Terminology

A Beginners Guide to Water Management—Symbols, Abbreviations, and Conversion Factors

Florida LAKEWATCH

A Beginner's Guide to Water Management—The ABCs

Florida LAKEWATCH

This document is the first in a series of Information Circulars developed by the LAKEWATCH Program. It is an introduction to the basic terminology and concepts used in the water management arena. First published Aug. 2000

Validation, Verification, and Calibration: Using Standardized Terminology When Describing Ecological Models

Frank J. Mazzotti and Joy J. Vinci

Glossary of Expressions in Biological Control

J. H. Frank and J. L. Gillett-Kaufman

Arbor, Trellis, or Pergola—What's in Your Garden? A Mini-Dictionary of Garden Structures and Plant Forms

Gail Hansen

Soils and Fertilizers for Master Gardeners: Glossary of Soil and Fertilizer Terms

Shawna Loper, Amy L. Shober, and Alexander J. Reisinger

This article is part of a series entitled Soils and Fertilizers for Master Gardeners. The rest of the series can be found at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_series_soils_and_fertilizers_for_master_gardeners.

Trophic State: A Useful Scale for Classifying Lakes Based on Biological Productivity

Elizabeth Duermit Moreau

Lakes are diverse and come in all shapes and sizes. The Trophic State Classification System allows people to group waterbodies into one of four categories, called “trophic states,” based on their level of biological productivity. Knowing what these terms mean can help you understand how your waterbody compares to others, and what changes in its water quality over time could mean. This publication explains how water chemistry is used to determine a waterbody’s trophic state; what criteria are used to define the four trophic states; which trophic state category your waterbody fits into; and how the Trophic State Classification System can be useful.

Standardized Invasive Species Terminology for Effective Outreach Education

Basil V. Iannone III, Emily C. Bell, Shannon Carnevale, Jeff E. Hill, Julie McConnell, Martin Main, Stephen F. Enloe, Steven A. Johnson, James P. Cuda, Shirley M. Baker, and Michael Andreu

This publication introduces a standardized set of seven terms compiled by the members of the UF|IFAS Invasive Species Council that can describe most situations involving invasive species, limit the confusion caused by jargon and incorrect usage, and deliver a simplified and unified message about the impacts of invasive species and how to best prevent and control them, potentially increasing the environmental and socioeconomic benefits of invasive species Extension and outreach programs.

The Florida Handbook of Solid and Hazardous Waste Regulation: Glossary

Michael T. Olexa and Christopher Hill

Circular 1139, a multi-part handbook by Michael T. Olexa and Ian Goldfarb, helps Floridians recognize which agricultural and household activities may involve solid and hazardous wastes. It also provides an introduction to the agencies and statutes that govern solid and hazardous waste disposal. Published by the UF Department of Food and Resource Economics,  December 2013. 

The Florida Handbook of Solid and Hazardous Waste Regulation: List of Acronyms

Michael T. Olexa and Christopher Hill

Circular 1139, a multi-part handbook by Michael T. Olexa and Ian Goldfarb, helps Floridians recognize which agricultural and household activities may involve solid and hazardous wastes. It also provides an introduction to the agencies and statutes that govern solid and hazardous waste disposal. Published by the UF Department of Food and Resource Economics, December 2013.  

Glossary of Site-Specific Nutrient Management Terms

Lauri Baker, Jay Capasso, Osvaldo Gargiulo, Lauren Geiss, Emma Matcham, Kelly Morgan, Ricky Telg, and Lincoln Zotarelli

This glossary provides clear, unified definitions for terms and is intended to help aid communication with nutrient management professionals across the state, especially when sharing new site-specific nutrient management recommendations. This glossary should help lessen confusion on how the listed terms are defined and interpreted, thereby helping to improve communication within and across disciplines. Written by Lauri Baker, Jay Capasso, Osvaldo Gargiulo, Lauren Geiss, Emma Matcham, Kelly Morgan, Ricky Telg, and Lincoln Zotarelli, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agronomy, April 2025.

Current Aquaculture of the Eastern Oyster Crassostrea virginica and Its Potential for Innovative Technology in Florida

Emily Caffrey, Joshua Patterson, Ruth Francis-Floyd, and Roy P. E. Yanong

<p>This publication provides information on the status of oyster fisheries and aquaculture in Florida as well as general information about how oysters are grown in agricultural and restoration systems. It then introduces a series of technologies that have been developed in other US states and in other countries, strategies that may have utility in Florida. Finally, it covers some specifics of the permitting process as it relates to oyster aquaculture in Florida.</p>

Handbook of Florida Fence and Property Law: Glossary

Michael T. Olexa, Jeffery Van Treese II, and Christopher A. Hill

This information is included in the Handbook of Florida Fence and Property Law, Circular 1242. Of interest to farmers and farmland owners in particular, this handbook is designed to inform property owners of their rights and responsibilities in terms of their duty to fence. Discussed areas include a property owner’s responsibility to fence when livestock is kept on the property, the rights of adjoining landowners to fence, the placement of fences, encroachments, boundary lines, easements, contracts, nuisances, and a landowner’s responsibilities towards persons who enter his property.

Water Quality Notes: What are concentrations and loads, and why do they matter?

Alexander J. Reisinger, Andrea Albertin, Eban Bean, Ashley Smyth, and P. Christopher Wilson

Water quality is a broad term used to describe a range of physical, chemical, and/or biological characteristics of water. Many different factors contribute to water quality. The decision of whether the quality of a given water body is good or bad, whether it is acceptable or unacceptable, varies from place to place and depends on the intended use of that water body. In Florida, water quality criteria have been established for six different types of water bodies, and these criteria vary by the use of each water body type. This publication defines general terminology and approaches used to describe water quality. It is targeted towards individuals who have an interest in water quality issues but may not have training in the specific details of these issues. Ultimately, this publication will allow the reader to have a deeper understanding of specific water quality issues and regulations.