Glossary:E Words

From Indian River Lagoon Project
Glossary Page Index
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ebb ( eb ) noun
the falling tide when the water moves out to the sea and the water level lowers.
echolocation ( ech·o·lo·ca·tion /ˌekōlōˈkāSH(ə)n ) noun
biological sonar used by several kinds of animals where the animal makes sounds and listens to the echoes of those sounds that return from bouncing off objects near them. These echoes can be used to locate and identify prey and objects, and be used in navigating through their environment.
ecosystem ( ec·o·sys·tem / ˈēkōˌsistəm ) noun
the biotic community and its abiotic environment.
ecotourism ( ec·o·tour·ism /ˌekōˈto͝orizəm,ˈēkōˌto͝orizəm,ˈekōˌto͝orizəm ) noun
travel undertaken to witness sites or regions of unique natural or ecologic quality. Often it is environmentally responsible travel that benefits nature and local communities.
effluent ( ef·flu·ent / ˈeflo͞oənt ) noun
Sewage, water, or other liquid, partially or completely treated or in its natural state, flowing out of a septic tank, subsurface wastewater infiltration system, aerobic treatment unit, or other treatment system or system component.
elasmobranch ( e·las·mo·branch / əˈlazməˌbraNGk ) noun
approximately 400 species of fish, including sharks and rays that have skeletons made of cartilage.
An agency of the United States federal government whose mission is to protect human and environmental health. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the EPA is responsible for creating standards and laws promoting the health of individuals and the environment.
An agency of the United States federal government whose mission is to protect human and environmental health. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the EPA is responsible for creating standards and laws promoting the health of individuals and the environment.
epibenthos ( ep·i·ben·thos /ˌepəˈbenTHäs ) noun
organisms that live on the bottom, rather than burrowed into, of an aquatic system.
erode ( e·rode / əˈrōd ) verb
the wearing away of the land by the action of water, ice or wind.
erosion ( e·ro·sion / əˈrōZHən ) noun
Transportation of weathered (decomposed) rock material or soil by natural forces.
estuarine ( es·​tu·​a·​rine / ˈes-chə-(wə-)ˌrīn ) adjective
of, relating to, or formed in an estuary
habitats associated with estuaries.
estuary ( ˈesCHəˌwerē ) noun
Estuaries and their surrounding wetlands are bodies of water usually found where rivers meet the sea. Estuaries are home to unique plant and animal communities that have adapted to brackish water—a mixture of fresh water draining from the land and salty seawater.
euryhaline ( eu·ry·ha·line / ˌyərəˈhālīn,-ˈhal- ) adjective
able to live at a variety of salinities.
eutrophication ( eu·troph·i·ca·tion / yo͞oˌträfəˈkāSH(ə)n ) noun
process by which large additions of nutrients causes an overgrowth of algae and subsequent depletion of oxygen.
exoskeleton ( ex·o·skel·e·ton / ˌeksəˈskelətn ) noun
a hard outer covering.
Pollutants originating from outside a waterbody that contribute to the pollutant load of the waterbody.