{"id":406,"date":"2018-07-24T17:19:46","date_gmt":"2018-07-24T17:19:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-monroe-environmentalbiology\/back-matter\/glossary\/"},"modified":"2018-07-24T17:19:46","modified_gmt":"2018-07-24T17:19:46","slug":"glossary","status":"publish","type":"back-matter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-monroe-environmentalbiology\/back-matter\/glossary\/","title":{"raw":"Glossary","rendered":"Glossary"},"content":{"raw":"\n

<\/a>ABIOTIC<\/strong>\nnonliving components of an ecosystem<\/p>\n

<\/a>ACCLIMATION<\/strong>\nto become accustomed to a new climate or environment; to physically adapt<\/p>\n

<\/a>ACTIVE INGREDIENT <\/strong>\nan ingredient that is biologically active in a formulated product<\/p>\n

<\/a>AGENT ORANGE <\/strong>\nan herbicide used by the U.S. military to defoliate forests during the Vietnam War<\/p>\n

<\/a>AGRO-ECOSYSTEM<\/strong>\nThe area of land that is influenced by or that supports agricultural activity; land used for crops, pasture, and livestock, the adjacent uncultivated land that supports other vegetation and wildlife and the associated atmosphere, the underlying soil, ground and water, irrigation channels, and drainage networks<\/p>\n

<\/a>AIR QUALITY INDEX (AQI)<\/strong>\na numerical index used by government agencies to inform the public of air quality levels<\/p>\n

<\/a>ALGAL BLOOM <\/strong>\na rapid increase of accumulation in the population of algae (typically microscopic) in an aquatic system<\/p>\n

<\/a>ALKYLPHENOL <\/strong>\na commonly accepted marker of industrial and urban pollution; a family of organic compounds used in the production of detergents and other cleaning products<\/p>\n

<\/a>ALLUVIUM<\/strong>\na deposit of sand, mud, or other sediment formed by flowing water<\/p>\n

<\/a>ALPHA (MALE\/FEMALE)<\/strong>\nthe highest ranking member of a group of animals that has reserved breeding rights and first choice of food from a kill<\/p>\n

<\/a>ANADROMOUS <\/strong>\na species which migrates from the sea to freshwater to reproduce<\/p>\n

<\/a>ANNUAL CROPS <\/strong>\ncrops that grow, produce seeds, and die in a year and must be replanted each season<\/p>\n

<\/a>ANTHROPOGENIC <\/strong>\ncaused by or related to human action; originating in human activity<\/p>\n

<\/a>ANTI-SCALANT <\/strong>\na chemical that inhibits or delays precipitation and subsequent scale formation<\/p>\n

<\/a>AQUACULTURE <\/strong>\nFarming of aquatic organisms (plant or animal) in any water environment (ocean, pond, or river)<\/p>\n

<\/a>AQUEDUCT SYSTEM <\/strong>\na series of pipes, ditches, canals, tunnels, and supporting structures used to transport water from its source to its main distribution point<\/p>\n

<\/a>AQUIFER<\/strong>\nan underground layer of permeable rock or soil that is saturated with water; a geological formation containing ground water<\/p>\n

<\/a>ARID <\/strong>\na region characterized by a severe lack of available water to the extent of hindering or preventing the growth and development of plant and animal life<\/p>\n

<\/a>ATMOSPHERE <\/strong>\nthe layer of gases surrounding Earth and held by Earth\u2019s gravity<\/p>\n

<\/a>ATMOSPHERIC RIVERS <\/strong>\nregions of intense moisture over oceans that transport moisture from lower altitudes to higher altitudes<\/p>\n

<\/a>ATOLL <\/strong>\na region characterized by a severe lack of available water to the extent of hindering or preventing the growth and development of plant and animal life<\/p>\n

<\/a>BACTERIA <\/strong>\na single-celled, prokaryotic organisms that lacks a nuclei<\/p>\n

<\/a>BALLAST WATER <\/strong>\nwater taken into the haul of a shipping vessel to provide stability<\/p>\n

<\/a>BASHAR AL-ASSAD<\/strong>\nthe President of Syria since 2000<\/p>\n

<\/a>BIODIVERSITY <\/strong>\nthe variety of life on Earth or in a particular habitat or ecosystem<\/p>\n

<\/a>BIOLOGICAL CONTROL<\/strong>\nbiocontrol, a management practice that involves introducing a predator to an area to regulate the population of a pest<\/p>\n

<\/a>BIOMAGNIFICATION <\/strong>\nthe increased level of substances within the tissue of predators as a result of consuming organisms that contain bio-accumulated substances such as mercury<\/p>\n

<\/a>BIOMASS <\/strong>\nmaterial from plants and animals that can be used for energy<\/p>\n

<\/a>BIOTIC <\/strong>\nthe living or organic components of an ecosystem<\/p>\n

<\/a>BIRTH DEFECT <\/strong>\nstructural or functional abnormalities present at birth that cause physical or mental disability<\/p>\n

<\/a>BORNEO <\/strong>\nisland in Indonesia, east of Sumatra, which is mountainous and has extensive rainforests<\/p>\n

<\/a>BRINE <\/strong>\nwater saturated with salt; a liquid with high salinity<\/p>\n

<\/a>BROADCAST <\/strong>\nto uniformly distribute fertilizer on a soil surface without working it into the soil<\/p>\n

<\/a>BYCATCH <\/strong>\na non-target organism that is caught unintentionally when harvesting a target species<\/p>\n

<\/a>CALCIUM CARBONATE <\/strong>\nCaCO3; a common chemical compound composed of three main elements calcium, carbon and oxygen<\/p>\n

<\/a>CANCER<\/strong>\na type of disease characterized by unregulated cell growth<\/p>\n

<\/a>CANINE DISTEMPER <\/strong>\na viral disease associated with canines that affects the lymphatic and nervous system<\/p>\n

<\/a>CARBON CREDITS <\/strong>\na permit that represents carbon removed from the atmosphere, which can be purchased by companies or governments to offset the carbon emissions they generate<\/p>\n

<\/a>CARBON SINK <\/strong>\na process or material in an environment that removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere<\/p>\n

<\/a>CARCINOGENIC<\/strong>\ncancer causing<\/p>\n

<\/a>CARRYING CAPACITY <\/strong>\nthe population size that an area can support indefinitely<\/p>\n

<\/a>CERES <\/strong>\na non-profit organization advocating for sustainability leadership<\/p>\n

<\/a>CESIUM-137 <\/strong>\none of the common fission products of uranium nuclear power plants<\/p>\n

<\/a>CLEAN AIR ACT <\/strong>\nU.S. law that authorizes the EPA to set standards for dangerous air pollutants and enforce those standards<\/p>\n

<\/a>CLEAN WATER ACT <\/strong>\nU.S. federal legislation that regulates the release of point source pollution into surface waters and sets water quality standards for those waters<\/p>\n

<\/a>CLIMATE<\/strong>\nlong-term weather conditions in a particular region<\/p>\n

<\/a>CLIMATE CHANGE <\/strong>\na change in global climate patterns such as rainfall and average regional temperature<\/p>\n

<\/a>CLIMATOLOGY <\/strong>\nthe scientific study of Earth\u2019s climates, climate variability, climate change, and effects of climate on the biosphere<\/p>\n

<\/a>CNIDARIAN<\/strong>\nan invertebrate belonging to the Cnidarian phylum; they are characterized to have radial symmetry and a saclike internal cavity<\/p>\n

<\/a>COLIFORM BACTERIA <\/strong>\ntype of bacteria that are universally found in the feces of warm blooded animals; commonly used as a water quality indicator<\/p>\n

<\/a>COLONIES<\/strong>\nrefers to individual organisms of the same species living closely together<\/p>\n

<\/a>COLONY COLLAPSE DISORDER (CCD) <\/strong>\na disorder in honey bees categorized by sudden loss of worker bees, lack of dead bodies, and delayed invasion from attackers<\/p>\n

<\/a>COMMODITY<\/strong>\na physical substance that is uniform in quality and can be bought and sold<\/p>\n

<\/a>CONDENSE\n<\/strong> to change from a gas to a liquid<\/p>\n

<\/a>CONDUCTOR<\/strong>\na material which easily permits the flow of electrons, often an electric current<\/p>\n

<\/a>CONSERVATION <\/strong>\na political, environmental, and social movement to help protect natural resources and wildlife from exploitation<\/p>\n

<\/a>CONTAMINATION <\/strong>\nto make something dangerous, dirty or impure by adding something harmful or undesirable to it<\/p>\n

<\/a>CONTRACEPTION<\/strong>\na technique used to prevent pregnancy<\/p>\n

<\/a>CORAL BLEACHING<\/strong>\nthe expulsion of the algae living within coral\u2019s tissues causing it to die<\/p>\n

<\/a>CORRELATION<\/strong>\na statistical relationship involving the dependence of two or more variables<\/p>\n

<\/a>CRITICALLY ENDANGERED<\/strong>\na species that is facing a very high risk of extinction<\/p>\n

<\/a>CRITTERCAM<\/strong>\na camera that is attached to a wild animal with intent to study the animal\u2019s behavior and ecology<\/p>\n

<\/a>CROP YIELD <\/strong>\nthe amount of product a crop produces per unit of land in a given time<\/p>\n

<\/a>CULLING <\/strong>\na method of population control that involves the killing of an entire family unit<\/p>\n

<\/a>DAMASCUS<\/strong>\nthe capital city of Syria<\/p>\n

<\/a>DEFORESTATION<\/strong>\nremoval of forest areas by humans for non-forest use, often for agriculture<\/p>\n

<\/a>DESALINATION<\/strong>\nthe removal of salt from a water source to convert it to fresh water, often used with seawater<\/p>\n

<\/a>DESERTIFICATION<\/strong>\nthe increased degradation of drought affected areas, causing them to become deserts<\/p>\n

<\/a>DIABETES<\/strong>\na metabolic disorder defined by high blood sugar and insulin resistance<\/p>\n

<\/a>DIOXINS <\/strong>\na group of chemically related compounds that are classified as environmental pollutants<\/p>\n

<\/a>DISRUPTIVE STIMULI <\/strong>\nchemical, light, or audio repellents used to try and deter organisms<\/p>\n

<\/a>DISTILLATION <\/strong>\nthe process of separating substances in a mixture<\/p>\n

<\/a>DNA<\/strong>\ndeoxyribonucleic acid; found in all living organisms and contains genetic information<\/p>\n

<\/a>DROUGHT<\/strong>\nan extended amount of time with little to no precipitation<\/p>\n

<\/a>ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA <\/strong>\na nonpartisan, nonprofit organization of scientists founded to promote, conduct, and disseminate studies in the ecological sciences<\/p>\n

<\/a>ECOSYSTEM<\/strong>\nall of the organisms in a given area interacting in a physical environment<\/p>\n

<\/a>EDNA <\/strong>\nEnvironmental DNA; genetic material left behind by a species<\/p>\n

<\/a>EFFLUENT<\/strong>\nliquid waste discharged into a body a water; outflow from a sewage treatment plant that is rich in nutrients<\/p>\n

<\/a>ELECTRIC FISH BARRIER <\/strong>\na tool that sends low-level electric currents into a body of water to cause discomfort in fish and cause them move away from the affected area; used to regulate the movement of fish<\/p>\n

<\/a>ELYTRA<\/strong>\none of the anterior wings in beetles and other insects that serve to protect the delicate posterior pair of functional wings<\/p>\n

<\/a>EMERALD ASH BORER <\/strong>\na green beetle that was accidentally transported from Asia to North America in the 1990s and has caused widespread destruction of ash trees in the United States and Canada<\/p>\n

<\/a>EMISSIONS<\/strong>\nthe production and discharge of a gas<\/p>\n

<\/a>ENDANGERED<\/strong>\na species that is threatened with extinction<\/p>\n

<\/a>ENDOCRINE DISRUPTOR <\/strong>\na chemical that interferes with the endocrine system, typically mimicking a hormone or preventing a hormone from having effect<\/p>\n

<\/a>ENDOCRINE SYSTEM <\/strong>\nthe system cells, glands, and tissue within an organism that is responsible for secreting hormones into the bloodstream<\/p>\n

<\/a>ENTRAINMENT <\/strong>\nthe loss of fish during water diversion often occurring when fish enter irrigation systems and become isolated when diversion ends<\/p>\n

<\/a>ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) <\/strong>\na federal agency in the United States tasked with implementing legislation concerning the protection of the environment<\/p>\n

<\/a>ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY INDEX<\/strong>\na measure of a country\u2019s overall progress towards environmental sustainability<\/p>\n

<\/a>ENZYME<\/strong>\na molecular protein that acts as a catalysts and facilitates complex biological reactions<\/p>\n

<\/a>EROSION<\/strong>\nthe process by which something is gradually worn away by natural forces (wind, water, or other natural agents)<\/p>\n

<\/a>EUROPEAN UNION <\/strong>\neconomic and political union of 28 member states that are located primarily in Europe<\/p>\n

<\/a>EUTROPHICATION<\/strong>\nthe process by which a body of water is enriched with nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) stimulating excessive growth of photosynthetic organisms like algae. Human activities can accelerate the process.<\/p>\n

<\/a>EXTINCTION <\/strong>\nthe complete loss of a species<\/p>\n

<\/a>EXTIRPATION<\/strong>\ndescribes a species that is locally extinct in one or more areas within its historical range<\/p>\n

<\/a>FALLOUT <\/strong>\nairborne radioactive particles that gradually fall back to Earth after a nuclear blast<\/p>\n

<\/a>FARADAY\u2019S LAW <\/strong>\nFaraday\u2019s Law of induction states that the flow of electricity will be induced on a conductor when it is in the presence of a varying magnetic field. this principle allows for the generation of electricity by moving magnets through coils of wire.<\/p>\n

<\/a>FECUNDITY <\/strong>\nrelated to fertility; the actual reproductive rate of an organism<\/p>\n

<\/a>FIELD TRIALS <\/strong>\nsmall, controlled fields of genetically modified plants used to conduct research<\/p>\n

<\/a>FLOY TAG <\/strong>\na small piece of plastic attached to live fish as part of scientific studies; a company which produces tags used to specifically identify live fish as part of studies<\/p>\n

<\/a>FOLSOM LAKE <\/strong>\na reservoir in Northern California formed by the Folsom Dam and that provides flood control, drinking water, hydroelectricity, and water for irrigation to the surrounding communities<\/p>\n

<\/a>FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (FDA) <\/strong>\na federal agency of the United States government found within the Department of Health and Human Services which is responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety, efficacy and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation<\/p>\n

<\/a>FOSTERING<\/strong>\nwhen a female cares for and raises an orphaned juvenile in addition to her own offspring or after the death of her biological offspring<\/p>\n

<\/a>FOUL BROOD DISEASE <\/strong>\na disease in bees in which bacteria attack larvae and kill them before they mature<\/p>\n

<\/a>FRACKING FLUID <\/strong>\na combination of sand, liquids, and chemicals used in the hydraulic fracturing process which are pumped underground to break away natural gasses from permeable rock layers<\/p>\n

<\/a>FUNCTIONAL EXTINCTION <\/strong>\nwhen a population becomes so reduced that it no longer plays an important role in the way an ecosystem functions<\/p>\n

<\/a>FUNGUS<\/strong>\na diverse group of eukaryotic single-celled or multicelled organisms that live by decomposing organic material<\/p>\n

<\/a>GAME RESERVATION <\/strong>\na controlled area used for wildlife conservation which sometimes allows regulated hunting<\/p>\n

<\/a>GENE <\/strong>\nthe hereditary material of an organism that direct the production of a particular protein and influence an individual\u2019s traits<\/p>\n

<\/a>GENETIC DIVERSITY <\/strong>\nthe hereditary variability among individuals of a single population or within a species<\/p>\n

<\/a>GENETIC MARKER <\/strong>\na gene or short sequence of DNA used to identify a chromosome or to locate other genes on a genetic map<\/p>\n

<\/a>GENETIC MUTATION<\/strong>\na heritable change in the DNA sequence<\/p>\n

<\/a>GENOTYPE <\/strong>\nthe complete genetic content of an organism<\/p>\n

<\/a>GHOST TOWN<\/strong>\na human settlement, such as a town, that has few or no remaining inhabitants<\/p>\n

<\/a>GLOBAL WARMING <\/strong>\na scientifically observed and ongoing rise in the biosphere\u2019s average temperature that is contributing to climate change<\/p>\n

<\/a>GMO <\/strong>\na genetically modified organism; an organism whose DNA has been altered with a gene from another species to produce a desired trait<\/p>\n

<\/a>GOLDEN RICE <\/strong>\na variety of rice that has been genetically modified to produce beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A<\/p>\n

<\/a>GRAPHITE MODERATOR <\/strong>\na nuclear reactor that uses carbon as a neutron moderator, which allows un.enriched uranium to be used as nuclear fuel<\/p>\n

<\/a>GREENHOUSE GASES <\/strong>\nwater vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone; gases that contribute the greenhouse effect and global climate change<\/p>\n

<\/a>GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT (GDP) <\/strong>\nthe total value of goods and services provided in a country during a one year period<\/p>\n

<\/a>GROUNDWATER <\/strong>\nthe water beneath the surface of the ground, consisting largely of surface water that seeped into the ground<\/p>\n

<\/a>HABITAT <\/strong>\nthe environment in which an animal or plant species resides<\/p>\n

<\/a>HALLIBURTON LOOPHOLE <\/strong>\na provision included in the U.S. Energy Policy Act of 2005 that gave natural gas drilling and extraction companies exemptions from the Safe Drinking Water Act<\/p>\n

<\/a>HAULING OUT <\/strong>\nleaving the water to stay on land between periods of foraging<\/p>\n

<\/a>HEGEMONY <\/strong>\na form of government where one state or group has cultural, economic, and military dominance over all others<\/p>\n

<\/a>HERBICIDE<\/strong>\na substance used to exterminate or slow the growth of plants<\/p>\n

<\/a>HIBERNATION <\/strong>\ncessation from or slowing of activity during the winter<\/p>\n

<\/a>HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE <\/strong>\na region where the atmosphere pressure at the surface of the planet if greater than its surrounding environment<\/p>\n

<\/a>HISTOPATHOLOGY\n<\/strong> the study of tissue abnormalities using microscopy<\/p>\n

<\/a>HOME RANGE <\/strong>\nthe area where an organism lives and travels<\/p>\n

<\/a>HYDRAULIC FRACTURING<\/strong>\naka fracking; the process of breaking up subsurface rock formations through the use of high pressure liquids usually mixed with sand and chemicals to extract gas and oil<\/p>\n

<\/a>HYDROGEOLOGY <\/strong>\nthe study of the distribution and movement of water through the Earth<\/p>\n

<\/a>HYDROGRAPH <\/strong>\na graph showing the rate by which water flows past a specific point in a river over time, or a chart that displays a hydrologic variable over time<\/p>\n

<\/a>HYPOCHLORITE <\/strong>\nany salt or ester of hydroclorus acid; a chemical commonly found in bleach, water purifiers, and cleaning products<\/p>\n

<\/a>HYPOXIA <\/strong>\na condition in which a body of water contains inadequate amount of oxygen, compromising the health of aquatic organisms<\/p>\n

<\/a>IMMUNOCONTRACEPTION <\/strong>\na type of contraceptive technique that uses immunochemistry as opposed to hormones to prevent pregnancy<\/p>\n

<\/a>INACTIVE INGREDIENT <\/strong>\nan ingredient that does not increase or affect the intended action or purpose of a formulated product, drug, or pesticide<\/p>\n

<\/a>INFRASTRUCTURE<\/strong>\nthe physical and organizational structures and facilities needed for a functioning society<\/p>\n

<\/a>INHOSPITABLE<\/strong>\nan environment where organisms cannot grow or live easily<\/p>\n

<\/a>INSECTICIDE<\/strong>\nchemicals used to kill insects<\/p>\n

<\/a>INVASIVE SPECIES <\/strong>\na nonnative species whose introduction is likely to cause environmental or economic harm; a nonnative species that disrupts the local ecosystem<\/p>\n

<\/a>IODINE-131 <\/strong>\nheavy radioactive isotope of iodine with a half-life of 8 days; a major product produced by uranium plutonium nuclear power plants<\/p>\n

<\/a>ISOTOPE<\/strong>\nan atom of a given element that differs in the number of neutrons in its nucleus<\/p>\n

<\/a>IVORY<\/strong>\nmammalian teeth or tusk composed of mostly dentin, the desirable white material in which elephant tusks are made<\/p>\n

<\/a>KEYSTONE SPECIES<\/strong>\na species whose presence in its ecosystem is necessary to prevent the system from collapse<\/p>\n

<\/a>LACTATION<\/strong>\nwhen mammary glands (breast tissue) secretes milk, often occurring after a female has given birth and is supporting offspring<\/p>\n

<\/a>LANDSAT<\/strong>\na satellite imagery program first launched in 1972<\/p>\n

<\/a>LARVAE <\/strong>\nthe immature and often wormlike feeding form that hatches from the egg of many insects that have a metaphoric lifecycle<\/p>\n

<\/a>LETHAL CONTROL <\/strong>\na method of controlling wildlife populations that result in the death of individuals from the target population<\/p>\n

<\/a>LIMITING NUTRIENT <\/strong>\na nutrient in limited supply relative to others that when exhausted prevents further growth of an organism<\/p>\n

<\/a>MACRONUTRIENT<\/strong>\nin the case of plants, phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium; a nutrient needed in large amounts for normal growth to occur<\/p>\n

<\/a>MATRIARCH <\/strong>\nthe female who is the leader of a family unit<\/p>\n

<\/a>MICROORGANISM <\/strong>\nan organism that cannot be seen with the human eye<\/p>\n

<\/a>MICROSCOPY<\/strong>\nthe practice of using a microscope to study objects<\/p>\n

<\/a>MIDDLE EAST <\/strong>\ngeographic region northeast of Africa and southwest of Asia that contains the country Syria<\/p>\n

<\/a>MIOCENE AGE <\/strong>\nthe first geological epoch of the Neogene period and extends from about 23.03 to 5.332 million years ago, this time period had a warmer global climate<\/p>\n

<\/a>MISSISSIPPI RIVER BASIN<\/strong>\nthe area covering much of the central United States that includes tributaries that drain into the Mississippi River<\/p>\n

<\/a>MOBBING <\/strong>\nwhen more than one adult male attempts to mount a female in heat; often leads to serious injury and has been linked to a boost in testosterone and uneven distribution of gender in a population<\/p>\n

<\/a>MODIS IMAGES <\/strong>\nModerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer; a satellite imaging instrument that views the entire Earth\u2019s surface every 1-2 days<\/p>\n

<\/a>MONOCROP<\/strong>\na single crop produced year after year on the same land that is economically efficient but ultimately damaging to soil ecology<\/p>\n

<\/a>MONSANTO<\/strong>\nan American multinational chemical and agricultural biotechnology company; the leading producer of genetically engineered seeds<\/p>\n

<\/a>MUSTH<\/strong>\na period in which a bull (male) elephant is ready to mate, characterized by increased aggression and a surge of reproductive hormones - mainly testosterone<\/p>\n

<\/a>NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES <\/strong>\na non-profit society established by the U.S. congress in 1863 in order to provide independent and objective consultation on matters related to science and technology<\/p>\n

<\/a>NATIONAL PARKS <\/strong>\nan area of land set aside by the national government of a country specifically for the purpose of safeguarding nature and wildlife biodiversity<\/p>\n

<\/a>NATIONAL TIGER RECOVERY PROGRAM <\/strong>\na conservation program enacted in 2011 by the Ministry of Forestry in Indonesia with the goal of doubling the number of wild Sumatran tigers by 2022<\/p>\n

<\/a>NATURAL GAS <\/strong>\na combustible mixture of gaseous hydrocarbons consisting mostly of methane<\/p>\n

<\/a>NEBRASKA SANDHILLS <\/strong>\na region of mixed-grass prairie on grass-stabilized sand dunes, it is the largest sand dune formation in the western hemisphere<\/p>\n

<\/a>NO-TILL <\/strong>\ngrowing crops without disturbing the soil through tilling or plowing in order to increase soil organic matter and decrease soil erosion<\/p>\n

<\/a>NOBLE GAS <\/strong>\nany of the gaseous elements helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon, occupying Group 0 (18) of the periodic table that are believed to be unreactive<\/p>\n

<\/a>NON-GMO PROJECT <\/strong>\na non-profit organization that verifies non-GMO products and educates consumers<\/p>\n

<\/a>NON-LETHAL CONTROL <\/strong>\na method of controlling wildlife populations through actions that do not harm the health of the target population<\/p>\n

<\/a>NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE <\/strong>\nthe order in which nucleotides are situated in a chain relative to one another, which provide the template of a particular amino acid<\/p>\n

<\/a>OCEAN ACIDIFICATION<\/strong>\nthe decrease of pH levels in the ocean due to the uptake of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere<\/p>\n

<\/a>OGALLALA AQUIFER <\/strong>\nan aquifer located on the High Plains in the United States, it is composed of clay, sand, silt, and gravel<\/p>\n

<\/a>OZONE LAYER <\/strong>\na region of Earth\u2019s atmosphere that absorbs most of the Sun\u2019s ultraviolet (UV) radiation<\/p>\n

<\/a>PAPAYA RINGSPOT VIRUS (PRSV) <\/strong>\na virus that infects papayas and is transmitted by aphids. Infested papayas exhibits yellowing, leaf distortion, and severe mosaic. The papaya fruit will have bumps and a \u201cringspot\u201d.<\/p>\n

<\/a>PARTICULATE MATTER <\/strong>\npieces of matter small enough to remain suspended in the the air for long periods of time<\/p>\n

<\/a>PARTURITION <\/strong>\ngiving birth; synonymous with pupping<\/p>\n

<\/a>PATHOGEN <\/strong>\na bacterial, viral, or fungal agent of disease<\/p>\n

<\/a>PESTICIDE<\/strong>\na substance that is used to prevent or kill animals or insects that damage plants of crops<\/p>\n

<\/a>PETROLEUM HYDROCARBONS<\/strong>\nthe primary molecular constituent in oil, gasoline, diesel, and other petroleum products; the simplest of organic compounds containing only carbon and hydrogen atoms<\/p>\n

<\/a>PHLOEM <\/strong>\na complex tissue in the vascular system of high plants like trees; responsible for the translocation and storage of nutrients and water<\/p>\n

<\/a>PHOTOSYNTHESIS <\/strong>\nthe conversion of sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water into glucose and oxygen by organisms for use as energy<\/p>\n

<\/a>PLANKTIVOROUS <\/strong>\nreferring to planktivore, an aquatic organism that feeds on zooplankton and phytoplankton<\/p>\n

<\/a>PLANKTON <\/strong>\nmicroscopic organisms that float freely in marine and fresh bodies of water PM10 particulate matter less than 10 micrometers in diameter<\/p>\n

<\/a>PM10 <\/strong>\nparticulate matter less than 10 micrometers in diameter<\/p>\n

<\/a>POACHING <\/strong>\nthe illegal hunting, killing, or capturing of wild animals<\/p>\n

<\/a>POLLINATE <\/strong>\nthe transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigma of a plant often from one plan to another<\/p>\n

<\/a>POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS (PCBS) <\/strong>\na broad range of man-made chemicals used as a coolant and flame retardant; a chemical known to be carcinogenic, neurotoxic, and cause developmental and reproductive disorders<\/p>\n

<\/a>POLYMER SHEET <\/strong>\na chemical compound or mixture of compounds formed by polymerization and consisting essentially of repeating structural units<\/p>\n

<\/a>POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION (PCR)<\/strong>\na method to amplify copies of DNA using many cycles of DNA denaturation, primer annealing, and DNA polymerization<\/p>\n

<\/a>POLYP<\/strong>\nthe individual base of a coral; sedentary form of a coelenterate<\/p>\n

<\/a>POPULATION<\/strong>\na group of organisms that are of the same species, which reside in the same general geographic location and are able to interact and breed<\/p>\n

<\/a>PRECIPITATION <\/strong>\nweather activity in the form of rainfall, hail, or snowfall<\/p>\n

<\/a>PRESERVE<\/strong>\na protected area set aside for the refuge and safety of plants and animals<\/p>\n

<\/a>PRIMARY FOREST <\/strong>\nmature forests of native trees that have not been affected by deforestation<\/p>\n

<\/a>PROPAGANDA <\/strong>\nuse of communications to try and influence a person or group of people with often biased information<\/p>\n

<\/a>QUANTIFIABLE <\/strong>\nthe ability to be expressed or measured in terms of quantity<\/p>\n

<\/a>QUARANTINE <\/strong>\na state of enforced isolation, often imposed when a human or animal has been exposed to an infectious disease<\/p>\n

<\/a>RADIOACTIVE <\/strong>\natoms that spontaneously emit subatomic particles and\/or energy; emitting ionizing radiation when decaying<\/p>\n

<\/a>RADIONUCLIDE <\/strong>\natoms with an unstable nucleus, characterized by the availability of excessive energy; can be naturally occurring or artificially produced<\/p>\n

<\/a>RANCH HAND <\/strong>\nan U.S. Military Operation during the Vietnam War that involved spraying millions of liters of herbicide in order to rid Vietnam of crops and vegetation to expose roads and trails used by the Viet Cong<\/p>\n

<\/a>REDUCING EMISSIONS FROM DEFORESTATION AND FOREST DEGRADATION (REDD) <\/strong>\na mechanism to mitigate climate change through reducing net greenhouse gas emissions; under negotiation by the United Nations<\/p>\n

<\/a>RESERVOIR <\/strong>\na natural or artificial body of water that is used to store water<\/p>\n

<\/a>REVERSE OSMOSIS <\/strong>\na process by which a solvent passes through a porous membrane in the direction opposite to that for natural osmosis when subjected to a hydrostatic pressure greater than the osmotic pressure<\/p>\n

<\/a>RNA<\/strong>\nribonucleic acid; a molecular structure present in all living cells that carries and transmits commands to build proteins<\/p>\n

<\/a>ROTOR<\/strong>\nthe non-stationary part of a rotary motor or generator; contains electromagnets which are used by the generator to induce an electrical current<\/p>\n

<\/a>ROUNDTABLE ON SUSTAINABLE PALM OIL (RSPO) <\/strong>\na non-profit organization that aims to transform markets towards sustainable palm oil<\/p>\n

<\/a>RUNOFF<\/strong>\nthe portion of precipitation on land that is not absorbed by the ground but instead flows into nearby waterways; waste products that are carried by rain into surface waters<\/p>\n

<\/a>RUST BELT <\/strong>\nreferring to economic decline in a region of the United States surrounding the Great Lakes<\/p>\n

<\/a>SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT <\/strong>\nFederal law setting standards for water quality across the United States to be enforced primarily by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency<\/p>\n

<\/a>SALMONIDS<\/strong>\na fish belonging to the family Salmonidae which includes the salmon, trout, and whitefish<\/p>\n

<\/a>SANCTUARY<\/strong>\na protected area set aside for the refuge and safety of plants and animals<\/p>\n

<\/a>SECONDARY PRODUCTION <\/strong>\nthe rate at which primary consumer organisms convert food into their own biomass<\/p>\n

<\/a>SEDIMENT<\/strong>\na solid material that moves and settles in a different location, often from erosion<\/p>\n

<\/a>SESSILE<\/strong>\nan organism that is immobile or fixed to one place<\/p>\n

<\/a>SHOAL<\/strong>\na piece of land where moving water promotes sediment deposition, such as a sandbar<\/p>\n

<\/a>SIERRA NEVADA MOUNTAIN RANGE <\/strong>\nmountain range in the western United States between the Central Valley of California and the Basin and Range Province, the majority of the range lies in California<\/p>\n

<\/a>SNOWPACK<\/strong>\na layer of compacted snow on the ground that often accumulates in high altitudes for long periods of time<\/p>\n

<\/a>STAND<\/strong>\na contiguous area that contains a number of trees that are relatively homogeneous or have a common set of characteristics.<\/p>\n

<\/a>STATOR<\/strong>\nthe stationary part of a rotary motor or generator; contains conductors on which electric current is induced by the rotation of the rotor<\/p>\n

<\/a>SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP <\/strong>\na close relationship between two organisms in which they mutually benefit<\/p>\n

<\/a>THERMAL PROCESS<\/strong>\na process by which phosphate rock is heated to create phosphorus pentoxide, which is then dissolved in dilute phosphoric acid to form very pure phosphoric acid<\/p>\n

<\/a>THYROID CANCER <\/strong>\ncancer originating in the thyroid gland, which is located in the front of the neck<\/p>\n

<\/a>TOPOGRAPHY<\/strong>\nsurface features or an area or a region on a map<\/p>\n

<\/a>TRANSLOCATION <\/strong>\nimmobilizing and transporting one or more individuals of a population from an area of high population density to an area of lower population density where they will have less of an environmental impact<\/p>\n

<\/a>TROPICAL STORM <\/strong>\na localized, powerful storm that forms in tropical areas<\/p>\n

<\/a>TSUNAMI<\/strong>\na series of high sea waves caused by an earthquake, submarine landslide, or other disturbance<\/p>\n

<\/a>TURBIDITY<\/strong>\na measure of the amount of suspended solids in water<\/p>\n

<\/a>VASCULAR<\/strong>\nof or relating to a channel for the conveyance of a body fluid (as blood of an animal or sap of a plant)<\/p>\n

<\/a>VIRUS<\/strong>\nan acellular particle containing a genome that can replicate only inside a cell; a noncellular pathogen<\/p>\n

<\/a>WATER STRESS<\/strong>\na lack of sufficient water resources available to meet the demands of water usage<\/p>\n

<\/a>WATER TABLE<\/strong>\nthe planar level at which water saturated soil or rock meets unsaturated ground<\/p>\n

<\/a>WEANING<\/strong>\na period in which young mammals transition to sources of food other than their mother\u2019s milk<\/p>\n

<\/a>WESTERLIES<\/strong>\nconsisting of the winds that blow from the west towards the east; a belt of major air currents in the mid-latitudes of the northern and southern hemispheres<\/p>\n

<\/a>WET ACID PROCESS<\/strong>\na process by which phosphate rock is dissolved in sulfuric acid forming phosphoric acid and waste products<\/p>\n

<\/a>WICKET GATE<\/strong>\ndoors used to control the rate of water intake through a generator\u2019s turbine<\/p>\n

<\/a>WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO)<\/strong>\nan agency of the United Nations that promotes health and control of diseases around the world<\/p>\n\n","rendered":"

<\/a>ABIOTIC<\/strong>
\nnonliving components of an ecosystem<\/p>\n

<\/a>ACCLIMATION<\/strong>
\nto become accustomed to a new climate or environment; to physically adapt<\/p>\n

<\/a>ACTIVE INGREDIENT <\/strong>
\nan ingredient that is biologically active in a formulated product<\/p>\n

<\/a>AGENT ORANGE <\/strong>
\nan herbicide used by the U.S. military to defoliate forests during the Vietnam War<\/p>\n

<\/a>AGRO-ECOSYSTEM<\/strong>
\nThe area of land that is influenced by or that supports agricultural activity; land used for crops, pasture, and livestock, the adjacent uncultivated land that supports other vegetation and wildlife and the associated atmosphere, the underlying soil, ground and water, irrigation channels, and drainage networks<\/p>\n

<\/a>AIR QUALITY INDEX (AQI)<\/strong>
\na numerical index used by government agencies to inform the public of air quality levels<\/p>\n

<\/a>ALGAL BLOOM <\/strong>
\na rapid increase of accumulation in the population of algae (typically microscopic) in an aquatic system<\/p>\n

<\/a>ALKYLPHENOL <\/strong>
\na commonly accepted marker of industrial and urban pollution; a family of organic compounds used in the production of detergents and other cleaning products<\/p>\n

<\/a>ALLUVIUM<\/strong>
\na deposit of sand, mud, or other sediment formed by flowing water<\/p>\n

<\/a>ALPHA (MALE\/FEMALE)<\/strong>
\nthe highest ranking member of a group of animals that has reserved breeding rights and first choice of food from a kill<\/p>\n

<\/a>ANADROMOUS <\/strong>
\na species which migrates from the sea to freshwater to reproduce<\/p>\n

<\/a>ANNUAL CROPS <\/strong>
\ncrops that grow, produce seeds, and die in a year and must be replanted each season<\/p>\n

<\/a>ANTHROPOGENIC <\/strong>
\ncaused by or related to human action; originating in human activity<\/p>\n

<\/a>ANTI-SCALANT <\/strong>
\na chemical that inhibits or delays precipitation and subsequent scale formation<\/p>\n

<\/a>AQUACULTURE <\/strong>
\nFarming of aquatic organisms (plant or animal) in any water environment (ocean, pond, or river)<\/p>\n

<\/a>AQUEDUCT SYSTEM <\/strong>
\na series of pipes, ditches, canals, tunnels, and supporting structures used to transport water from its source to its main distribution point<\/p>\n

<\/a>AQUIFER<\/strong>
\nan underground layer of permeable rock or soil that is saturated with water; a geological formation containing ground water<\/p>\n

<\/a>ARID <\/strong>
\na region characterized by a severe lack of available water to the extent of hindering or preventing the growth and development of plant and animal life<\/p>\n

<\/a>ATMOSPHERE <\/strong>
\nthe layer of gases surrounding Earth and held by Earth\u2019s gravity<\/p>\n

<\/a>ATMOSPHERIC RIVERS <\/strong>
\nregions of intense moisture over oceans that transport moisture from lower altitudes to higher altitudes<\/p>\n

<\/a>ATOLL <\/strong>
\na region characterized by a severe lack of available water to the extent of hindering or preventing the growth and development of plant and animal life<\/p>\n

<\/a>BACTERIA <\/strong>
\na single-celled, prokaryotic organisms that lacks a nuclei<\/p>\n

<\/a>BALLAST WATER <\/strong>
\nwater taken into the haul of a shipping vessel to provide stability<\/p>\n

<\/a>BASHAR AL-ASSAD<\/strong>
\nthe President of Syria since 2000<\/p>\n

<\/a>BIODIVERSITY <\/strong>
\nthe variety of life on Earth or in a particular habitat or ecosystem<\/p>\n

<\/a>BIOLOGICAL CONTROL<\/strong>
\nbiocontrol, a management practice that involves introducing a predator to an area to regulate the population of a pest<\/p>\n

<\/a>BIOMAGNIFICATION <\/strong>
\nthe increased level of substances within the tissue of predators as a result of consuming organisms that contain bio-accumulated substances such as mercury<\/p>\n

<\/a>BIOMASS <\/strong>
\nmaterial from plants and animals that can be used for energy<\/p>\n

<\/a>BIOTIC <\/strong>
\nthe living or organic components of an ecosystem<\/p>\n

<\/a>BIRTH DEFECT <\/strong>
\nstructural or functional abnormalities present at birth that cause physical or mental disability<\/p>\n

<\/a>BORNEO <\/strong>
\nisland in Indonesia, east of Sumatra, which is mountainous and has extensive rainforests<\/p>\n

<\/a>BRINE <\/strong>
\nwater saturated with salt; a liquid with high salinity<\/p>\n

<\/a>BROADCAST <\/strong>
\nto uniformly distribute fertilizer on a soil surface without working it into the soil<\/p>\n

<\/a>BYCATCH <\/strong>
\na non-target organism that is caught unintentionally when harvesting a target species<\/p>\n

<\/a>CALCIUM CARBONATE <\/strong>
\nCaCO3; a common chemical compound composed of three main elements calcium, carbon and oxygen<\/p>\n

<\/a>CANCER<\/strong>
\na type of disease characterized by unregulated cell growth<\/p>\n

<\/a>CANINE DISTEMPER <\/strong>
\na viral disease associated with canines that affects the lymphatic and nervous system<\/p>\n

<\/a>CARBON CREDITS <\/strong>
\na permit that represents carbon removed from the atmosphere, which can be purchased by companies or governments to offset the carbon emissions they generate<\/p>\n

<\/a>CARBON SINK <\/strong>
\na process or material in an environment that removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere<\/p>\n

<\/a>CARCINOGENIC<\/strong>
\ncancer causing<\/p>\n

<\/a>CARRYING CAPACITY <\/strong>
\nthe population size that an area can support indefinitely<\/p>\n

<\/a>CERES <\/strong>
\na non-profit organization advocating for sustainability leadership<\/p>\n

<\/a>CESIUM-137 <\/strong>
\none of the common fission products of uranium nuclear power plants<\/p>\n

<\/a>CLEAN AIR ACT <\/strong>
\nU.S. law that authorizes the EPA to set standards for dangerous air pollutants and enforce those standards<\/p>\n

<\/a>CLEAN WATER ACT <\/strong>
\nU.S. federal legislation that regulates the release of point source pollution into surface waters and sets water quality standards for those waters<\/p>\n

<\/a>CLIMATE<\/strong>
\nlong-term weather conditions in a particular region<\/p>\n

<\/a>CLIMATE CHANGE <\/strong>
\na change in global climate patterns such as rainfall and average regional temperature<\/p>\n

<\/a>CLIMATOLOGY <\/strong>
\nthe scientific study of Earth\u2019s climates, climate variability, climate change, and effects of climate on the biosphere<\/p>\n

<\/a>CNIDARIAN<\/strong>
\nan invertebrate belonging to the Cnidarian phylum; they are characterized to have radial symmetry and a saclike internal cavity<\/p>\n

<\/a>COLIFORM BACTERIA <\/strong>
\ntype of bacteria that are universally found in the feces of warm blooded animals; commonly used as a water quality indicator<\/p>\n

<\/a>COLONIES<\/strong>
\nrefers to individual organisms of the same species living closely together<\/p>\n

<\/a>COLONY COLLAPSE DISORDER (CCD) <\/strong>
\na disorder in honey bees categorized by sudden loss of worker bees, lack of dead bodies, and delayed invasion from attackers<\/p>\n

<\/a>COMMODITY<\/strong>
\na physical substance that is uniform in quality and can be bought and sold<\/p>\n

<\/a>CONDENSE
\n<\/strong> to change from a gas to a liquid<\/p>\n

<\/a>CONDUCTOR<\/strong>
\na material which easily permits the flow of electrons, often an electric current<\/p>\n

<\/a>CONSERVATION <\/strong>
\na political, environmental, and social movement to help protect natural resources and wildlife from exploitation<\/p>\n

<\/a>CONTAMINATION <\/strong>
\nto make something dangerous, dirty or impure by adding something harmful or undesirable to it<\/p>\n

<\/a>CONTRACEPTION<\/strong>
\na technique used to prevent pregnancy<\/p>\n

<\/a>CORAL BLEACHING<\/strong>
\nthe expulsion of the algae living within coral\u2019s tissues causing it to die<\/p>\n

<\/a>CORRELATION<\/strong>
\na statistical relationship involving the dependence of two or more variables<\/p>\n

<\/a>CRITICALLY ENDANGERED<\/strong>
\na species that is facing a very high risk of extinction<\/p>\n

<\/a>CRITTERCAM<\/strong>
\na camera that is attached to a wild animal with intent to study the animal\u2019s behavior and ecology<\/p>\n

<\/a>CROP YIELD <\/strong>
\nthe amount of product a crop produces per unit of land in a given time<\/p>\n

<\/a>CULLING <\/strong>
\na method of population control that involves the killing of an entire family unit<\/p>\n

<\/a>DAMASCUS<\/strong>
\nthe capital city of Syria<\/p>\n

<\/a>DEFORESTATION<\/strong>
\nremoval of forest areas by humans for non-forest use, often for agriculture<\/p>\n

<\/a>DESALINATION<\/strong>
\nthe removal of salt from a water source to convert it to fresh water, often used with seawater<\/p>\n

<\/a>DESERTIFICATION<\/strong>
\nthe increased degradation of drought affected areas, causing them to become deserts<\/p>\n

<\/a>DIABETES<\/strong>
\na metabolic disorder defined by high blood sugar and insulin resistance<\/p>\n

<\/a>DIOXINS <\/strong>
\na group of chemically related compounds that are classified as environmental pollutants<\/p>\n

<\/a>DISRUPTIVE STIMULI <\/strong>
\nchemical, light, or audio repellents used to try and deter organisms<\/p>\n

<\/a>DISTILLATION <\/strong>
\nthe process of separating substances in a mixture<\/p>\n

<\/a>DNA<\/strong>
\ndeoxyribonucleic acid; found in all living organisms and contains genetic information<\/p>\n

<\/a>DROUGHT<\/strong>
\nan extended amount of time with little to no precipitation<\/p>\n

<\/a>ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA <\/strong>
\na nonpartisan, nonprofit organization of scientists founded to promote, conduct, and disseminate studies in the ecological sciences<\/p>\n

<\/a>ECOSYSTEM<\/strong>
\nall of the organisms in a given area interacting in a physical environment<\/p>\n

<\/a>EDNA <\/strong>
\nEnvironmental DNA; genetic material left behind by a species<\/p>\n

<\/a>EFFLUENT<\/strong>
\nliquid waste discharged into a body a water; outflow from a sewage treatment plant that is rich in nutrients<\/p>\n

<\/a>ELECTRIC FISH BARRIER <\/strong>
\na tool that sends low-level electric currents into a body of water to cause discomfort in fish and cause them move away from the affected area; used to regulate the movement of fish<\/p>\n

<\/a>ELYTRA<\/strong>
\none of the anterior wings in beetles and other insects that serve to protect the delicate posterior pair of functional wings<\/p>\n

<\/a>EMERALD ASH BORER <\/strong>
\na green beetle that was accidentally transported from Asia to North America in the 1990s and has caused widespread destruction of ash trees in the United States and Canada<\/p>\n

<\/a>EMISSIONS<\/strong>
\nthe production and discharge of a gas<\/p>\n

<\/a>ENDANGERED<\/strong>
\na species that is threatened with extinction<\/p>\n

<\/a>ENDOCRINE DISRUPTOR <\/strong>
\na chemical that interferes with the endocrine system, typically mimicking a hormone or preventing a hormone from having effect<\/p>\n

<\/a>ENDOCRINE SYSTEM <\/strong>
\nthe system cells, glands, and tissue within an organism that is responsible for secreting hormones into the bloodstream<\/p>\n

<\/a>ENTRAINMENT <\/strong>
\nthe loss of fish during water diversion often occurring when fish enter irrigation systems and become isolated when diversion ends<\/p>\n

<\/a>ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) <\/strong>
\na federal agency in the United States tasked with implementing legislation concerning the protection of the environment<\/p>\n

<\/a>ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY INDEX<\/strong>
\na measure of a country\u2019s overall progress towards environmental sustainability<\/p>\n

<\/a>ENZYME<\/strong>
\na molecular protein that acts as a catalysts and facilitates complex biological reactions<\/p>\n

<\/a>EROSION<\/strong>
\nthe process by which something is gradually worn away by natural forces (wind, water, or other natural agents)<\/p>\n

<\/a>EUROPEAN UNION <\/strong>
\neconomic and political union of 28 member states that are located primarily in Europe<\/p>\n

<\/a>EUTROPHICATION<\/strong>
\nthe process by which a body of water is enriched with nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) stimulating excessive growth of photosynthetic organisms like algae. Human activities can accelerate the process.<\/p>\n

<\/a>EXTINCTION <\/strong>
\nthe complete loss of a species<\/p>\n

<\/a>EXTIRPATION<\/strong>
\ndescribes a species that is locally extinct in one or more areas within its historical range<\/p>\n

<\/a>FALLOUT <\/strong>
\nairborne radioactive particles that gradually fall back to Earth after a nuclear blast<\/p>\n

<\/a>FARADAY\u2019S LAW <\/strong>
\nFaraday\u2019s Law of induction states that the flow of electricity will be induced on a conductor when it is in the presence of a varying magnetic field. this principle allows for the generation of electricity by moving magnets through coils of wire.<\/p>\n

<\/a>FECUNDITY <\/strong>
\nrelated to fertility; the actual reproductive rate of an organism<\/p>\n

<\/a>FIELD TRIALS <\/strong>
\nsmall, controlled fields of genetically modified plants used to conduct research<\/p>\n

<\/a>FLOY TAG <\/strong>
\na small piece of plastic attached to live fish as part of scientific studies; a company which produces tags used to specifically identify live fish as part of studies<\/p>\n

<\/a>FOLSOM LAKE <\/strong>
\na reservoir in Northern California formed by the Folsom Dam and that provides flood control, drinking water, hydroelectricity, and water for irrigation to the surrounding communities<\/p>\n

<\/a>FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (FDA) <\/strong>
\na federal agency of the United States government found within the Department of Health and Human Services which is responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety, efficacy and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation<\/p>\n

<\/a>FOSTERING<\/strong>
\nwhen a female cares for and raises an orphaned juvenile in addition to her own offspring or after the death of her biological offspring<\/p>\n

<\/a>FOUL BROOD DISEASE <\/strong>
\na disease in bees in which bacteria attack larvae and kill them before they mature<\/p>\n

<\/a>FRACKING FLUID <\/strong>
\na combination of sand, liquids, and chemicals used in the hydraulic fracturing process which are pumped underground to break away natural gasses from permeable rock layers<\/p>\n

<\/a>FUNCTIONAL EXTINCTION <\/strong>
\nwhen a population becomes so reduced that it no longer plays an important role in the way an ecosystem functions<\/p>\n

<\/a>FUNGUS<\/strong>
\na diverse group of eukaryotic single-celled or multicelled organisms that live by decomposing organic material<\/p>\n

<\/a>GAME RESERVATION <\/strong>
\na controlled area used for wildlife conservation which sometimes allows regulated hunting<\/p>\n

<\/a>GENE <\/strong>
\nthe hereditary material of an organism that direct the production of a particular protein and influence an individual\u2019s traits<\/p>\n

<\/a>GENETIC DIVERSITY <\/strong>
\nthe hereditary variability among individuals of a single population or within a species<\/p>\n

<\/a>GENETIC MARKER <\/strong>
\na gene or short sequence of DNA used to identify a chromosome or to locate other genes on a genetic map<\/p>\n

<\/a>GENETIC MUTATION<\/strong>
\na heritable change in the DNA sequence<\/p>\n

<\/a>GENOTYPE <\/strong>
\nthe complete genetic content of an organism<\/p>\n

<\/a>GHOST TOWN<\/strong>
\na human settlement, such as a town, that has few or no remaining inhabitants<\/p>\n

<\/a>GLOBAL WARMING <\/strong>
\na scientifically observed and ongoing rise in the biosphere\u2019s average temperature that is contributing to climate change<\/p>\n

<\/a>GMO <\/strong>
\na genetically modified organism; an organism whose DNA has been altered with a gene from another species to produce a desired trait<\/p>\n

<\/a>GOLDEN RICE <\/strong>
\na variety of rice that has been genetically modified to produce beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A<\/p>\n

<\/a>GRAPHITE MODERATOR <\/strong>
\na nuclear reactor that uses carbon as a neutron moderator, which allows un.enriched uranium to be used as nuclear fuel<\/p>\n

<\/a>GREENHOUSE GASES <\/strong>
\nwater vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone; gases that contribute the greenhouse effect and global climate change<\/p>\n

<\/a>GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT (GDP) <\/strong>
\nthe total value of goods and services provided in a country during a one year period<\/p>\n

<\/a>GROUNDWATER <\/strong>
\nthe water beneath the surface of the ground, consisting largely of surface water that seeped into the ground<\/p>\n

<\/a>HABITAT <\/strong>
\nthe environment in which an animal or plant species resides<\/p>\n

<\/a>HALLIBURTON LOOPHOLE <\/strong>
\na provision included in the U.S. Energy Policy Act of 2005 that gave natural gas drilling and extraction companies exemptions from the Safe Drinking Water Act<\/p>\n

<\/a>HAULING OUT <\/strong>
\nleaving the water to stay on land between periods of foraging<\/p>\n

<\/a>HEGEMONY <\/strong>
\na form of government where one state or group has cultural, economic, and military dominance over all others<\/p>\n

<\/a>HERBICIDE<\/strong>
\na substance used to exterminate or slow the growth of plants<\/p>\n

<\/a>HIBERNATION <\/strong>
\ncessation from or slowing of activity during the winter<\/p>\n

<\/a>HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE <\/strong>
\na region where the atmosphere pressure at the surface of the planet if greater than its surrounding environment<\/p>\n

<\/a>HISTOPATHOLOGY
\n<\/strong> the study of tissue abnormalities using microscopy<\/p>\n

<\/a>HOME RANGE <\/strong>
\nthe area where an organism lives and travels<\/p>\n

<\/a>HYDRAULIC FRACTURING<\/strong>
\naka fracking; the process of breaking up subsurface rock formations through the use of high pressure liquids usually mixed with sand and chemicals to extract gas and oil<\/p>\n

<\/a>HYDROGEOLOGY <\/strong>
\nthe study of the distribution and movement of water through the Earth<\/p>\n

<\/a>HYDROGRAPH <\/strong>
\na graph showing the rate by which water flows past a specific point in a river over time, or a chart that displays a hydrologic variable over time<\/p>\n

<\/a>HYPOCHLORITE <\/strong>
\nany salt or ester of hydroclorus acid; a chemical commonly found in bleach, water purifiers, and cleaning products<\/p>\n

<\/a>HYPOXIA <\/strong>
\na condition in which a body of water contains inadequate amount of oxygen, compromising the health of aquatic organisms<\/p>\n

<\/a>IMMUNOCONTRACEPTION <\/strong>
\na type of contraceptive technique that uses immunochemistry as opposed to hormones to prevent pregnancy<\/p>\n

<\/a>INACTIVE INGREDIENT <\/strong>
\nan ingredient that does not increase or affect the intended action or purpose of a formulated product, drug, or pesticide<\/p>\n

<\/a>INFRASTRUCTURE<\/strong>
\nthe physical and organizational structures and facilities needed for a functioning society<\/p>\n

<\/a>INHOSPITABLE<\/strong>
\nan environment where organisms cannot grow or live easily<\/p>\n

<\/a>INSECTICIDE<\/strong>
\nchemicals used to kill insects<\/p>\n

<\/a>INVASIVE SPECIES <\/strong>
\na nonnative species whose introduction is likely to cause environmental or economic harm; a nonnative species that disrupts the local ecosystem<\/p>\n

<\/a>IODINE-131 <\/strong>
\nheavy radioactive isotope of iodine with a half-life of 8 days; a major product produced by uranium plutonium nuclear power plants<\/p>\n

<\/a>ISOTOPE<\/strong>
\nan atom of a given element that differs in the number of neutrons in its nucleus<\/p>\n

<\/a>IVORY<\/strong>
\nmammalian teeth or tusk composed of mostly dentin, the desirable white material in which elephant tusks are made<\/p>\n

<\/a>KEYSTONE SPECIES<\/strong>
\na species whose presence in its ecosystem is necessary to prevent the system from collapse<\/p>\n

<\/a>LACTATION<\/strong>
\nwhen mammary glands (breast tissue) secretes milk, often occurring after a female has given birth and is supporting offspring<\/p>\n

<\/a>LANDSAT<\/strong>
\na satellite imagery program first launched in 1972<\/p>\n

<\/a>LARVAE <\/strong>
\nthe immature and often wormlike feeding form that hatches from the egg of many insects that have a metaphoric lifecycle<\/p>\n

<\/a>LETHAL CONTROL <\/strong>
\na method of controlling wildlife populations that result in the death of individuals from the target population<\/p>\n

<\/a>LIMITING NUTRIENT <\/strong>
\na nutrient in limited supply relative to others that when exhausted prevents further growth of an organism<\/p>\n

<\/a>MACRONUTRIENT<\/strong>
\nin the case of plants, phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium; a nutrient needed in large amounts for normal growth to occur<\/p>\n

<\/a>MATRIARCH <\/strong>
\nthe female who is the leader of a family unit<\/p>\n

<\/a>MICROORGANISM <\/strong>
\nan organism that cannot be seen with the human eye<\/p>\n

<\/a>MICROSCOPY<\/strong>
\nthe practice of using a microscope to study objects<\/p>\n

<\/a>MIDDLE EAST <\/strong>
\ngeographic region northeast of Africa and southwest of Asia that contains the country Syria<\/p>\n

<\/a>MIOCENE AGE <\/strong>
\nthe first geological epoch of the Neogene period and extends from about 23.03 to 5.332 million years ago, this time period had a warmer global climate<\/p>\n

<\/a>MISSISSIPPI RIVER BASIN<\/strong>
\nthe area covering much of the central United States that includes tributaries that drain into the Mississippi River<\/p>\n

<\/a>MOBBING <\/strong>
\nwhen more than one adult male attempts to mount a female in heat; often leads to serious injury and has been linked to a boost in testosterone and uneven distribution of gender in a population<\/p>\n

<\/a>MODIS IMAGES <\/strong>
\nModerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer; a satellite imaging instrument that views the entire Earth\u2019s surface every 1-2 days<\/p>\n

<\/a>MONOCROP<\/strong>
\na single crop produced year after year on the same land that is economically efficient but ultimately damaging to soil ecology<\/p>\n

<\/a>MONSANTO<\/strong>
\nan American multinational chemical and agricultural biotechnology company; the leading producer of genetically engineered seeds<\/p>\n

<\/a>MUSTH<\/strong>
\na period in which a bull (male) elephant is ready to mate, characterized by increased aggression and a surge of reproductive hormones – mainly testosterone<\/p>\n

<\/a>NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES <\/strong>
\na non-profit society established by the U.S. congress in 1863 in order to provide independent and objective consultation on matters related to science and technology<\/p>\n

<\/a>NATIONAL PARKS <\/strong>
\nan area of land set aside by the national government of a country specifically for the purpose of safeguarding nature and wildlife biodiversity<\/p>\n

<\/a>NATIONAL TIGER RECOVERY PROGRAM <\/strong>
\na conservation program enacted in 2011 by the Ministry of Forestry in Indonesia with the goal of doubling the number of wild Sumatran tigers by 2022<\/p>\n

<\/a>NATURAL GAS <\/strong>
\na combustible mixture of gaseous hydrocarbons consisting mostly of methane<\/p>\n

<\/a>NEBRASKA SANDHILLS <\/strong>
\na region of mixed-grass prairie on grass-stabilized sand dunes, it is the largest sand dune formation in the western hemisphere<\/p>\n

<\/a>NO-TILL <\/strong>
\ngrowing crops without disturbing the soil through tilling or plowing in order to increase soil organic matter and decrease soil erosion<\/p>\n

<\/a>NOBLE GAS <\/strong>
\nany of the gaseous elements helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon, occupying Group 0 (18) of the periodic table that are believed to be unreactive<\/p>\n

<\/a>NON-GMO PROJECT <\/strong>
\na non-profit organization that verifies non-GMO products and educates consumers<\/p>\n

<\/a>NON-LETHAL CONTROL <\/strong>
\na method of controlling wildlife populations through actions that do not harm the health of the target population<\/p>\n

<\/a>NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE <\/strong>
\nthe order in which nucleotides are situated in a chain relative to one another, which provide the template of a particular amino acid<\/p>\n

<\/a>OCEAN ACIDIFICATION<\/strong>
\nthe decrease of pH levels in the ocean due to the uptake of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere<\/p>\n

<\/a>OGALLALA AQUIFER <\/strong>
\nan aquifer located on the High Plains in the United States, it is composed of clay, sand, silt, and gravel<\/p>\n

<\/a>OZONE LAYER <\/strong>
\na region of Earth\u2019s atmosphere that absorbs most of the Sun\u2019s ultraviolet (UV) radiation<\/p>\n

<\/a>PAPAYA RINGSPOT VIRUS (PRSV) <\/strong>
\na virus that infects papayas and is transmitted by aphids. Infested papayas exhibits yellowing, leaf distortion, and severe mosaic. The papaya fruit will have bumps and a \u201cringspot\u201d.<\/p>\n

<\/a>PARTICULATE MATTER <\/strong>
\npieces of matter small enough to remain suspended in the the air for long periods of time<\/p>\n

<\/a>PARTURITION <\/strong>
\ngiving birth; synonymous with pupping<\/p>\n

<\/a>PATHOGEN <\/strong>
\na bacterial, viral, or fungal agent of disease<\/p>\n

<\/a>PESTICIDE<\/strong>
\na substance that is used to prevent or kill animals or insects that damage plants of crops<\/p>\n

<\/a>PETROLEUM HYDROCARBONS<\/strong>
\nthe primary molecular constituent in oil, gasoline, diesel, and other petroleum products; the simplest of organic compounds containing only carbon and hydrogen atoms<\/p>\n

<\/a>PHLOEM <\/strong>
\na complex tissue in the vascular system of high plants like trees; responsible for the translocation and storage of nutrients and water<\/p>\n

<\/a>PHOTOSYNTHESIS <\/strong>
\nthe conversion of sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water into glucose and oxygen by organisms for use as energy<\/p>\n

<\/a>PLANKTIVOROUS <\/strong>
\nreferring to planktivore, an aquatic organism that feeds on zooplankton and phytoplankton<\/p>\n

<\/a>PLANKTON <\/strong>
\nmicroscopic organisms that float freely in marine and fresh bodies of water PM10 particulate matter less than 10 micrometers in diameter<\/p>\n

<\/a>PM10 <\/strong>
\nparticulate matter less than 10 micrometers in diameter<\/p>\n

<\/a>POACHING <\/strong>
\nthe illegal hunting, killing, or capturing of wild animals<\/p>\n

<\/a>POLLINATE <\/strong>
\nthe transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigma of a plant often from one plan to another<\/p>\n

<\/a>POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS (PCBS) <\/strong>
\na broad range of man-made chemicals used as a coolant and flame retardant; a chemical known to be carcinogenic, neurotoxic, and cause developmental and reproductive disorders<\/p>\n

<\/a>POLYMER SHEET <\/strong>
\na chemical compound or mixture of compounds formed by polymerization and consisting essentially of repeating structural units<\/p>\n

<\/a>POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION (PCR)<\/strong>
\na method to amplify copies of DNA using many cycles of DNA denaturation, primer annealing, and DNA polymerization<\/p>\n

<\/a>POLYP<\/strong>
\nthe individual base of a coral; sedentary form of a coelenterate<\/p>\n

<\/a>POPULATION<\/strong>
\na group of organisms that are of the same species, which reside in the same general geographic location and are able to interact and breed<\/p>\n

<\/a>PRECIPITATION <\/strong>
\nweather activity in the form of rainfall, hail, or snowfall<\/p>\n

<\/a>PRESERVE<\/strong>
\na protected area set aside for the refuge and safety of plants and animals<\/p>\n

<\/a>PRIMARY FOREST <\/strong>
\nmature forests of native trees that have not been affected by deforestation<\/p>\n

<\/a>PROPAGANDA <\/strong>
\nuse of communications to try and influence a person or group of people with often biased information<\/p>\n

<\/a>QUANTIFIABLE <\/strong>
\nthe ability to be expressed or measured in terms of quantity<\/p>\n

<\/a>QUARANTINE <\/strong>
\na state of enforced isolation, often imposed when a human or animal has been exposed to an infectious disease<\/p>\n

<\/a>RADIOACTIVE <\/strong>
\natoms that spontaneously emit subatomic particles and\/or energy; emitting ionizing radiation when decaying<\/p>\n

<\/a>RADIONUCLIDE <\/strong>
\natoms with an unstable nucleus, characterized by the availability of excessive energy; can be naturally occurring or artificially produced<\/p>\n

<\/a>RANCH HAND <\/strong>
\nan U.S. Military Operation during the Vietnam War that involved spraying millions of liters of herbicide in order to rid Vietnam of crops and vegetation to expose roads and trails used by the Viet Cong<\/p>\n

<\/a>REDUCING EMISSIONS FROM DEFORESTATION AND FOREST DEGRADATION (REDD) <\/strong>
\na mechanism to mitigate climate change through reducing net greenhouse gas emissions; under negotiation by the United Nations<\/p>\n

<\/a>RESERVOIR <\/strong>
\na natural or artificial body of water that is used to store water<\/p>\n

<\/a>REVERSE OSMOSIS <\/strong>
\na process by which a solvent passes through a porous membrane in the direction opposite to that for natural osmosis when subjected to a hydrostatic pressure greater than the osmotic pressure<\/p>\n

<\/a>RNA<\/strong>
\nribonucleic acid; a molecular structure present in all living cells that carries and transmits commands to build proteins<\/p>\n

<\/a>ROTOR<\/strong>
\nthe non-stationary part of a rotary motor or generator; contains electromagnets which are used by the generator to induce an electrical current<\/p>\n

<\/a>ROUNDTABLE ON SUSTAINABLE PALM OIL (RSPO) <\/strong>
\na non-profit organization that aims to transform markets towards sustainable palm oil<\/p>\n

<\/a>RUNOFF<\/strong>
\nthe portion of precipitation on land that is not absorbed by the ground but instead flows into nearby waterways; waste products that are carried by rain into surface waters<\/p>\n

<\/a>RUST BELT <\/strong>
\nreferring to economic decline in a region of the United States surrounding the Great Lakes<\/p>\n

<\/a>SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT <\/strong>
\nFederal law setting standards for water quality across the United States to be enforced primarily by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency<\/p>\n

<\/a>SALMONIDS<\/strong>
\na fish belonging to the family Salmonidae which includes the salmon, trout, and whitefish<\/p>\n

<\/a>SANCTUARY<\/strong>
\na protected area set aside for the refuge and safety of plants and animals<\/p>\n

<\/a>SECONDARY PRODUCTION <\/strong>
\nthe rate at which primary consumer organisms convert food into their own biomass<\/p>\n

<\/a>SEDIMENT<\/strong>
\na solid material that moves and settles in a different location, often from erosion<\/p>\n

<\/a>SESSILE<\/strong>
\nan organism that is immobile or fixed to one place<\/p>\n

<\/a>SHOAL<\/strong>
\na piece of land where moving water promotes sediment deposition, such as a sandbar<\/p>\n

<\/a>SIERRA NEVADA MOUNTAIN RANGE <\/strong>
\nmountain range in the western United States between the Central Valley of California and the Basin and Range Province, the majority of the range lies in California<\/p>\n

<\/a>SNOWPACK<\/strong>
\na layer of compacted snow on the ground that often accumulates in high altitudes for long periods of time<\/p>\n

<\/a>STAND<\/strong>
\na contiguous area that contains a number of trees that are relatively homogeneous or have a common set of characteristics.<\/p>\n

<\/a>STATOR<\/strong>
\nthe stationary part of a rotary motor or generator; contains conductors on which electric current is induced by the rotation of the rotor<\/p>\n

<\/a>SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP <\/strong>
\na close relationship between two organisms in which they mutually benefit<\/p>\n

<\/a>THERMAL PROCESS<\/strong>
\na process by which phosphate rock is heated to create phosphorus pentoxide, which is then dissolved in dilute phosphoric acid to form very pure phosphoric acid<\/p>\n

<\/a>THYROID CANCER <\/strong>
\ncancer originating in the thyroid gland, which is located in the front of the neck<\/p>\n

<\/a>TOPOGRAPHY<\/strong>
\nsurface features or an area or a region on a map<\/p>\n

<\/a>TRANSLOCATION <\/strong>
\nimmobilizing and transporting one or more individuals of a population from an area of high population density to an area of lower population density where they will have less of an environmental impact<\/p>\n

<\/a>TROPICAL STORM <\/strong>
\na localized, powerful storm that forms in tropical areas<\/p>\n

<\/a>TSUNAMI<\/strong>
\na series of high sea waves caused by an earthquake, submarine landslide, or other disturbance<\/p>\n

<\/a>TURBIDITY<\/strong>
\na measure of the amount of suspended solids in water<\/p>\n

<\/a>VASCULAR<\/strong>
\nof or relating to a channel for the conveyance of a body fluid (as blood of an animal or sap of a plant)<\/p>\n

<\/a>VIRUS<\/strong>
\nan acellular particle containing a genome that can replicate only inside a cell; a noncellular pathogen<\/p>\n

<\/a>WATER STRESS<\/strong>
\na lack of sufficient water resources available to meet the demands of water usage<\/p>\n

<\/a>WATER TABLE<\/strong>
\nthe planar level at which water saturated soil or rock meets unsaturated ground<\/p>\n

<\/a>WEANING<\/strong>
\na period in which young mammals transition to sources of food other than their mother\u2019s milk<\/p>\n

<\/a>WESTERLIES<\/strong>
\nconsisting of the winds that blow from the west towards the east; a belt of major air currents in the mid-latitudes of the northern and southern hemispheres<\/p>\n

<\/a>WET ACID PROCESS<\/strong>
\na process by which phosphate rock is dissolved in sulfuric acid forming phosphoric acid and waste products<\/p>\n

<\/a>WICKET GATE<\/strong>
\ndoors used to control the rate of water intake through a generator\u2019s turbine<\/p>\n

<\/a>WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO)<\/strong>
\nan agency of the United Nations that promotes health and control of diseases around the world<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23485,"menu_order":3,"template":"","meta":{"_candela_citation":"false","CANDELA_OUTCOMES_GUID":"","pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"back-matter-type":[37],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-406","back-matter","type-back-matter","status-publish","hentry","back-matter-type-glossary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-monroe-environmentalbiology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/back-matter\/406","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-monroe-environmentalbiology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/back-matter"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-monroe-environmentalbiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/back-matter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-monroe-environmentalbiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23485"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-monroe-environmentalbiology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/back-matter\/406\/revisions"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-monroe-environmentalbiology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/back-matter\/406\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-monroe-environmentalbiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=406"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"back-matter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-monroe-environmentalbiology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/back-matter-type?post=406"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-monroe-environmentalbiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=406"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-monroe-environmentalbiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=406"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}