Salmonids: In Troubled Waters

Glossary

ADO: Available dissolved oxygen.

Alevin: Young salmon that have hatched but still have a large yolk that must be absorbed, during which they stay protected in gravel; they may live entirely on yolk or may feed (may also be called 'sac-fry').

Anadromous: Greek for 'running upward') Fish that hatch in fresh water, move to salt water to feed and mature, and return to fresh water to spawn.

Aquaculture: The industry of raising of water animals, especially fish, for commercial purposes.

Certified Organic: A guarantee that no chemically formulated fertilizers, growth stimulants, pesticides or antibiotics were used in the production of food, either plant or animal.

Copper Sulfate: chemical compound with the formula CuSO4. It is often used to treat various external diseases in commercially produced fish.

Cylindrical: relating to or having the form or properties of a cylinder.

Dissect: to separate into pieces : expose the several parts of (as an animal) for scientific examination.

Dissection: The act or process of dissecting.

Ecosystem: A community of plants and animals and their environment.

El Nino: A warming of the ocean surface off the western coast of South America that occurs every 4 to 12 years when upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich water does not occur. It causes die-offs of plankton and fish and affects Pacific jet stream winds, altering storm tracks and creating unusual weather patterns in various parts of the world.

Estuary: A site where fresh water and salt water meet.

Fingerling: A young or small fish, especially a young salmon or trout.

Fry: Next life stage of salmon after alevin, and before smolt.

Hectare: A unit of area, equal to 10,000 square meters or 2.47 acres.

Lesions: An infected or diseased patch of skin.

Milt: The milky sperm the male salmon releases to fertilize the eggs.

Oligotrophic: Lacking in plant nutrients and having a large amount of dissolved oxygen throughout. Used of a pond or lake.

Parr: Stripes on the sides of salmon fry; sometimes used instead of 'fry' to refer to juvenile salmon.

Polyethylene: a polymer of ethylene; especially: any of various partially crystalline lightweight thermoplastics (CH2CH2)x that are resistant to chemicals and moisture, have good insulating properties, and are used especially in packaging and insulation.

Predator: An organism that lives by preying on other organisms. 2.) One that victimizes, plunders, or destroys, especially for one's own gain.

Redds: Series of nests dug in gravel by one female salmon.

Salmonid: A family of fishes, including salmon and trout.

Scalpel: a small straight thin-bladed knife used especially in surgery.

School: A large group of aquatic animals, especially fish, swimming together.

Skiff: A flatbottom open boat of shallow, having a pointed bow and a square stern and propelled by oars, sail, or motor.

Smolt: A salmon of a certain size, generally 4-7 inches, that begin seaward migration and smoltification.

Spawner: A female fish at spawning time.

Spawning: The act of laying eggs.

Swimbladder: A sac inside the salmon's body by which the fish can control buoyancy.

Synthetic: Prepared or made artificially.

Temperate: Characterized by moderate temperatures, weather, or climate; neither hot nor cold.

Tweezers: The any of various small metal instruments that are usually held between the thumb and forefinger, are used for plucking, holding, or manipulating, and consist of two legs joined at one end.

Voracious: Consuming or eager to consume great amounts of food; ravenous.

Vulnerable: Susceptible to attack.

Yolk Sac: An external pouch containing nutrients for the growing alevin. When the yolk sac is used up, the alevin is said to be 'buttoned-up' and enters the fry stage.