TIIMS Glossary
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Altitude Elevation above or below a reference datum, as defined in Federal Information Processing Standard 70-1. See also elevation.
AM Adaptive Management
Ambient standard In-lake standard
Ammonia Stream Water Monitoring Site Measurement: Ammonia
Ammonia is a reduced, toxic form of nitrogen and is usually assocaited with the decomposition of organic matter and wastes.  Total ammonia consists of the unionized (NH3) plus the ionized (NH4+) forms.  Ionized ammonia is relatively nontoxic while un-ionized ammonia is toxic to fishes and aquatic invertebrates, even in low concentrations. 

Ammonium ions are a toxic waste product of the metabolism in animals. In fishes and aquatic invertebrates, it is excreted directly into the water. In mammals and amphibians, it is converted in the urea cycle to urea, because it is less toxic and can be stored more efficiently. In birds, reptiles, and terrestrial snails, metabolic ammonium is converted into uric acid, which is solid, and can therefore be excreted with minimal water loss. 

Generally ammonia is very, very low in the Tahoe area.  Most sites sampled have ammonia (measured as NH4+) concentrations lower than 10µg/L (micrograms per liter, equivalent to parts per billion).
Anthropogenic

Anthropogenic effects, processes, objects, or materials are those that are derived from human activities, as opposed to those occurring in natural environments without human influences.

The term is often used in the context of environmental externalities in the form of chemical or biological wastes that are produced as by-products of otherwise purposeful human activities.
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