Any measurements or information that describe environmental processes, location or conditions; ecological or health effects and consequences; or the performance of environmental technology. For EPA, e [..]

Any introduced plant or animal species that is not native to a region. Exotic species are not always considered a nuisance or invasive.

Large, bony plates covering animals such as sturgeon, turtles and sticklebacks.

The Bay Program glossary is a quick reference guide for citizens, students, researchers, conservation professionals and others to understand the terms used to describe the Chesapeake Bay, its ecosyste [..]

B

Abundance index

Natural rainfall that contains nitric and sulfuric acids due to nitrogen oxide (NOx) and sulfur dioxide discharged into the air by industries, power plants, automobiles and other emission sources.

The science or practice of farming, including growing crops and raising animals for the production of food, fiber, fuel and other products.

An airborne pollutant (often nitrogen) that falls onto the land and runs off into the water, or falls onto the water itself.

The area of land over which airborne pollutants can travel to reach a particular river, lake, bay or other body of water. The Chesapeake Bay’s airshed is 570,000 square miles, stretching north to Cana [..]