary material and controls its metabolism, growth and reproduction
Nutrient
 any number of inorganic or organic compounds used primary in nutrition; nutrients are cycled through food webs
Omnivorous
 describes an organism that eats both plant and animal matter
Optics
 the science that deals with the properties of light; in this case specifically dealing with light in the water column and how it is affected by the presence/absence of algae
PAR
 photosynthetically active radiation; the wavelengths of light used by plants and phytoplankton in photosynthesis (~400-750nm)
Pathogen
 a disease causing organism
Phosphate
 a compound containing phosphorous; an important nutrient for primary production
Photoautotroph
 an organism that captures the sun's energy and uses it to make organic compounds from inorganic materials
Photosynthesis
 the process of using the sun's energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates and oxygen; carried out by green plants, algae and cyanobacteria
Planktivorous
 describes an organism that eats plankton
Plankton
 organisms that are suspended or floating, and do not have sufficient swimming abilities to avoid transport by major water movements
Predation
 the act of an animal feeding on another animal
Primary producer
an organism that makes organic material from inorganic material; an autotroph; examples include plants, phytoplankton, and some bacteria
Protist
 a collective term for organisms (with nucleated cells) that are not considered true animals, plants, fungi; includes algae
Top consumer
the terminal organism of a food web or chain; often does not have a natural predator
Toxin
 a chemical compound from one organism that is harmful to another organism
Trophic
 relating to food or nutrition
Remediation
 the process of remedying or curing a condition
Run-off
 fresh water from rain, snow and ice that flows on the ground into streams, lakes, wetlands and oceans
Salinity
 a measure of the amount of dissolved salts in seawater
Sulfide
 a compound containing sulfur
Vector
 an organism that transmits something (a toxin in this case) but is not affected by it