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Definition
| Characteristics exchanges/processes within an ecosystem |
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| Consists of all biological (living, biotic) and non-living (physical, chemical, abiotic) components of a given area. |
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| All organisms (living, biotic) in a given area |
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| Ecosystem functions that benefit humankind; human valuation of natural ecosystem properties or functions. |
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| Food, water, and other life-sustaining materials (most easily recognized by society) |
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| Affect things like climate, floods, disease, wastes, and water quality |
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| Recreation, spiritual, and aesthetic values |
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| Ecosystem functions that may not directly benefit people but help indirectly by keeping the habitat ecologically intact and functional. |
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| Plant-mediated improvement of water quality, especially by slowing down water and allowing for: volatilization, adsorption, settlement, direct plant uptake, and microbial processes to occur. |
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| Evaporation from a dissolved state to a gaseous state |
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Definition
| Binding to the sediment (e.g. Phosphorus binding to Calcium Carbonate sediment) |
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| Slow water movement through strands of plants allows particulate matter and adhered contaminants to settle out. |
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| Plants and bacteria can metabolize nutrients (esp. nitrogen and phosphorus) and sometimes contaminants. |
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| Microorganisms tranform ammonium into nitrate (via NITRIFICATION) and then into nitrogen gas (via DENITRIFICATION), which removes nutrients from water. |
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Definition
Weaken in force, intensity, or strength,
e.g. In general, every 2.7 miles of marsh inland attenuates storm surge by 1 foot. |
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Definition
| Native to an area (can grow invasively under disturbed conditions). |
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Definition
| Species not native to a region, but 'suddenly' appear (via "quantum leaps" not gradual expansion). |
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| 4 universal characteristics of invasive species |
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Definition
- Ability to grow rapidly and profusely (can be sexual or vegetative)
- Establishes a breeding population
- Highly stress tolerant (i.e. coastal wetland plants are hardy and easily adaptable)
- Cause a change in community composition or ecosystem processes
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Definition
| The susceptibilty of a community to invasion. |
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| Naturalized (populations) |
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Definition
| When an introduced/exotic species becomes established and reproductive |
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Definition
| On the bank of a natural waterway (usually freshwater) |
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Definition
| Wetlands where waterlogging delays decay, and dead plant material forms an organic soil (peat soil). |
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Definition
| Organic soil formed by dead plant material in wetlands (peatlands) where waterlogging has delayed decay. |
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Definition
| Cloudiness of water, usually caused by the suspension of particles. |
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Term
| "Wise Use" concept from Ramsar Convention |
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Definition
| "...maintenance of their (wetlands) ecological character, achieved through the implementation of ecosystem approaches, within the context of sustainable development" |
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Term
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Definition
For every one acre of wetland that is lost, at least one acre must be created/restored.
Enacted by President George H. W. Bush and expanded upon by President Bill Clinton. |
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| Those waterways that fall under state or federal regulatory authority (e.g. The Army Corps of Engineers) |
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Term
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Definition
| "Navigable-in-fact"-must be usable as a means of transportation (some states include recreational transportation). These waterways and adjacent (via HYDROLOGICAL CONNECTION) bodies of water require approval prior to pollutant or dredged material discharge under the Clean Water Act of 1977. |
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Term
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Definition
| Navigable waterways and adjacent water bodies (Clean Water Act of 1977). |
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Definition
| Continuous surface connection to navigable waterways |
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Definition
| Affect integrity of waters/wetlands connected to navigable waterways. |
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Definition
The level of flood water expected to be equaled or exceeded every 100 years on average
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Definition
| Shallow-depth, slow-velocity flow (e.g. Everglades), not concentrated into channels. |
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Term
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Definition
| Barrier across a river designed to alter the flow characteristics |
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