adapt – to modify, often to better respond to new conditions
aerate – to mix air with a substance (like soil or water)
agriculture – the practice of managing plants, animals, or fungi and their ecosystem to grow food, fiber, fuel, and medicines
anatomy – the study of bodily structures in both plants and animals
biodiversity – biological diversity in an environment, indicated by numbers of different species of plants and animals
biomass – living or previously living material; organic matter
botany – the study of plants
breeding – the processes which produce offspring for plants and animals
coastal – located at the water’s edge
coastal upland habitat – habitat along a coastline that is above the average high tide line
compost – a nutrient-rich soil amendment
cover crops – a crop grown specifically for the protection and enrichment of the soil
crop – any cultivated plant, fungus or algae that harvested by humans, for use as food, clothing, medicine, fuel, animal feed, etc.
crop rotation – the practice of changing what crop is planted on a parcel of land from season to season
cultivate – to prepare and care for something so that it grows and improves
dredge – to scoop out, often referring to removal of sediment in a river or harbor
ecology – a field of science that studies the relationships between living and non-living things
ecosystem – a community of plants, animals and their non-living environment
emergent wetland – wetland with upright, water-loving plants that are partially beneath and partially above the water
erosion – the process by which water and/or wind transport soil and sediment from one location to another
estuary – site where a river meets the ocean; often characterized by tidal changes and mixing of saltwater with freshwater
family – a group of species that share characteristics; e.g. mammals have fur and warm blood and give birth to live children
fertility – the ability to grow and support new life
forage – to seek plants to eat
freshwater wetland – habitat characterized by wet or flooded soils and plants that prefer to grow in fresh (not salty) water
groundwater- water found beneath the surface of the earth
habitat – home for plants and animals
integrated pest management – a pest and disease control method that encourages natural, environmentally friendly approaches and emphasizes the growth of a healthy crop with the least possible disruption to ecosystems
invasive species – a plant or animal introduced where it was not previously found, often by human disturbance; invasive species can lack predators and outcompete existing species for resources
littoral – relating to or situated on a shoreline
migration – when an organism moves from one region to another, often with a change of seasons.
migratory habitat – a location where animals that migrate pause for food and shelter
native – original to or originating from a particular place
nitrogen – an element that allows plants to make chlorophyll (the green in their leaves and stems) and are part of the building blocks of cells
nitrogen input – a source of nitrogen (an element essential for plant growth), such as vehicle emissions and chemical fertilizers; too many nitrogen inputs causes an overabundance in an ecosystem, with negative effects
non-point source pollution – pollution that comes not from one single area but from many areas, such as runoff from roadways or smog from highways
nutrient – a substance that provides nourishment essential for growth and the maintenance of life
organic matter – living or previously living material; biomass
organically grown – grown in a way which encourages the cultivation of soil life and organic matter
overharvesting – harvesting of a resource until it is no longer able to replenish itself
oxygen – an element that animals breathe in and that plants release during photosynthesis
pests – insects considered harmful to plants or animals
petroleum byproduct – material made using crude oil (gasoline, plastics, lubricants, asphalt)
photosynthesis – the process by which light from the sun helps plants make food from water and carbon dioxide in the air
pollinate – to move pollen from male flowers to female flowers, enabling production of fruit and seeds
pollutant – a substance that makes land, air, or water unsafe to use
predators – an organism that primarily obtains food by killing and consuming other organisms
rainwater capture – the process of catching and holding rainwater for later use
raised beds – a style of container for above-ground growing
restore – to bring back; return to its original condition
riprap – a type of coastal defense made from rocks and installed without mortar
row cover – a fabric used as protective covering for plants to extend growing season, and reduce effects of cold, wind, and insects
seawall – a constructed barrier protecting land from the potentially destructive processes of rivers and oceans
second growth – habitat that has regrown after a major disturbance such as fire, clear cutting, or pest damage
soil – the upper layer of earth in which plants grow, comprising a mixture of organic matter and mineral particles
stormwater runoff – water from rain and snow that moves across the land, and especially across hard surfaces like roads and parking lots, instead of being absorbed into the ground
sustainable – capable of remaining diverse and productive for long periods of time
swamp – a wetland that has trees which create a canopy
tidal salt marsh – brackish or saltwater coastal habitat that is flooded and drained by the tides, where specialized salt- and water-loving plants are found; considered among the most biologically productive habitats in the world
tide – the rise and fall of sea water, caused by rotation of the earth and by the moon and sun orbiting around it
trellis – a physical support for climbing plants
understory – a layer of vegetation beneath the canopy of a forest
upland – an area of higher land
urban ecology – the scientific study of the relationship between living organisms and non-living elements of in a city (urban) environment
water quality – the chemical, physical, and biological properties of water
watershed – an area of land that drains into a specific water body
wetland – land saturated with water for all or part of the year