RiverVenture Glossary
abdominal: hindmost body region
abrasion: physical reduction of particle size during transport
adaptation: unique behavior or structure that assists an organism in its environment
aggregate: formed by a mass or collection of particles.
alluvial: deposits made by flowing water.
amphibolite: dark-colored metamorphic rock containing lots of iron-rich amphibole
anticline: the visible top of a fold
appendages: part of a body, such as an arm or leg, that is attached to the trunk
aquatic: living or being near water environments
aquifer: a pocket of groundwater
archaeologist: someone who studies remains from past human lives
atom: the smallest particle of an element that has all of the chemical properties of that element
bacteria: unicellular organisms that aid in the decomposition process of organic matter.
ban: official statement saying something is illegal or not allowed
bellows: a mechanical device that blows air into a fire, causing it to burn hot enough to melt the iron
benthos: organisms (plants and animals) that live at or near the bottom of lakes, waterways, and
oceans
bloom: when a population grows quickly
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blowhole: hole on top of a dolphin’s head that is attached to its lungs
blubber: wide layer of fat between the skin and muscles
Blue Ridge: the rugged, mountainous region of northwestern South Carolina. Sometimes referred to
as the “upcountry”
brackish: a mixture of fresh water and saltwater
buffer zone: a protected area of trees and plants along a river that prevents runoff pollution and
erosion
buoys: floating marker
camouflage: hiding or disguising by blending in with natural surroundings
canebrakes: a dense area of the river cane plant
canopy: the uppermost layer of the forest consisting of foliage of mature trees
carnivore: an animal that eats only meat
caudal: tail fin of a fish
chemical weathering: chemical alteration or decomposition of rock/mineral material
Civil War: war between the states mainly concerning the issue of slavery and state’s rights; 18611865
cleavage: tendency of a mineral to break along internal planes of weakness
Coastal Plain: a large, relatively flat region of southern South Carolina characterized by meandering
rivers, swamps, agriculture, and pine forests; the area between the Coastal Zone and the Sandhills
Coastal Zone: the coastal region of South Carolina characterized by beaches, dunes, marshes,
seaports and heavy tourism; sometimes referred to as the “lowcountry”
colony: a group of related organisms living or growing together
condense: changing a gas into a liquid
consume: to eat or ingest
consumer: an organism that obtains its food by preying on other organisms or by eating particles of
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organic matter
confluence: a point where two rivers merge to form a single river
converge: when two things come together
contour interval: elevation change between adjacent contour lines
contour line: imaginary lines which depict constant elevation above sea level
copepods: one of a variety of tiny crustaceans
creep: the slow, imperceptible downhill flow of the soil layer due to gravity, and may be affected by
environmental factors such as humidity, erosion, vegetation, and soil type
cribbing: support structures of large rocks and logs put along trails to prevent water erosion
cross-fertilization: when the male and female gametes from separate organisms, or varieties of
organisms meet and begin the growth process of new, often hybrid, organisms
debris: unwanted material
deciduous: a plant, including trees, which sheds its leaves every year at a certain season
decomposer: a plant or animal that feeds on dead or once living things to break it down before plants
use it
decomposition: the breakdown or decay of organic materials
dendritic: a common drainage pattern that branches like a tree
deposition: process whereby rock and mineral fragments are left behind
detritus: eroding matter; a mass of dead or decaying Spartina grass
diadromous: fish that migrate between salt and fresh waters
diatom: one of a variety of microscopic algae that are either one-celled or live in groups
dike: a dike forms when wet sediment or magma fills a vertical fracture or fissure in solidified rock
and hardens and/or crystallizes into rock
differential erosion: when different rates of erosion create unique rock formations depending on the
composition and resistance of those rocks
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dinoflagellate: algal organism with two “whip-like” tails, or flagella
dissolved oxygen: oxygen dissolved in water
drainage basin: the land area that drains into a particular river or stream system
drainage divide: a boundary (usually along a ridgeline of higher elevation) that
separates drainage basins
drainage pattern: pattern created by paths of streams and their tributaries based on an area’s
topographic and geologic make-up
dredge: to remove dirt from the earth, often at the bottom of a body of water, and then deposit it
elsewhere
ecology: the relationships of living things to one another and to their environment, or the study of
such relationships
ecosystem: the interacting system of a biological community with its non-living surroundings
effluent: waste material and water that flows from a structure into an environment
elevation: measurement of height above mean sea level
endemic: native to a specific, limited area
energy: the ability to do work or cause change
erosion: the process of wearing away or picking up the surface of the land by agents such as wind,
water and gravity, which transport those materials elsewhere
evergreen: any tree or other plant that has its foliage persist and remain green all year
excreted: to release from the body
exfoliation: production of curved fractures from expansion of rock near a surface, and the sequential
weathering of surface rock along its folds and layers, revealing layers further underneath
exoskeleton: hard outer covering found on some animals
fall line: sudden drop in elevation extending from New Jersey to Alabama; in South Carolina, it marks
a transition from the hilly Piedmont to the flat Coastal Plain
fault: a fracture in a rock formation along a cleavage plane, usually caused by tectonic plate
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movement
feces: solid wastes expelled from an organism
Federal: people who believed in a strong national government; favored ratification of the US
Constitution
feldspar: most common mineral group, all containing aluminum, silicon, and oxygen
ferry: flat-bottomed boat used to transport people, animals, wagons, cars across rivers and large
creeks
fertilization: when sperm and egg of a species meet and begin the growth process of new
organism(s)
fish ladders: man-made passageways that allow fish to swim upstream around a dam
fluting: a curvature in rock due to water erosion, identified by visibility of shallow grooves and the
appearance of polished rock
folding: when compressional forces in the earth’s crust push hot, pliable rock layers from opposite
ends
foliated: layered textural mineral appearance brought about during metamorphism
foliation: parallel alignment of mineral crystals found in some metamorphic rocks, forming parallel,
sheet-like layers
food chain: the sequence of one living organism feeding upon another, where food energy is moved
along to each consumer in the process (sun-grass-mouse-fox-bacteria)
food web: a system of food chains that are connected by common links in a certain community
foraminifera: very small unicellular heterotrophs with a shell
ford: shallow location in a river or stream that can easily be crossed without a bridge
fracture: breaks in a rock along which movement has not occurred
freighter: large ship that transports goods
fungi: plants that lack chlorophyll; some infect and cause disease in plants or animals; others are
useful in decomposing solid wastes
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geologic map: map depicting surface rock exposures
granitic gneiss: light-colored metamorphic rock with composition similar to granite
gneiss: highly foliated metamorphic rock, often granite-like in composition/ comparison
habitat: the place where an organism lives
heft: relative measure of the density or specific gravity of an object
herbivore: an animal that feeds on plants
hermaphrodite: an organism that displays both male and female characteristics, and which can
sometimes reproduce asexually
hull: frame of a ship, usually referring to the bottom of a ship
humus: the organic substance consisting of partially or wholly decayed vegetation matter that
provides nutrients for plants and increases the ability of soil to retain water
hydrology: the study of water and its interaction with the land, sea, and sky
hydrolysis: when mineral substances react and/or decompose when subjected to hydrogen or
hydroxyl components of water
hydrothermal: forces caused by water heated beneath the earth’s surface
igneous: rock formed when magma or lava cools
indicator species: aka, keystone species; a species whose presence, absence or health is indicative
of the health of an ecosystem; see macroinvertebrate
imitate: to copy
index contour: darker contour line with elevation number superimposed
indicator: chemical that shows the presence or absence of another substance
industrial cooling: use of water to cool down machinery
Industrial Revolution: a period from the 1860s to the early 1900s during which the nation moved
from an agricultural to an industrial economy; a population boom and technological advances which
marked the Industrial Revolution
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industry: the manufacture or production of goods; a specific branch of manufacturing such as the
textile industry
inedible: something not to be eaten
infrared: beyond the red, or lower-frequency (longer wavelength), end of the visible spectrum of light
rays
infrared lithograph: false color photograph using infrared film and color shifting
infrastructure: the basic facilities that provide transportation, communication, education, sanitation,
power and water to a community or society
interdependence: mutual dependence between organisms on one another for survival
invasive species: a species that is non-native (or alien) to the ecosystem and is likely to cause
economic or environmental harm; a non-native organism that invades a natural habitat
jetty: a structure used to prevent tidal, storm, or water current erosion along a harbor or shoreline
lock: a structure on a waterway or canal that raises and lowers boats in transit
macroinvertebrate: an animal without a backbone that is large enough to be seen without a
microscope; these animals include indicator species like stoneflies, mayflies, and water pennies,
which live in coldwater, mountain stream ecosystems; an invertebrate that can be seen without a
microscope, like insect larvae or crayfish
mass movement: instances where gravity sends materials down-slope; creep, rockslides and
mudslides are all forms of mass movement
metamorphic: rocks formed from pre-existing rocks that were subjected to extreme heat and
pressure
metamorphism: change caused to an existing rock by heat, pressure, and fluid activity in the earth
micaceous schist: metamorphic rock with fine foliation, much muscovite mica present
mill: a building used as a factory for manufacturing goods
minerals: chemical elements or compounds formed by geological processes; minerals are
characterized by their crystal structure, an arrangement of particles in a specific pattern, and a
defined chemical composition
molting: when an outer covering is shed and will be replaced by new growth
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nocturnal: animals that awake and search for food at night
neurotoxin: poison that destroys nerve tissues
niche: the role of an organism in the environment, its activities and relationship to the other living and
non-living parts in the environment; the “job” an organism does in contrast to the “place” it lives
nitrification: when bacteria and water oxidize ammonia ions, releasing nitrates into the soil, where
they are used as nutrients for photosynthesis, respiration and the building blocks of proteins
nitrogen cycle: a continuous cycle whereby nitrogen is dissolved into rain and then absorbed into
soil through the process of nitrification, when bacteria and water oxidize its ammonia ions, releasing
nitrates into the soil, where they are used as nutrients for photosynthesis, respiration and the building
of proteins
nonfoliated: textural term meaning “unlayered” applied to metamorphic rocks
nonpoint source pollution: pollution that cannot be traced to any one source or point; i.e. rain water
running off of a street or road sweeps chemical contaminants into a waterway (runoff pollution)
omnivore: animals that eat both plants and other animals
orogeny: the process of mountain building through folding and faulting of the Earth’s crust
oxidation: the reaction of oxygen in air or water that causes breakdown to occur in rocks, minerals,
or metals; in the case of iron, oxidation causes the formation of rust
oxygen cycle: a continuous process whereby photosynthetic organisms release oxygen, which is
taken up by aerobic organisms, who in turn release carbon dioxide, which is absorbed by
photosynthetic organisms
Pangea: a hypothetical landmass existing between 300 and 200 million years ago made up of all the
continents of the earth, which are thought to have drifted apart during the Triassic and Jurassic
periods due to the movement of tectonic plates
Patriot: a person who favored American independence from the British during the American
Revolution
perennial: a plant that reoccurs seasonally and lives more than two years
permeable: having pores or openings that allow small materials to pass through
phagocytosis: when a bacterial cell engulfs solid matter by surrounding and digesting it
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phototropism: the tendency of plants to grow either towards or away from a light source
physical weathering: breaking down rock and mineral material by physical forces
Piedmont: the northern half of South Carolina where rolling hills mark the transition of the Blue Ridge
Mountains to the flatter Coastal Plain; characterized by industry, agriculture, and forestry and
sometimes referred to as the “upcountry”
pioneer species/community: any species or community which initially invades barren areas; pioneer
trees are the first species to invade an unforested area
plankton: a collection of small or microscopic plant and animal organisms that float or drift in fresh
and salt water
plasticity: the degree to which a material can be shaped or formed
point source pollution: pollution that can be traced to a single source or point, i.e. a drain releasing
wastewater into a stream or an oil spill
population: all the living organisms inhabiting a particular locality
Portuguese man-of-war: a jelly fish made up of smaller organisms which function as one
power: the rate of doing work measured in watts (kilowatts)
producer: an organism which produces its own organic compounds from simple substances and
many of which are food sources for other organisms
recrystallization: the process where an existing crystal undergoes partial melting and physically
changes to a new crystal, possibly of a different mineral
Revolutionary War: war fought by the U.S. colonists to win independence from Great Britain; 1775 –
1783
Riparian buffer: a wide strip of plants and trees along a river or stream that helps protect water
quality
river corridor: the environment along the banks of a river that is influenced by the waterway; also
referred to as a riparian zone
rock: composed of minerals, and sometimes other materials that have been fused, cemented or
bound together; rocks can be classified as igneous, metamorphic or sedimentary
rock cycle: the geological processes by which rocks are formed and altered, through igneous,
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metamorphic, and sedimentary stages
rounding: slow process by which sharp edges or corners of particles are abraded
salinity: the proportion of salt in a solution
Sandhills: the hilly, central area of South Carolina that was a prehistoric beachfront (55-100 million
years ago) and is marked by deposits of sand and sedimentary rock
scale bar: graphical representation of the distance ratio on a map, used directly in measurement
sedentary: staying or living in one spot
sediment: weathered rock and mineral fragments; solid materials such as rock, organic remains, or
minerals that are carried by water or air and settle in the bottom of a river
sedimentary: rocks formed by chemical and physical processes that bond compacted layers of
sediment
sedimentation: the process of depositing sediment in the bottom of rivers or streams
sediment load: the amount of particulates that water can carry in the form of suspended and/or
dissolved rock and mineral particles
semi-aquatic organisms: organisms that live part of the time in water and another part on land
sewage: waste material that is carried by water through sewers and drains
shoals: shallow areas of water in the river, often rocky
ship ballast: water or other weight that is removed or added as needed in order to ensure stability
sluice: a valve or gate that allows water to pass through
slope gradient: the degree of steepness to an incline which helps scientists to determine the rate of
mass movement of a soil layer
snags: standing dead or dying trees that are important habitats for wildlife
soil horizons: the layers of soil from top soil to bedrock, which can take hundreds to thousands of
years to develop
soils map: map depicting the soil type and the relation to parent material
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sorting: process which makes like-sized sediment particles deposit in one location
spawning: reproduction of organisms or the eggs that result from reproduction
structural control: underlying rock characteristics determine drainage pattern
substrate: surface upon which an organism attaches and lives; also, the soil at the bottom of a body
of water
succession: the gradual replacement of one kind of a community by another kind; the progressive
changes in vegetation and in animal life which accumulates in the climax community
switchback: a road, trail or track that veers away from the contours of a landform, causing the
creation of gullies which exacerbate erosion
syncline: the bottom of a fold in layers of rocks
talons: sharp hooked claws found on the feet of birds of prey
tanker: large ship used to transport oil or fuel
topographic map: three-dimensional map showing cultural and landscape features
turbine: a rotary engine that converts flowing water into mechanical energy
understory: the forest layer existing below the canopy, consisting of smaller trees
unsanitary: unclean
uplift: the upheaval of land to higher elevations, as in the formation of mountains
varnishing: liquid that is applied to seal or cover a surface
vegetation: plant life of a particular region; plants and stages of their life cycles found in an area
vein: a cavity in rock filled with one or more minerals that differ from the surrounding rock, usually
deposited by aqueous or gaseous solutions during hydrothermal processes
vulnerable: defenseless or able to be hurt
water cycle: aka, hydrologic cycle; the continuous distribution of the Earth’s water as it evaporates,
condenses and returns to earth as precipitation
watershed: a drainage basin defined by the crests or ridgelines of a landform, creating a distinct river
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system and its tributaries; the land area that is drained by a given stream or river and its tributaries;
the entire geographical area where water is drained by a river and its tributaries; river basin
water table: the depth at which groundwater is first met at the top of a saturated zone, where the
ground is completely soaked with water; the depth of a water table will vary depending on an area’s
geology, gradient, soil type and climate
wastewater: untreated water or sewage deposited down drains and sewers by residents and
businesses
weathering: chemical or physical/ mechanical processes that work to decompose or disintegrate
exposed rock; process that breaks down rocks and minerals
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