Glossary

Michigan Environmental Education Curriculum
Stream Monitoring

Fecal Coliform

Coliform describes a type of bacteria that is rod-shaped.

Fecal describes bacteria that can be found in animal and human waste.

Fecal coliform is a type of bacteria that is found in human and animal waste that, when found in nature, is used as an indicator of how polluted a water source may be.

Heavy Metals

Metals that can be found in the periodic table, such as iron, aluminum, copper, mercury and silver

Leachate

Water that has been contaminated by passing through a dump or landfill. This may be water that comes from the garbage or from rain that seeps through the garbage.

Macroinvertebrate

An organism that does not have a backbone but can still be seen without a microscope

For example, a beetle, leech or clam

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