ESCI Lab

Caliche

A hardened conglomeration of gravel, rock, and soil that contains sodium nitrate, potassium nitrate, etc.,

Loam

Soil composed of mixture of sand, silt, and clay that is ideal for plant growth

Density dependent

Limited based on size, area, and resources

Topsoil

the uppermost layer of soil that is rich in nutrients and organic matter

Density independent population

An unlimited increasing popn, with indefinite amounts of resources and area

Clay

A type of soil composed of very fine mineral particles that hold water well and are rich in nutrients.

Sand

A type of soil composed of larger mineral particles that allow for good drainage but do not hold water well

Silt

A type of soil composed of medium-sized mineral particles that hold water and
nutrients well

Erosion

The process of soil being washed or blown away, often caused by wind or water

Fertility

the ability of soil to support plant growth, often determined by its nutrient content.

pH

a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of soil, which can affect plant growth

Compaction

The process of soil becoming densely packed, which can limit root growth and nutrient uptake by plants

Biofuels

fuels produced from renewable resources such as plants, waste, and
algae.

Greenhouse gas emissions

releasing gases such as carbon dioxide and methane
that contribute to global warming and climate change

Lipids

organic compounds that make up the cellular membranes of algae and
are used to make biofuels.

Transesterification

the process of converting lipids into biofuels

Contamination

the presence of unwanted substances or organisms that can
affect the quality or purity of a culture

Photobioreactors

closed systems that grow algae that provide controlled
environmental conditions for higher yields

Arable land

Land suitable for growing crops

Compatibility

the ability of a fuel to work with an engine without cauding damage or performance issues

Government support

financial or other assistance the government provides to support research and development of a particular technology or industry

Production costs

The expenses involved in producing a product, including labor, materials, and equipment

Microalgae

Microscope unicellular algae, and there are thousands of species

Petroleum

A liquid fossil fuel formed from par;ally decomposed organic material (primarily
algae) that was buried under sedimentary rocks and subjected to high heat and pressure,
converting it to a liquid over hundreds of millions of years.

Feedstock

Regarding biofuels, the raw material used to make fuel (plant, algae, animal, fat)

Primary producers

Organisms like algae/plants that convert sunlight and CO2 into sugars through photosynthesis

Population growth rate

The rate at which the number of individuals in a population changes over a given period; a function of birth, death, emigration, and immigration rates

Limiting resource

The resource that determines how a population grows, usually the scarcest

Supernatant

The liquid lying above the material deposited by settling, precipitation,or centrifugation

Composite sample

A sample made by mixing two or more individual samples

Independent variable

The variables are manipulated in an experiment; independent variable levels correspond to experiment treatments. Also called the experimental variable.

Dependent variable

The variable that is expected to change in response to the level of the independent variable. Generally, the dependent variable (aka response variable) is measured to determine the experiment’s results