Monitoring Freshwater Streams Vocabulary ~ Mr. Nansen

Pollution that enters a stream from one identified, specific source is considered ___________. For example, from pipes

Point Source Pollution

A widely spread source of pollution that is difficult to link to one specific source is called ___. For example, runoff from fertilizer or oil from cars and parking lots

Non-Point Source Pollution

A body of land that stores water is called a ____________.

Yorktown is part of the Croton __________.

watershed

When heavy rains and other forms of precipitation carry or wash away sediments, litter, and other pollutants from the land, this is referred to as _____________________.

runoff

Without some sort of mitigation runoff will ________ (enter/leave) a body of water.

enter

The process of observing living organisms to determine the overall health of an ecosystem is called __________.

biomonitoring

The prefix "bio" means __________ and monitor means to watch or observe.

living

Bottom-dwelling organisms without a backbone that are large enough to see without the need for a microscope are known as ______________.

These organisms are collected, observed, and monitored to indicate stream health.

Benthic Macroinvertebrates

Benthic Macroinvertebrates live their entire _______ year life span within a square meter area.

one (1)

Benthic macroinvertebrates that are extremely sensitive to polluted water belong in _________.

Taxa 1

Benthic macroinvertebrates that are somewhat sensitive to polluted water belong in __________.

Taxa 2

Benthic macroinvertebrates that are tolerant (can live in) to pollution belong in ___________.

Taxa 3

A harmful toxin, chemical, sediment, or bacteria material discharged (brought) into the water, soil, or air is known as ___________.

pollution

Substances that cause pollution are known as ________.

Examples of ___ are motor oil, gasoline, lawn fertilizers, or dog waste.

pollutants

Invasive, reed-like plants that thrive (do very well) and rapidly (grow very fast) in water and wetland areas are called __________.

phragmites

Phragmites can clog streams and ___________ (reduce/increase) the amount of macroinvertebrates living in them.

reduce