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Glossary of Wetland Terms |
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water column: a section of water extending from the surface of a body of water to its bottom. water penny: aquatic macroinvertebrate of the family Psepheridae; larvae are very flat oval or round shapes and are tan, brown, or black in color; have six small legs and cling to the undersides of rocks; sensitive to pollution. water quality index (WQI): a method for measuring water quality in rivers. Nine parameters are measured and weighted to develop the index: dissolved oxygen, fecal coliform, pH, biochemical oxygen demand, temperature change, total phosphates, nitrates, turbidity, and total solids. water snipe: aquatic macroinvertebrate; family Athericidae; pale green tapered body with many caterpillar-like legs, conical head, feathery "horns" and back end; somewhat sensitive to pollution. waterfowl: a swimming bird, usually frequenting freshwater areas. watershed: a land area that drains water to a particular stream, river, or lake. Its boundary can be identified by locating the highest points of land around the waterway. weed: a plant considered unattractive, undesirable, or troublesome. wetland: a lowland habitat, such as a marsh, swamp, or bog that has periodically waterlogged soils or is covered with a shallow layer of water resulting in reduced soil conditions, yet it still permits standing vegetation. wild celery: Vallisneria americana; native SAV; found in freshwater rivers and tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay. It has linear ribbon-like leaves, 1.5 m long and 1 cm wide, emerging from the base of the plant. zooplankton: a diverse group of small protists and animals, such as tiny crustaceans, that serve as food for larger freshwater and marine invertebrates. |
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