Vocabulary (PDF)

Key Words & Concepts (PDF)

adaptation – a modification in behavior, physical feature, or other characteristic that helps a living thing survive in its environment

aquatic – living all or nearly all of the life cycle in water; pertaining to water

archaeologist – a scientist who studies the buried remains of past human history

archaeology – the study of past human cultures by analyzing the materials (sites and artifacts) that people left behind

artifact – any object made, modified, or used by people

barge – a large, unpowered, flat-bottomed boat for transporting freight

best management practices (BMPs) – preferred actions taken to prevent pollution

buoyancy – the capacity to remain afloat in liquid; upward force of a fluid on an object less dense than itself

bow – the front of a boat

canoe – a slender boat with pointed ends, propelled by paddle

chronology – the order of events; a timeline

condensation – process of water changing from vapor back into liquid droplets

conservation – specialized care given to artifacts in order to preserve them

culture – a people’s unique behaviors, beliefs, and artifacts

decomposers – organisms that break down dead organic material and make the nutrients available again to the ecosystem

displacement – the weight or volume of fluid displaced (pushed out of place) by a vessel

endangered species - a species in danger of extinction (dying out)

erosion - breakdown or weathering of rocks, sediment or soil by wind, water, etc.

evaporation – process of water changing from liquid into vapor by application of heat

excavate – to dig an archaeological site

exotic species - a plant or animal introduced from a different area that competes with the native species

filter feeder – an animal that catches food drifting in the water

food chain - a series of plants and animals within an environment of which each kind serves as a source of nourishment (food) for the next in the series

food web - a complex, interlocking series of individual food chains

forest – an ecosystem in which trees are the most dominant member

fossil - any trace or remnant of a life form from a past geological age, embedded in rocks

fresh water marsh – a wetland where fresh (non-salty) water normally exists all year

geological epoch - a portion of a geological period

geological era - a basic division of geological time, composed of one or more periods

geological period - a portion of a geological era

geology - the study of the origin and history of the earth; the study of rocks

glacier - a large mass of slowly moving ice

ground water – water that flows or resides underground, including in water-rich layers called aquifers

habitat - the surroundings where a plant or animal lives and finds the resources it needs for life, including food, water, shelter, and space

herbivore – an animal that feeds primarily on plants

high water quality – usually defined by cooler water temperature, little suspended sediment, high level of oxygen, lack of pollutants, and many sensitive macroinvertebrate species

hull – the framework or body of a boat

Ice Age - common name for the time during which glaciers were abundant

impervious surface – land covering, such as concrete or asphalt, that does not allow water to pass through it into the ground

larvae – immature phase of development in insects, usually very different in appearance from the adult form (example: caterpillar, butterfly)

macroinvertebrate – an animal that lacks an internal skeleton and is big enough to be seen with the naked eye

native species - a species originally living or growing in a certain place

niche - the role or function a plant or animal has in a community

non-point source pollution – water pollution that comes from a large area such as a farm field, construction site, yard, streets or parking lots (also known as runoff pollution)

nutrient – element or substance (such as fertilizer or decayed leaves and grass) that supplies food for plant growth, but which in large concentrations can cause pollution

nymph – immature phase of development in insects, often somewhat similar in appearance to the adult form, but with no developed wings and smaller in size. (example: mayfly, mayfly nymph)

ocean – very large body of salt water

paddleboat – vessel for carrying passengers and cargo, propelled by a paddlewheels

point source pollution – water pollution that comes from a single point such as a pipe

pond - a still body of water smaller than a lake, often shallow enough for rooted plants to grow throughout

population - all of one kind of plants or animals in a specified area

prairie – a grassland community; ecosystem in which grasses are dominant

precipitation – water moving from the air to the ground, such as rain, snow, hail, or sleet

predator - an animal who eats other animals

prey - an animal that is eaten by another animal

river – a large natural stream of moving water that flows to a lake or ocean

runoff – water from snow melting or rain that flows over land to a river or other water body

sediment – particles of soil that can be carried by water or wind erosion – process by which soil, sediment or other materials are worn away and moved by water or wind

sedimentary - a classification of rocks created by deposits of sediment (particles of silt, sand, clay, etc.)

sensitive – not able to survive in poor quality water

stern – the rear of a boat

storm drain – opening in streets and parking lots through which runoff flows into underground pipes that lead to rivers, ponds or lakes (storm drains do not lead to a water treatment plant)

strata - layers of rock

surface water – water that flows or resides above ground in streams, lakes, rivers, and wetlands

tolerant – able to live in poor quality water systems; not sensitive

towboat – a powerful vessel used to push or tow barges

transpiration – process of water entering the atmosphere from plants

vessel – a craft designed to navigate on water; a boat, especially a large boat

water cycle – the continual process of water moving in various forms (liquid, vapor and solid) between, across, and through earth’s surface and earth’s atmosphere

watershed – the land area from where water flows to a given stream, river or lake water pollution – any substance that contaminates water making it unfit or unhealthy for use

wetland – a wet land with specialized soil and plants, regularly or always flooded, found on edges of rivers, creeks, ponds, lakes, depressions, bays or oceans