Wetlands: Glossary

A

abundant

lots of something

agriculture

related to farming

anaerobic

living without oxygen

aquatic

living in water

aquifers

underground water storage

archeological

related to the study of ancient people

B

brackish

a mixture of sea water and fresh water

C

chemical reactions

a scientific process that involves rearranging the chemical structure of a molecule

consumes

eats

contaminant

harmful substance deposited in the air or water or land

contiguous

touching or near

D

decomposing

to break something down

dredged

dug up

E

ecosystems

habitats

erosion

to move soil from one location to another through water, wind, etc

estuaries

areas near the ocean where salt and fresh water mix together

I

invertebrates

animals without backbones

M

microscopic

so small it can only be seen through a microscope

N

non-native

does not normally grow or exist in that location

noxious

harmful

P

peat

decayed plant material that burns well and is used a fuel

photosynthesis

the process that allows plants to convert sunlight into food

pollutants

waste products that are harmful

primary consumers

animals at the first level of a food chain who eat mostly plants

properties

the qualities of an object that define it

purifiers

things that clean

R

respiration

a plant's version of breathing

runoff

water that drains or flows off the surface of the land

S

saturated

full, no more room, super wet

sediments

fine dirt and soils that sink to the bottom of a body of water

T

toxins

poisons

U

urban expansion

the process in which towns and cities grow - through more building and creating - spreading out

V

vertebrates

animals with backbones

W

water cycle

the continuous circulation of water in systems throughout the planet, involving condensation, precipitation, runoff, evaporation, and transpiration

water treatment system

a process that cleans water - either natural or man-made