Glossary
acetone-mobile polar lipids (AMPL): operational definition used in thin-layer
chromatography for lipids (e.g., pigments, glycolipids, and monoacylglycerols)
that are separated from other compounds by acetone as the sole mobile phase.
adiposity: fat (lipid) character of an organism or tissue.
allochthonous: materials formed elsewhere than in situ; or formed outside of the
lake basin.
autochthonous: materials formed within the lake basin.
bioaccumulation: accumulation of contaminants by biota from all sources (e.g.,
water and food).
biochemical indicator: chemical compound characteristic of an organism, which
can be used to infer the presence of the organism in the environment and to
estimate its biomass.
bioconcentration: accumulation of contaminants by aquatic organisms from
water.
biofouling: encrustation by fouling organisms of materials immersed in aqueous
systems.
biogenic lipid classes: those lipid classes produced by living matter (e.g., wax
esters, steryl esters, triacylglycerols, sterols, glycolipids, and phospholipids).
biomagnification: significant increase in contaminant concentration with each
succeeding trophic level above that explained by changes in organism characteristics (e.g., changes in lipid content).
biomarker: see biochemical indicator.
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