Science / Marine Biology Glossary

Chloroplast: In eukaryotic organisms, the cellular organelle in which photosynthesis takes place

Chromosome: A linear sequence of genes wound up with proteins into a single unit that is found in the nucleus of cells. See also DNA, genes.

Cladogram: A tree-like diagram showing evolutionary relationships. Any two branch tips sharing the same immediate node are most closely related. All taxa that can be traced directly to one node (that i . . . View Full Definition

Coastal Reef: A coral reef occurring near and parallel to a coastline

Comb Jellies: Members of the phylum Ctenophora, a group of gelatinous forms feeding on smaller zooplankton

Commensal: Having benefit for one member of a two-species association but neither positive nor negative effect on the other

Community: A naturally occurring group of plants and animals that live within a certain environment and interact with each other. Communities are often defined by a dominant species (e.g. Kelp forest c . . . View Full Definition

Compensation Depth: The depth of the compensation light intensity

Compensation Light Intensity: That light intensity at which oxygen evolved from a photosynthesizing organism equals that consumed in its respiration

Competition: An interaction between or among two or more individuals or species in which exploitation of resources by one affects any others negatively

Complex Life Cycle: A life cycle that consists of several distinct stages (e.g., larva and adult)

Conformer: An organism whose physiological state (e.g., body temperature) is identical to, and varies identically with, that of the external environment

Conservation Biology: A field of science that deals with threats to biodiversity. The goals of conservation biology are to investigate human impacts of biodiversity and to develop approaches to prevent extinction . . . View Full Definition

Continental Drift: Horizontal movement of continents located in plates moving via sea-floor spreading

Continental Shelf: A broad expanse of ocean bottom sloping gently and seaward from the shoreline to the shelf-slope break at a depth of 100 to 200 m

Convergence: The contact at the sea surface between two water masses converging, one plunging below the other

Convergent Evolution: The development of similar structures in organisms that do not share recent common ancestor (e.g. Eyes of squid and humans). Compare divergent evolution; see also evolution.

Copepod: Order of crustaceans found often in the plankton

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