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Glossary of Wetland Terms |
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E. coli: Escherichia coli of the family Enterobacteriaceae; fecal coliform bacteria. E. coli is present in the lower intestine of humans and warm-blooded animals, but rarely present in unpolluted waters. ecology: the study of the interrelationships of organisms with each other and their nonliving environment. ecosystem: all organisms and their nonliving environment within a defined area. eel grass: submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) of the genus Zostera; found in coastal areas; has narrow, grass-like leaves and grows in dense masses. emergent vegetation: benthic plants that grow partly in water and partly emerging from water (e.g., cattails, arrow arum, pond lily, phragmites). encroach: to intrude gradually upon the area of another; to advance beyond proper limits. endangered species: organisms so rare or few in number that they are threatened with extinction. English ivy: Hedera helix; an exotic invasive plant, originally from Europe, that grows at the wood’s edge. English plantain: Plantago lanceoalata; an exotic invasive plant, originally from Europe, that grows in a clearing (meadow or field). environs: surroundings; environment. eradicate: to remove all traces of; to erase. erosion: process by which earth material is transported from one area to another by an agent such as water or wind. estuary: a place where fresh and salt water mix (e.g., a bay, salt marsh); a place where a river enters an ocean. eutrophication: a natural process in which there is an enrichment of water by nutrients, causing accelerated growth of algae and higher forms of plant life. evolution: any change in the overall genetic composition of a population of organisms from one generation to the next. exoskeleton: a hard, external body covering that provides support for tissues and organs and protects the organism from predators. Arthropods have exoskeletons. exotic species: non-native plants and animals living in the wild in areas outside their native boundaries. extinct: a species with no living members. All members of a species are dead; the end of a species. |
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