Aerobic Digestion
Breakdown of organic material using oxygen, producing carbon dioxide.
Air entrainment
Entrapment of air bubbles and pockets during periods of turbulent flow in a water course, increasing concentrations of dissolved gases such as oxygen in the water.
Algal bloom
Rapid growth in the population algae often accumulating to concentrations of up to millions of cells per millilitre (ml), characterised by discolouration of the water, and sometimes followed by thick blankets of dead algae that float on the surface.
Anaerobic Digestion
Breakdown of organic material in the absence of oxygen, producing the biogas methane which can be harnessed to create bio-energy.
Autotrophic
An organism capable of synthesizing its own food from inorganic substances, using light or chemical energy. Green plants, algae, and certain bacteria are autotrophs.
Biocrops
Plants grown for the purpose of generating biofuel, often yielding high levels of either lipids (biodiesel), starch or sugars (bioethanol).
Biofouling
The accumulation of organisms or other organic matter on wetted surfaces. It has two categories:
- Micro-fouling refers to a film of microorganisms (biofilm), including bacteria.
- Macro-fouling refers to attachment of larger organisms.
Biofuel
Fuel whose energy is derived from biological carbon fixation, i.e. growing plants (biocrops) in order to harvest them as biomass for (bio)energy. It is considered "carbon-lean", meaning it is not quite carbon-neutral.
Biomass Productivity
Describes the rate of generation of biomass in an ecosystem, expressed as units of mass produced per unit area (or per unit volme), per unit of time. For example grams of carbon produced per square meter per year.
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
Commonly occur during periods of prolonged hot weather and occasionally at other times of the year. Water polluted by agricultural, domestic or industrial discharges are prone to developing blue-green algae.
The toxins released by blue-green algae are capable of causing death to animals that may either drink contaminated water or swallow quantities of algae scum, shoreline matter or crust (dogs have been killed from swimming in lochs affected by the algae), while people who have either come into contact or swallowed it have suffered skin rashes, eye irritation, muscle and joint pain, vomiting and diarrhoea. Drinking water supplies are monitored to eliminate these toxins.
The toxins released by blue-green algae are capable of causing death to animals that may either drink contaminated water or swallow quantities of algae scum, shoreline matter or crust (dogs have been killed from swimming in lochs affected by the algae), while people who have either come into contact or swallowed it have suffered skin rashes, eye irritation, muscle and joint pain, vomiting and diarrhoea. Drinking water supplies are monitored to eliminate these toxins.
Fertiliser
Natural or synthetic material high in nitrates and usually phosphates that is added to a soil to encourage high rate growth of plants. Fertilisers are essential for high yield harvests.
Hypoxia
The process of Oxygen depletion in aquatic environments where the concentration of dissolved oxygen (DO) is reduced to a point where it becomes detrimental for aquatic organisms living in the system.
Life Cycle Analysis
A method used to holistically assess environmental impacts associated with all the stages of a product's life, from cradle-to-grave.
Limnic
Refers to bodies of water containing low concentrations of dissolved salts, such as ponds and lakes, streams and rivers.
Monoculture
Cultivation of a single species of algae, as opposed to a Polyculture
Open Ponds
May be natural (lakes) or man made (raceway type ponds) in which to cultivate algae. Ponds are usually open to the elements which makes them vulnerable to contamination by competing or predator organisms. Sealed open ponds retain heat for longer, extending the seasonal growth period.
Photo-bioreactor
A sealed or semi-sealed system in which algae is cultivated, providing controlled temperature, pH, carbon dioxide, nutrient and light levels as well as mixing to optimise growth.
Polyculture
Cultivation of a range of algae species together in a single area.
Primary producers
Autotrophic organisms that synthesise organic materials from inorganic ones, introducing new organic material for the primary consumers to feed upon.
River load
The eroded material (sand, gravel, mud etc) carried either in suspension (Suspended load) or along the river bed (Bed load).
Taxonomy
The classification of organisms according to the taxonomic hierarchy where each species belongs to a genus, which in turn belongs to a family, and order, class, phylum, and finally kingdom.
Turbidity
The cloudiness of a fluid caused by individual particles (suspended solids, such as algae or silt) that are usually invisible to the naked eye.