Science / Marine Biology Glossary

Isotonic: Having the same overall concentration of dissolved substances as a given reference solution

Keystone Predator: The dominant predator or the top predator that has a major influence on community structure. For example, sea otters are a keystone predator in kelp beds. Sea otters eat urchins that feed on . . . View Full Definition

Keystone Species: A predator at the top of a food web, or discrete subweb, capable of consuming organisms of more than one trophic level beneath it

Laminar Flow: The movement of a fluid where movement of the entire fluid is regular and with parallel streamlines.

Larva: A discrete stage in many species, beginning with zygote formation and ending with metamorphosis

Larvacea: A group of planktonic tunicates that secrete a gelatinous house, used to strain unsuitable particles (large particles are rejected). An inner filter apparatus of the house, the so-called foo . . . View Full Definition

Ld50: The value of a given experimental variable required to cause 50% mortality.

Leaching: The loss of soluble material from decaying organisms

Lecithotrophic Larva: A planktonic-dispersing larva that lives off yolk supplied via the egg

Leeward: The side of an island opposite from the one facing a persistent wind

Life Table: A table summarizing statistics of a population, such as survival and reproduction, all broken down according to age classes

Litter: Accumulations of dead leaves in various states of fragmentation and decomposition

Locus: See Genetic locus

Logistic Population Growth: Population growth that is modulated by the population size relative to carrying capacity. Population growth declines as population approaches carrying capacity, and is negative when populati . . . View Full Definition

Longshore Current: A current moving parallel to a shoreline

Macrobenthos. (Macrofauna Or Macroflora): Benthic organisms (animals or plants) whose shortest dimension is greater than or equal to 0.5 mm

Macrofauna: Animals whose shortest dimension is greater than or equal to 0.5 mm

Macrophyte: An individual alga large enough to be seen easily with the unaided eye

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