Glossary

Aquaculture

“The rearing of aquatic animals or the cultivation of aquatic plants for food.” (Oxford Languages, 2022)

Aquaponics

“A system of aquaculture in which the waste produced by farmed fish or other aquatic creatures supplies the nutrients for plants grown hydroponically, which in turn purify the water.” (Oxford Languages, 2022)

Bioplastic

“A type of biodegradable plastic derived from biological substances rather than petroleum.” (Oxford Languages, 2022)

Biopolymers

“A polymeric substance occurring in living organisms, e.g. a protein, cellulose, or DNA.” (Oxford Languages, 2022)

Bioremediation

“The use of either naturally occurring or deliberately introduced microorganisms to consume and break down environmental pollutants, in order to clean a polluted site.” (Oxford Languages, 2022)

Decolonization

“The action or process of a state withdrawing from a former colony, leaving it independent.” (Oxford Languages, 2022)

Metabolism

“The chemical processes that occur within a living organism in order to maintain life.” (Oxford Languages, 2022)

Nutrient runoff

“Nutrient pollution is the process where too many nutrients, mainly nitrogen and phosphorus, are added to bodies of water and can act like fertilizer, causing excessive growth of algae. Nutrients can run off of land in urban areas where lawn and garden fertilizers are used.” (National Ocean Service, 2021)

Osmoprotective

“The mechanism by which the cells of an organism protect themselves against osmotic stress.” (Wikitionary, 2019)

Photic zone

“Surface layer of the ocean that receives sunlight. The uppermost 80 m (260 feet) or more of the ocean, which is sufficiently

illuminated to permit photosynthesis by phytoplankton and plants, is called the euphotic zone. Sunlight insufficient for photosynthesis illuminates the disphotic zone, which extends from the base of the euphotic zone to about 200 m. The thicknesses of the photic and euphotic zones vary with the intensity of sunlight as a function of season and latitude and with the degree of water turbidity. The bottommost, or aphotic, zone is the region of perpetual darkness that lies beneath the photic zone and includes most of the ocean waters.” (Britannica, 1998)

Phytohormones

“Plant hormones (phytohormones) are chemicals produced by plants that regulate their growth, development, reproductive processes, longevity, and even death. These small molecules are derived from secondary metabolism and are responsible for the adaptation of plants to environmental stimuli.” (Yamaguchi et al., 2010)

Processuality

“Relating to or involving the study of processes rather than discrete events.” (Oxford Languages, 2022)

Synthetic biology

“Synthetic biology is a field of science that involves redesigning organisms for useful purposes by engineering them to have new abilities. Synthetic biology researchers and companies around the world are harnessing the power of nature to solve problems in medicine, manufacturing and agriculture.” (National Human Genome Research Institute, 2019)

Trans-species psychology

“Trans-species psychology is the field of psychology that states that humans and nonhuman animals share commonalities in cognition (thinking) and emotions (feelings). It was established by Gay A. Bradshaw, American ecologist and psychologist.” (Wikipedia, 2022)

Waste valorization

“The term ‘waste valorization’ refers to any industrial processing activities aimed at reusing, recycling, or composting from wastes, useful products, or sources of energy.” (Kabongo, 2013)