Glossaries
Aquatic Life
Algae
A group of simple, non-vascular, aquatic organisms (protists) that conduct photosynthesis. [1]
Benthos
Bottom-dwelling organisms that live in running or still water. [1]
Caddisfly
An insect of the Order Trichoptera (trichos = hair, and pteron = wing). The larvae of most species have soft bodies that are enclosed in a portable case, although some species are free-swimming. The larvae have three pairs of limbs on the thorax. Their abdomens end in two pseudopods (false limbs), each with a hook that enables them to cling to their cases. [2]
Crustacean
A large group of invertebrates that differs from the two other lines of arthropods, the arachnids and myriapods, by the crustaceans' specific segmentation and two pairs of antennae. Crustaceans are mostly sea-dwelling, but several orders have moved into fresh water. [1]
Damselfly and Dragonfly
Decomposition
The breakdown of organic matter into simpler molecules by means of micro-organisms, bacteria and fungi. [1]
Detritivore
An animal that feeds on detritus (organic waste). [1]
Detritus
Particles of organic matter that result from the decomposition of plant and animal debris. [1]
Dragonfly and Damselfly
Insects of the Order Odonata (odontos = tooth, and ata = characterized by). The larvae have bulging eyes and thin limbs with two claws. Dragonfly larvae have a short, powerful build, and their abdomens end in three wedge-shaped extensions. Damselfly larvae are thin and slender, and they have three feather-like gills at the tip of their abdomens. [2]
Ecosystem
The basic unit of the biosphere. The ecosystem is the complex of a community of organisms, its environment, and how the organisms interact. [1]
Filter Feeder
An organism that feeds on fine particles of organic matter using one or more of a variety of filtration methods, such as combs, strainers, screens, thin net-like structures, etc. [1]
Freshwater Prawn
A crustacean of the Order Amphipod (amphis = on both sides, and posas = foot). Freshwater prawns resemble small shrimps. They are flat from side to side and have gills at the thorax. [2]
Habitat
A plant or animal's living environment, including all the abiotic (temperature, humidity, pH, etc.) and biotic (competitors, predators, parasites, etc.) conditions that affect it. [1]
Herbivore
An organism that feeds on plant matter. [1]
Isopod
A crustacean (crusta = carapace) of the Order Isopoda (iso = equal or similar, and podas = foot). Isopods have seven pairs of limbs and two pairs of antennae. Their bodies are dorso-ventrally flattened. The limbs nearest the head are used for grasping food, and the lower limbs, which are all similar, enable them to swim very quickly. [2]
Larva
The first immature stages of an invertebrate or lower vertebrate's development from hatching to emergence as an adult. [1]
Mayfly
An insect of the Order Ephemeroptera (ephemeros = for a day, and pteron = wing). The larvae generally have three tails, but some species can have two. They have a single claw on each leg (the legs are jointed), and visible, feather-like gills on either side of their abdomens. [2]
Mineral Salts
Chemical compounds that are dissolved in water and available for use by plants. [1]
Organic Matter
The product of the decomposition of plant and animal organisms. [1]
Periphyton
Fauna and flora that are attached to, or move about on, the surface of plants in still and running waters. The broader sense of the term includes the covering layer of organisms (biofilm) that develops on all substrates (plants, rocks, wood, etc.). [1]
Scraper
An organism that scrapes the surfaces of vegetation and rocks in order to dislodge and eat the algae and other organic matter that are attached there. [1]
Sediment
The deposit of mineral and/or organic particles at the bottom of a body of water. [1]
Shredder
An animal that feeds on coarse organic matter (such as leaves) and breaks it down into finer particles. [1]
Zooplankton
Small floating or weakly swimming organisms. [1]
[1] Histoire d'eau. [Online]. Pierre-Paul Harper and Louise Cloutier. University of Montreal. Last update January 2005. Web site consulted May 2006. (Our translation). http://www.histoiredeau.umontreal.ca
[2] J'Adopte un cours d'eau : Guide de participation. (2005). Comité de valorisation de la rivière Beauport. (Our translation).