|
| Student Guide |  |
 |
|
 |
|
|
Glossary of Terms
A | B |
C | D | E | F |
G |
H | I | J |
K | L | M | N |
O |
P | Q | R | S |
T | U |
V | W |
X |
Y | Z
A
Acetylcholine—a neurotransmitter released
at neuromuscular junctions and autonomic synapses.
Alien Species—any
species, including its seeds, eggs, spores, or other biological material
capable of propagating that species that is not native to
that ecosystem (from Executive Order 13112 on Invasive Species). Also
called an exotic
species, non-native species, non-indigenous species or introduced
species.
Anal fin—the fin on the median (i.e. middle) line
behind the vent (i.e. the anus).
Anterior—relating to the front
portion of an organism.
Aquarist—a person who keeps
or maintains an aquarium.
Aquarium Trade—the selling
of aquatic life for public or private display.
Aquatic—growing
or living in, or frequenting water.
(back) |
(top)
B
Ballast Water—water
carried in special tanks (ballast tanks) of ships used to provide stability
needed when carrying less than a full load of cargo and to keep the ship
at the proper depth in the water. When the ship is loaded with cargo,
the ballast water is released to surrounding waters; when the ship is
empty, it takes on more water to keep it upright. Some vessels use sand
as ballast rather than water.
Benthic—bottom-dwelling, living on
the seabed.
Bilge—another term for ballast water.
Biodiversity (or Biological Diversity)—the
variety of species, their genetic make-up, and the natural communities
which they compose. All the different kinds of organisms living in an
area.
Biological Classification—the hierarchical
grouping of organisms into categories based on evolutionary relationships.
Seven hierarchical levels (or taxa) are commonly used: kingdom, phylum,
class, order, family, genus, and species.
Biological Control (or Bio-control)—using
one kind of organism to help manage a harmful species. For example, certain
beetles feed on purple loosestrife, an invasive species,
and help control its spread.
Biome—major
regional ecological community of
plants and animals associated with a particular climate. Examples include:
tropical rainforest biome, desert biome, lake biome, and estuarine
biome.
(back) | (top)
C
Community—an association of living organisms
that have mutual relationships among themselves and with their environment,
and thus function, to some degree, as an ecological unit.
Competition (or Compete)—any
interaction that is mutually detrimental or harmful to both participants,
occurring between species that share limited resources such as food
or space. The struggle for limited resources.
Competitor—a
species that may compete with another species for the same resources,
such as food, water or space.
Continental Shelf—the relatively shallow portion of the sea floor
that adjoins and surrounds most parts of the continents.
Coral Reef (or Reef)—a
massive, wave-resistant structure, built largely by coral, and consisting
of skeletal and chemically precipitated materials.
Cycloid Scales—fish
scales that are oval or elliptical in shape with a smooth edge. In
this type of scale, the anterior part
of each scale is usually overlapped by the posterior portion
of the scale in front of it, giving the fish greater flexibility than
fishes with other types of scales. There are four main kinds of scales
(placoid, cosmoid, cycloid and ctenoid, and ganoid,) and numerous variations
of each kind.
(back) | (top)
D
Decompression Sickness—a sometimes
fatal disorder caused by the release of gas bubbles in the
blood upon a decrease in pressure upon too rapid an ascent
from a deep dive. The gas bubbles can travel to tissues and
joints, causing the diver to bend over in pain (hence the
name nickname “the bends”). If a gas bubble (or
air embolism) forms in the blood and blocks a blood vessel
in an important organ, it may also cause distress in breathing,
neuralgic pains and paralysis, or even death.
Dispersal (or Disperse)—the
spread of a species, population,
or individual’s offspring over time.
Distribution—where organisms live in an area; the geographical area (i.e., range) within which a species or other group of organisms occurs.
Dorsal—pertaining
to the back or upper surface of an organism. In vertebrates, it means
nearest to the spinal column. Dorsal is the opposite of ventral.
(back) | (top)
E
Ecology—the
study of the relationship among organisms and between organisms and
their physical environment.
Ecologist—scientist who studies
the interactions between species of organisms and their environment
(studies the ecosystem).
Ecosystem—all organisms in a community
and the associated non-living environmental factors (i.e. the physical
and chemical environments) with which they interact.
Ecosystem Services—the fundamental life-support
processes necessary for life, including human, to thrive. Ecosystems
provide "services" that:
• moderate weather extremes and their impacts
• disperse seeds
• mitigate drought and floods
• protect people from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays
• cycle and move nutrients
• protect stream and river channels and coastal shores from erosion
• detoxify and decompose wastes
• control agricultural pests
• maintain biodiversity
• generate and preserve soils and renew their fertility
• contribute to climate stability
• purify the air and water
• regulate disease carrying organisms
• pollinate crops and natural vegetation
(back) | (top)
Endangered Species Act—President Richard Nixon
signed the Endangered Species Act (ESA) into law in 1973. The ESA provides
broad protection for species of fish, wildlife and plants that are
listed as threatened or endangered throughout all or a significant
portion of their range and the conservation of the ecosystems on which
they depend. "Species" is defined by the Act to mean a
species, a subspecies, or, for vertebrates only, a distinct population.
Provisions are made for listing species, as well as for recovery
plans and the designation of critical habitat for listed species.
Endemic—restricted
to a given region. A term applied to populations or species that are
found in a particular locality, such as an island, and nowhere else.
Envenomation—the
process by which venom is
injected from a venom gland into the recipient.
Environment—the
physical and biological conditions that surround an organism or a group
of organisms.
Exotic Species—a species that has
been transported by human activities, either intentionally or accidentally,
into a region where it did not occur previously. Also called an alien
species,
non-indigenous species, or introduced species.
Extinct—the complete global disappearance
of a species from existence.
Extirpate—the
local disappearance of a species, as opposed to extinction, which is
global disappearance.
(back) | (top)
F
Food chain—the flow of energy and
nutrients from sunlight to plants to predators.
(back) | (top)
H
Habitat—the
surroundings in which individuals of a particular species usually live
(i.e. their address).
Hard-bottom Habitat—(or sometimes called “Live-bottom” Habitat) an area of rocky outcroppings, also referred to as ledges, which are surrounded by a relatively thin veneer of sand, which varies in vertical relief.
(back) | (top)
I
Introduced Species—another
term for an alien
species, exotic species or non-indigenous
species.
Invasive Species—a species that has been
transported by natural processes or human activities, either intentionally
or accidentally, into a region where it did not occur previously, and
reproduces and spreads rapidly into new locations, causing economic
or environmental harm or harm to human health (from Executive Order
13112 on Invasive Species).
Invertebrate—an animal that
lacks vertebrae (i.e., a spinal column).
(back) | (top)
J
Juvenile—a
sexually immature organism that resembles an adult.
(back) | (top)
M
Mitigate—taking
action to avoid or reduce damages or to make less severe or harsh.
(back) | (top)
N
Native Species (or Indigenous
Species)—applied to a species that occurs naturally in an area, and therefore has not been introduced by humans either accidentally or intentionally.
Neuromuscular—relating
to nerves and muscles; jointly involving or affecting nervous and muscular
components.
Neurotransmitter—a substance that transmits
nerve impulses across a synapse (i.e. the gap between two neurons
or nerve cells).
Niche—the functional role of a species in an
ecosystem. The sum of physical and biological factors necessary for
an organism’s or species’ existence. The environmental
factors that influence growth, survival and reproduction of a species.
NOAA—the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a U.S. federal
agency that conducts research and gathers data about the global oceans,
atmosphere, space, and sun, and applies this knowledge to science
and service that touch the lives of all Americans. NOAA provides these
services through five major organizations: the National Weather Service,
the National Ocean Service, the National Marine Fisheries Service,
the National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service,
and NOAA Research; and numerous special program units. In addition,
NOAA research and operational activities are supported by the nation's
seventh uniformed service, the NOAA Corps, a commissioned officer
corps of men and women who operate NOAA ships and aircraft, and serve
in scientific and administrative posts.
(back) | (top)
O
Overfishing—harvesting
an aquatic population
below its reproductive capacity to replenish itself.
(back) | (top)
P
Pectoral Fins—either
of the two fins of a fish that correspond to the forelimbs of a quadruped
(a four-legged animal). Pectoral fins are those situated on the chest. (sides
of the fish just behind the head).
Pelvic Fins—one of the paired fins of a fish
that correspond to the hind limbs of a quadruped ( a four-legged animal).
Pelvic fins are those situated on the underside of the fish.
Posterior—towards
the hind end of the fish.
Predator—an animal
that preys on others. [Also see Top Predator]
Prey—an
animal that is preyed upon by a predator.
(back) | (top)
R
Ray—a jointed rod which supports
a fin.
Reef (or Coral Reef) —a massive, wave-resistant
structure, built largely by coral, and consisting of skeletal and chemically
precipitated materials.
(back) | (top)
S
Species—a group
of individuals or populations that are similar and are able to mate
and have offspring.
Stressor—five
stressors are identified as affecting coastal and marine ecosystems:
pollution, invasive
species,
climate change, extreme events, and land or resource use.
(back) | (top)
T
Taxonomist—someone
who studies the taxonomy, or orderly classification of plants or
animals, according to their presumed evolutionary (natural) relationships.
Terrestrial—living
on or in or growing from land (rather than in the air or water).
Top Predator—a
species eaten by nothing else in the food web.
Toxin—a
poisonous substance that is a product of an organisms metabolic activities
and is harmful or fatal when introduced into tissues.
Transect—a line across an area to be sampled, marked by a tape measure. Often permanent markers at the ends of line are left so that the line is easily found upon return.
(back) | (top)
V
Vector—an
organism or force of nature that spreads an organism to a new area;
a path, or method, of invasion. For example, a major vector in zebra
mussel invasion is ballast water; the zebra mussels travel from their
native waters into new regions when ballast water collected in their
native ranges
is discharged into non-native waters.
Venom (or Venomous)—poisonous
matter normally secreted by some animals (snakes, scorpions, bees,
and some fish) and transmitted to prey or an enemy chiefly
by biting or stinging.
Viability—the capability of surviving outside
the mother’s womb. In the case of eggs or seeds, it means the
capability to grow and develop.
(back) | (top)
