Science / Marine Biology Glossary

Assimilation Efficiency: The fraction of ingested food that is absorbed and used in metabolism

Assortative Mating: The mating of a given genotype mates with another genotype at a frequency disproportionate to that expected from random encounter.

Atoll: A horseshoe or circular array of islands, capping a coral reef system perched around an oceanic volcanic seamount

Attenuation (Of Light): Diminution of light intensity; explained, in the ocean, in terms of absorption and scattering

Autotroph: An organism that synthesizes organic molecules from inorganic starting materials through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis. Autotrophs are ecologically important as primary producers as they . . . View Full Definition

Auxotrophic Algae: Algae requiring a few organically derived substances, such as vitamins, along with dissolved inorganic nutrients for photosynthesis.

Bathypelagic Zone: The zone of the ocean that extends from 1000m to 4000m below the surface of the ocean. Visit the Bathypelagic Zone on oceanlink for pictures and cool facts about life at this depth.

Benthic: Refers to organisms that live on or in the ocean bed. Benthic epifauna are organisms that live on the ocean floor or upon bottom objects sch as sea anemones and barnacles, whereas benthic in . . . View Full Definition

Benthic-Pelagic Coupling: The cycling of nutrients between the bottom sediments and overyling water column

Benthos: Organisms that live associated with the sea bottom. Examples include burrowing clams, sea grasses, sea urchins, acorn barnacles.

Berm: A broad area of low relief in the upper part of a beach

Between-Habitat Comparison: A contrast of diversity in two localities of differing habitat type (e.g., sand versus mud bottoms)

Bioaccumulation: The process whereby pollutants are taken up, retained and concentrated in the cells of plants and animals.

Biodiversity: See species richness

Biogenic Graded Bedding: A regular change of sediment median grain size with depth below the sediment-water interface caused by the activities of burrowing organisms

Biogenically Reworked Zone: The depth zone, within a sediment, that is actively burrowed by benthic organisms

Bioluminescence: Light emission, often as flashes, by many marine organisms

Biomass: See Standing crop

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