Science / Marine Biology Glossary

Heterotroph: An organism that is unable to synthesize organic compounds (and thus its energy) from the environment and therefore fulfils its energy requirements by feeding on other organisms or organic m . . . View Full Definition

Heterotrophic Algae: Algae that take up organic molecules as a primary source of nutrition

Heterozygote: With respect to a given genetic locus, a diploid individual carrying two different alleles

Highly Stratified Estuary: An estuary having a distinct surface layer of fresh or very-low-salinity water, capping a deeper layer of higher salinity, more oceanic water

Histogram: A multiple-bar diagram representing the frequency distribution of a group as a function of some variable. The frequency of each class is proportional to the length of its associated bar

Holoplankton: Organisms spending all their life in the water column and not on or in the sea bed

Homeotherm: An organism that regulates its body temperature despite changes in the external environmental temperature

Homogeneous: Similar or uniform structure or composition throughout.

Homozygote: With respect to a given genetic locus, a diploid individual carrying two identical alleles

Hydrographic: Referring to the arrangement and movement of bodies of water, such as currents and water masses

Hydrothermal Vents: Sites in the deep ocean floor where hot, sulfur-rich water is released from geothermally heated rock

Hypothesis: A refutable statement about one or a series of phenomena

Infaunal: Living within a soft sediment and being large enough to displace sedimentary grains

Inorganic: Part of or derived from non-biological material. A chemical compound that does not include a carbon chain. Compare organic.

Interspecific Competition: Condition in which one species' exploitation of a limiting resource negatively affects another species

Interstitial: Living in the pore spaces among sedimentary grains in a soft sediment

Introduced Species: An organism that has been brought into an area, usually by humans, where it does not normally occur. Introduced species often compete with and cause problems for native species. Introduced s . . . View Full Definition

Invasive Species: An introduced species that out-competes native species for space and resources. Scotch Broom is an invasive species that out-competes local vegetation and results in a monoculture, and hence . . . View Full Definition

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