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Algae: A primitive photosynthetic organism similar to plants, but lacking many organs that plants possess
Algae blooms: Rapid and large algal growths
Algal density: Number of algal cells per millilitre of water (cells/mL)
Anoxic: Severe hypoxia. Without oxygen
Aquatic plants: Plants living underwater
Bacterial decomposition: The process of rot or decay caused by bacteria
Benthic : Referring to animals or plants living on the bottom of a water body; for example, barnacles on a rock in the estuary
Catchment : A basin or reservoir that collects water. For example, some water in the Peel-Harvey catchment flows into the Peel-Harvey estuarine system
Category: Labels of low, moderate or high assigned to data within this project (see Level)
Chlorophyll-a: A chemical used in photosynthesis to capture sunlight which is eventually turned into sugars (chemical energy). Measuring Chlorophyll-a indicates the amount of phytoplankton in water
Crash (algal): Death of an algae bloom
Decompose: The process of rot or decay
Dissolved oxygen (DO): The concentration of oxygen in water. Dissolved oxygen can be measured in milligrams per litre (mg/L) or percentage saturation (%)
Effluent: Discharge of waste or water
Eutrophication: Deterioration of a waterway resulting from nutrient enrichment
Flora: A general term used to describe organisms that lack locomotion such as plants, algae or fungi
Hypersalinity: Concentrations of salinity exceed 35 mg/L or 35 ppt
Hypoxic: Level of oxygen below an organism's requirements
Level (of a water quality variable): The value associated with determining a category for data within this project. For example, Low is less than 0.41mg/L (in this case 0.41mg/L is the level and Low is the category)
Macroalgae: Algae that can be seen with the naked eye
mg/L: Milligrams per litre
Microscopic: Too small to be seen with the naked eye
Nitrogen: Essential for all living things. A nutrient used by algae
Nutrient: A substance used by organisms to produce energy or build tissue
Percentiles: The nth percentile has the nth percentage of data behind it. For example, the 10th percentile is greater than 10 per cent of the data
pH: The acidity (pH<7), neutrality (pH=7) or alkalinity (pH>7) of a substance. Uses a scale from 0-14
Phosphorous: Essential for all living things. A nutrient used by algae
Photosynthesis: The synthesis of sugars from carbon dioxide and water using sunlight. Oxygen is a by-product of this reaction
Sunlight
Carbon dioxide + Water ————> Sugars + Oxygen
Phytoplankton: Microscopic photosynthetic organisms living in the sunlit zone in water
Pollen: Microscopic spores from flowers. Large amounts of pollen on water can appear like a pale, creamy coloured scum
ppt (parts per thousand): Units commonly used to describe salinity. Equivalent to milligrams per litre (mg/L)
Run off: Rainfall exceeding the ability for soil to absorb it. The resulting surface water washes away
Salinity: A term describing the amount of salt in water. Salinity can be measured in milligrams per litre (mg/L) or parts per thousand (ppt)
Shellfish: An aquatic animal with a hard calcium outside covering, such as a mussel or oyster
Supersaturated DO: Concentrations of dissolved oxygen exceed 100 per cent
Tannins: A brown colour in water that comes from decomposing plant matter
Turbidity: The amount of light that is absorbed by particles in water. Particles in water may include mud or algae. Turbidity is measured in nephelometric turbidity units (NTU)
Water body: A collection of water, for example a lake, ocean river or pond
Water quality variable: A measurable constituent of water. For example dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, chlorophyll-a are water quality variables
Resources used to complete Glossary
Biology Online.Org 2007, viewed 16 July 2008, <http://www.biology-online.org/dictionary/>
Baptist G, Meritt D & Webster D 2007, Growing microalgae to feed bivalve larvae, Northeastern Regional Aquaculture Centre, Maryland USA, viewed 16 July 2008, <http://www.ca.uky.edu/wkrec/AlgaeGrowNRAC-160.htm>
Chambers J, Hosja W, Begum A, Mykytiuk C, Hale J, & Latchford J (2005) Scum Book: A guide to common algae and aquatic plants in wetlands and estuaries of south-western Australia. Murdoch University and Department of Environment, Western Australia
2008, Pink Monkey.com, viewed 16 July 2008, <http://www.pinkmonkey.com/studyguides/subjects/stats/chap5/s0505701.asp>
Land Assessment Pty Ltd 2005, Peel-Harvey catchment natural resource management plan - draft for public comment, Peel-Harvey Catchment Council Inc, Mandurah, Western Australia, viewed 16 July 2008, <http://www.peel-harvey.org.au/pdfs/pub_res/Draft%20P-H%20NRM%20Plan%20Exec%20Sum%202005%20Final.pdf>
2002, iVillage & garden website, viewed 16 July 2008, <http://glossary.gardenweb.com/glossary/algae_bloom.html>