Definition of Terms
There are many scientific terms used with stream science related to ecology, geology, hydrology, waste water, and the tools used to test our parameters. Below is a list of terms and an attempt to help you better understand concepts in Watershed Science.
Hydrology- the science dealing with the occurrence, circulation, distribution, and properties of the waters of the earth and its atmosphere.(The study of water in its many forms.)
Geology- the science that deals with the dynamics and physical history of the earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the physical, chemical, and biological changes that the earth has undergone or is undergoing. (The study of rocks and how the earth's features change.)
Biology- the science of life or living matter in all its forms and phenomena, esp. with reference to origin, growth, reproduction, structure, and behavior. (The study of living organisms or things.)
Ecology- the branch of biology dealing with the relations and interactions between organisms and their environment, including other organisms. (The study of living and non living interactions.)
Water quality- the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water in relationship to a set of standards.
pH- the symbol for the logarithm of the reciprocal of hydrogen ion concentration in gram atoms per liter, used to express the acidity or alkalinity of a solution on a scale of 0 to 14, where less than 7 represents acidity, 7 neutrality, and more than 7 alkalinity. (How basic or acidic a solution is.) pH can affect the health of aquatic animals, insects and plants. For instance, most trout in the area do best with pH levels 5-9. Below is a pH scale with household items to help you get better aquainted with acidic and basic solutions.
This image was borrowed from wikimedia.org
D.O.- an abbreviation for dissoled oxygen, which is the amount of oxygen dissolved in a body of water as an indication of the degree of health of the water and its ability to support a balanced aquatic ecosystem; also, the amount of free (not chemically combined) oxygen dissolved in water, wastewater, or other liquid, usually expressed in milligrams per liter, parts per million, or percent of saturation. (How much oxygen is in a certain solution or how much oxygen is needed to support aquatic life.) For most critters around the Gallatin, specifically aquatic insects and fish, seem to do well in higher concentrations of 80% and above.
This image was borrowed from www-tc.pbs.org
Nitrate-is a biovailable form of nitrogen. Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for plants and animals. Just like adding nitrogen (ile. fertilizer) to a garden helps vegetables to grow, adding nitrogen to a stream can cause increased plant growth in the form of aquatic algae. Excessive algal growth can have negative impacts, including low dissolved oxyten, unsightly conditions, and poor habitat conditions for fish and other aquatic organisms. Sources of streamwater nitrate include organic matter, the atmosphere, geology, human and animal waste, and fertilizers. Levels in and around the Gallatin watershed have increased at a similar interval as increased human development and population numbers. This is a normal trend but should be closely monitored so that unhealthy concentrations will not affect aquatic life.
Temperature- a measure of the warmth or coldness of an object or substance with reference to some standard value. The temperature of two systems is the same when the systems are in thermal equilibrium. ( How warm or cold something is.) Temperature can effect aquatic life populations like fish, macro's and algal masses. Although many parameters affect algal growth, one strong indicator of increased algal growth is warmer temps. Most data you find on this website is in Celsius, below is a cinversion chart to help better understand relationship to F.
This image borrowed from www.timwerx.net
Turbidity- not clear or transparent because of stirred-up sediment or the like; clouded; opaque; obscured. (How much sediment or "dirt" is in an area of water.) In our area there are obvious times when turbidity should be more clouded like snow melt and run-off. During times of the year that we don't encounter spring run-off and waters are cloudy or apaque might be contributed to improper drainage or geological occurances. Below are some examples of different turbidity levels ranging from 10- 250.
This image borrowed from www.water.ncsu.edu
E. coli- Escherichia coli (commonly E. coli; is a bacterium that is commonly found in the lower intestine of warm-blooded animals. Most E. coli strains are harmless, but some, can cause serious uncomfort in humans. (A bactria that can make humans sick.)
Total coliform- the most basic test for bacterial contamination of a water supply is the test for total coliform bacteria. Total coliform counts give a general indication of the sanitary condition of a water supply. (Total coliforms include bacteria that are found in the soil, in water that has been influenced by surface water, and in human or animal waste.) Obvious concerns lie here when we spend summer months recreating in our watershed and some higher levels of total coliform can cause sickness in humans. To give you a better understanding of how coliform enters a watershed an example is shown below.
This image borrowed from www.ars.usda.gov
Algal biomass- any of numerous groups of chlorophyll-containing, mainly aquatic eukaryotic organisms ranging from microscopic single-celled forms to multicellular forms 100 ft. (30 m) or more long, distinguished from plants by the absence of true roots, stems, and leaves and by a lack of nonreproductive cells in the reproductive structures. (Green, sometimes white, slimy algae.) We have seen an increase in algal growth. Algal gwoth can indicate warmer temps, higher nitrate levels or invasive species being transported into the watershed. Algal growth is also natural during summer months when the temps are warmer and more sunlight is present for photsynthesis.
Stream insects- These are what some people refer to as benthic macroinvertebrates which are insects that often live on the bottom of stream beds, usually protected under rocks which can help indicate the health of a body of water. These insects can include mayflies, stoneflies, caddisflies, aquatic worms, black flies, midges, etc.
This image borrowed from www.waterwatch.org.au
Conductivity- Electrical conductivity (EC) estimates the amount of total dissolved salts (TDS), or the total amount of dissolved ions in the water. Although salinity, measured as electrical conductivity, can be naturally high in some systems, waters with elevated salinity levels are usually the result of both nonpoint (non-traceable) and point (traceable) source pollution and can adversly impact aquatic ecosystems. High levels of EC can inhibit plant and animal life.
These definitions were borrowed from Dictionary.com
Hydrology- the science dealing with the occurrence, circulation, distribution, and properties of the waters of the earth and its atmosphere.(The study of water in its many forms.)
Geology- the science that deals with the dynamics and physical history of the earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the physical, chemical, and biological changes that the earth has undergone or is undergoing. (The study of rocks and how the earth's features change.)
Biology- the science of life or living matter in all its forms and phenomena, esp. with reference to origin, growth, reproduction, structure, and behavior. (The study of living organisms or things.)
Ecology- the branch of biology dealing with the relations and interactions between organisms and their environment, including other organisms. (The study of living and non living interactions.)
Water quality- the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water in relationship to a set of standards.
pH- the symbol for the logarithm of the reciprocal of hydrogen ion concentration in gram atoms per liter, used to express the acidity or alkalinity of a solution on a scale of 0 to 14, where less than 7 represents acidity, 7 neutrality, and more than 7 alkalinity. (How basic or acidic a solution is.) pH can affect the health of aquatic animals, insects and plants. For instance, most trout in the area do best with pH levels 5-9. Below is a pH scale with household items to help you get better aquainted with acidic and basic solutions.
This image was borrowed from wikimedia.org
D.O.- an abbreviation for dissoled oxygen, which is the amount of oxygen dissolved in a body of water as an indication of the degree of health of the water and its ability to support a balanced aquatic ecosystem; also, the amount of free (not chemically combined) oxygen dissolved in water, wastewater, or other liquid, usually expressed in milligrams per liter, parts per million, or percent of saturation. (How much oxygen is in a certain solution or how much oxygen is needed to support aquatic life.) For most critters around the Gallatin, specifically aquatic insects and fish, seem to do well in higher concentrations of 80% and above.
This image was borrowed from www-tc.pbs.org
Nitrate-is a biovailable form of nitrogen. Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for plants and animals. Just like adding nitrogen (ile. fertilizer) to a garden helps vegetables to grow, adding nitrogen to a stream can cause increased plant growth in the form of aquatic algae. Excessive algal growth can have negative impacts, including low dissolved oxyten, unsightly conditions, and poor habitat conditions for fish and other aquatic organisms. Sources of streamwater nitrate include organic matter, the atmosphere, geology, human and animal waste, and fertilizers. Levels in and around the Gallatin watershed have increased at a similar interval as increased human development and population numbers. This is a normal trend but should be closely monitored so that unhealthy concentrations will not affect aquatic life.
Temperature- a measure of the warmth or coldness of an object or substance with reference to some standard value. The temperature of two systems is the same when the systems are in thermal equilibrium. ( How warm or cold something is.) Temperature can effect aquatic life populations like fish, macro's and algal masses. Although many parameters affect algal growth, one strong indicator of increased algal growth is warmer temps. Most data you find on this website is in Celsius, below is a cinversion chart to help better understand relationship to F.
This image borrowed from www.timwerx.net
Turbidity- not clear or transparent because of stirred-up sediment or the like; clouded; opaque; obscured. (How much sediment or "dirt" is in an area of water.) In our area there are obvious times when turbidity should be more clouded like snow melt and run-off. During times of the year that we don't encounter spring run-off and waters are cloudy or apaque might be contributed to improper drainage or geological occurances. Below are some examples of different turbidity levels ranging from 10- 250.
This image borrowed from www.water.ncsu.edu
E. coli- Escherichia coli (commonly E. coli; is a bacterium that is commonly found in the lower intestine of warm-blooded animals. Most E. coli strains are harmless, but some, can cause serious uncomfort in humans. (A bactria that can make humans sick.)
Total coliform- the most basic test for bacterial contamination of a water supply is the test for total coliform bacteria. Total coliform counts give a general indication of the sanitary condition of a water supply. (Total coliforms include bacteria that are found in the soil, in water that has been influenced by surface water, and in human or animal waste.) Obvious concerns lie here when we spend summer months recreating in our watershed and some higher levels of total coliform can cause sickness in humans. To give you a better understanding of how coliform enters a watershed an example is shown below.
This image borrowed from www.ars.usda.gov
Algal biomass- any of numerous groups of chlorophyll-containing, mainly aquatic eukaryotic organisms ranging from microscopic single-celled forms to multicellular forms 100 ft. (30 m) or more long, distinguished from plants by the absence of true roots, stems, and leaves and by a lack of nonreproductive cells in the reproductive structures. (Green, sometimes white, slimy algae.) We have seen an increase in algal growth. Algal gwoth can indicate warmer temps, higher nitrate levels or invasive species being transported into the watershed. Algal growth is also natural during summer months when the temps are warmer and more sunlight is present for photsynthesis.
Stream insects- These are what some people refer to as benthic macroinvertebrates which are insects that often live on the bottom of stream beds, usually protected under rocks which can help indicate the health of a body of water. These insects can include mayflies, stoneflies, caddisflies, aquatic worms, black flies, midges, etc.
This image borrowed from www.waterwatch.org.au
Conductivity- Electrical conductivity (EC) estimates the amount of total dissolved salts (TDS), or the total amount of dissolved ions in the water. Although salinity, measured as electrical conductivity, can be naturally high in some systems, waters with elevated salinity levels are usually the result of both nonpoint (non-traceable) and point (traceable) source pollution and can adversly impact aquatic ecosystems. High levels of EC can inhibit plant and animal life.
These definitions were borrowed from Dictionary.com
