Adaptable/adapt - the ability to adjust to new conditions/change; adjusting to new conditions.

Algae - an umbrella term for varieties of simple, nonflowering, and typically aquatic organisms that includes seaweeds, slimes, and phytoplankton.

Barnacles - a marine crustacean with an external shell which attaches itself permanently to a variety of surfaces, mainly coastal rocks or wood. Barnacles feed by filtering particles from the water using their modified feathery legs.

Beach - a pebbly, sandy, or rocky shore, especially by the ocean between high- and low-water marks.

Biodegradable / compostable / compost - capable of being decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms.

Biodiversity / biodiverse - the species richness (the amount of different kinds of species an an ecosystem/area) and species evenness (how the species are spread out within the ecosystem/area) in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

Breeding grounds - an area where birds, fish, or other animals mate year to year.

Carbon dioxide - colorless, odorless gas produced by burning carbon and organic compounds. It is naturally present in air (about 0.03 percent) and is absorbed by plants through photosynthesis. Though it contributes to the earth's atmosphere, too much can become trapped, leading to the “greenhouse effect” and climate change.

Carbon sink - a forest, ocean, or other natural environment with the ability to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Chemical pollution - the presence or increase of chemical pollutants in the environment that are not naturally present there or are typically found in smaller amounts.

Climate change - the large-scale shifts in weather patterns across the globe driven by anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases.

Coastal grasslands (in New England/New York) - large (or small) areas of land dominated by grasses such as bluestem, switchgrass etc. that have generally nutrient poor but very well drained soils. This vegetation is particularly subject to wildfires or other disturbances, usually anthropogenic.

Coral - a diverse range of invertebrate animals found in different habitats around the globe. Some can be hard, while others are soft. Most corals are colonial (meaning they live in groups) and rely on tiny green algae inside of their skeleton or tissues to be able to convert sunlight into energy. These organisms are the building blocks of many reefs.

Critical habitat - a habitat area that is designated as the official habitat of an endangered or threatened species. These areas are designated conservation areas.

Decomposition - the state or process of rotting; decay.

Desiccate - to dry thoroughly; dry up.

Dredging - clean out the bed of (a harbor, river, or other area of water) by scooping out mud, weeds, and rubbish. This process is usually done to clear areas for development.

Drought - a long period of time where there is no rainfall which can lead to a water shortage.

Ecosystem services - the many and varied benefits to humans provided by the natural environment and from healthy ecosystems, such as the ability for plants to filter excess nutrients from water!

Eelgrass - a submerged aquatic vegetation with long ribbon-like leaves that grows in coastal waters and brackish inlets.

Endangered / endangered species - a species that is in danger of becoming extinct in the near future.

Erosion - surface processes that remove soil or rock from one location on the Earth's crust, and then transports it to another location.

Estuary - a partially enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea. Estuaries typically have brackish waters (a mixture or salty and fresh water) and act as nurseries for many fish and other marine animals.

Eutrophication - excessive nutrients in a lake or other body of water, frequently due to runoff from the land, which causes a dense growth of plant life and death of animal life from lack of oxygen.

Fertilizer(s) - a chemical or natural substance added to soil or land to increase its fertility.

Floatable debris - buoyant solid waste that pollutes waterways.

Fragmentation - the process or state of breaking or being broken into small or separate parts.

Greenhouse gas emissions / greenhouse gases - a gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect by absorbing infrared radiation and contributing to climate change (e.g., carbon dioxide, methane).

Harmful algal blooms / HABs - these happen when algae grows out of control, sometimes producing toxins that can endanger the health of fish, shellfish, marine mammals, birds, and even humans. Other nontoxic blooms can smother beaches, reefs, and aquatic organisms or consume all of the oxygen in the water, leading to hypoxia (definition below).

Herbicides - a substance that is toxic to plants, used to destroy unwanted vegetation.

High tidal mark / high tide - the state of the tide when at its highest level.

Hypoxia - when oxygen levels are very low in an environment so that fish and other oxygen consuming animals cannot survive.

Intertidal - an area of seashore which is covered at high tide and uncovered at low tide.

Intertidal channels - a narrow inlet that is affected by the ebb and flow of ocean tides.

Invasive species - a species of plant or animal that outcompetes other species causing damage to an ecosystem.

Low tidal mark / low tide - the state of the tide when at its lowest level.

Methane - a gas that is a product of biological decomposition of organic matter.

Microalgae - microscopic algae invisible to the naked eye living in both the open water and the sediments.

Microplastics - pieces of plastic debris that are less than 5 millimeters long. The most common types of microplastics are microfibers (typically from clothing) or microbeads.

Migratory season(s) - the movement of various species from one habitat to another during different times of the year.

Molt - (of an animal) shed old feathers, hair, or skin, or an old shell, to make way for a new growth.

Mutualistic relationship / mutualism - a relationship between organisms or animals that benefits both individuals in the relationship.

Native species - a species that originated and developed in its surrounding habitat and has adapted to living in that particular environment.

Nitrogen - naturally occurring nutrient that is essential for the growth of plants and other living organisms, , but can be problematic in excess. It is found in fertilizer and other waste and can reach bodies of water through storm-water runoff, leaching septic systems, etc.

Nitrogen loading - excessive amounts of nitrogen entering a body of water which can stimulate excessive growth of plant material.

Non-native species - a species that has been introduced by human action, either accidentally or deliberately, outside of its natural range.

Non-point sources / nonpoint source pollution - pollution resulting from many diffuse sources.

Nutrient pollution - a form of water pollution; contamination by excessive inputs of nutrients such as nitrogen or phosphorous.

Ocean acidification - the lowering of the pH of the ocean water over a long period of time related to carbon pollution which can cause issues for calcium-based-shelled organisms.

Peat - an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation or organic matter. Typically found in salt marshes.

Pelagic - inhabiting the upper layers of the open sea.

Pepperweed - an invasive plant species in New England salt marshes that cause harm to an environment by outcompeting other species for vital resources like nutrients and water.

Pesticides - a combination of chemicals used to destroy insects or other organisms harmful to (typically) agricultural plants or to animals.

Photosynthesis - process by which plants and other organisms use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to produce energy in the form of sugar.

Phragmites - an plant species that typically grows in salt marshes otherwise known as the common reed. In LIS, there are invasive and native varieties of this plant.

Plankton - small and microscopic organisms drifting or floating in the sea or fresh water that many animals feed on.

Point-sources / point-source pollution - pollution is from a single identifiable source of air, water, thermal, noise or light pollution.

Pollution - the introduction of a substance or material that has harmful or poisonous effects to the environment.

Productive / productivity (primary production) - when biological organic compounds are produced from inorganic materials through processes such as photosynthesis. Plants perform primary production regularly when they turn carbon dioxide in the atmosphere into food for themselves, as well as oxygen which humans rely on!

Recycle / recyclable / recycling - process of converting waste materials into new materials and objects.

Restoration - the action of returning something to a former condition.

Rocky intertidal zone - rocky shore; an area above water level at low tide and underwater at high tide.

Salt marsh - an area of coastal grassland that is regularly flooded by seawater from the tides.

Sea level rise - an increase in the level of the world's oceans due to the effects of climate change.

Seagrasses - an umbrella category for submerged aquatic grass-like plants that live in or close to the sea (e.g. eelgrass is a seagrass).

Sediments - matter such as clay, silt, gravel etc. that settles to the bottom of a liquid.

Sewage overflow - untreated sewage that is discharged from a sewer into the environment (the Hudson or LIS in the case) before reaching a sewage treatment facility.

Single use plastics - plastic goods that are meant to be disposed of after being used once.

Siphon - a long tube-like structure in certain aquatic molluscs that is used for breathing, locomotion (movement), feeding and reproduction.

Species richness - the number of different species in an ecological community, landscape or region.

Stormwater discharge / stormwater runoff - generated from rain and snowmelt that flows over land or impervious surfaces, such as paved streets, parking lots, and building rooftops, and does not soak into the ground.

Submerged aquatic vegetation beds / SAV beds - rooted, vascular plants that grow completely underwater in coastal waters and inland lakes.

Symbiosis - interaction between two different organisms living in close physical association, typically to the advantage of both.

Tidal - relating to or affected by tides.

Tidal flats / flats - coastal wetlands that form in intertidal areas where sediments have been deposited by tides or rivers.

Tidal marshes / tidal wetlands - an area which floods and drains by the tidal movement of the adjacent estuary, sea or ocean.

Tide Pools / tidal pools - a pool of salt water left (in a rock basin) by an ebbing tide.

Tides - the rising and falling of the sea, usually twice in a day, due to the attraction of the moon and sun.

Tributaries - a river or stream flowing into a larger river or lake.

Wetlands / wetland - land consisting of marshes or swamps; saturated land.

Wildfires - a large, destructive fire that spreads quickly over woodland or brush.

Wintering grounds - the area where an animal that migrates spends the part of the year when it is not breeding and raising young.