bayville
Teacher's Guide

Vocabulary List

You can download printable PDF versions of the glossary:

Word
Definition

algae

Very small one-celled plants that often grow in colonies

buoy

A floating device, which can collect information about the conditions in the water

chlorophyll

The green pigment in plants that makes photosynthesis possible (and gives plants their green color)

chlorophyll a

A type of chlorophyll (green pigment that makes photosynthesis possible) that is measured to determine the amount of algae in water

clarity

A measure of how clear the water is

control tank

In science experiments, the tank that is used as a yardstick to measure the results in the experimental tank

decomposed

Decayed or broken down into basic elements

dissolved oxygen

Oxygen trapped in between water molecules that plants and animals need in order to live

drought

An extended period of unusually dry weather

emissions

Gases and tiny particles that are released into the air as our car engines work

erosion

A natural process in which rocks and soils are broken down by wind and water

experimental tank

In science experiments, the tanks where the experiment takes place

food chains

The order of plant or animals in an ecosystem, each one eating the plant or animal before it on the chain

habitat

A place where animals and plants naturally live or grow

hypotheses

Predictions about an observation, experience, or scientific problem that can be tested by investigating further

hypothesis

A prediction about an observation, experience, or scientific problem that can be tested by investigating further; the singular form of hypotheses

impervious

Cannot be penetrated or passed through

mg/L

Milligrams per liter.—this is a concentration measurement which describes the mass of one substance (in this case dissolved oxygen) present in a liter of another substance (in this case water)

minnows

Small fish

nitrogen

A chemical element that is necessary for plant and animal growth

NTU

Nephelometer turbidity units as measured by a turbidimeter, which measures how cloudy water is

nutrient loading

Introducing excessive amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus (nutrients) into a body of water

nutrients

The essential chemicals plants and animals need to grow and survive

organic matter

Material which comes from something that was alive

organism

Any living creature including plants, animals, fungi, and bacteria

organisms

Living creatures including plants, animals, fungi, and bacteria

photosynthesis

The process by which green plants use water, carbon dioxide, and light from the sun to make food and oxygen

PSU

Practical salinity units—these are units used to measure salinity and are equivalent to parts per thousand (ppt)

predators

Animals that kill and eat other animals or plants (called their prey)

reproduce

Produce offspring

rhizomes

Plant stems that grow underground, parallel to the surface, from which roots and stems grow

salinity

The level of salt in a body of water

SAV

An abbreviation for submerged aquatic vegetation, or
underwater plants that grow in shallow areas of the Bay

sediment

Material that is broken up and deposited on the bottom of a body of water, such as sand and silt

species

A group of living things that are similar to each other and can breed with each other; the basic grouping of living things in biology.

suspended

Remain floating

turbid

Cloudy

turbidity

The level of cloudiness of water

thrive

To grow vigorously and flourish

wastewater treatment plant

Cacility that removes impurities from water