Marine Resources Assessment for the Marianas Operating ... - SPREP

AUGUST 2005 FINAL REPORT
Predation—an interspecific interaction where one animal species (predator feeds on another animal or
plant species (prey) while the prey is alive or after killing it. The relationship tends to be positive
(increasing) for the predator population and negative (decreasing) for the prey population
Primary producer—an autotroph or organism able to utilize inorganic sources of carbon and nitrogen as
starting materials for biosynthesis; uses either solar or chemical energy
Primary production—organic matter synthesized by organisms from inorganic substances
Proboscis—a flexible, elongated snout of certain animals
Projection—mathematical formula that transforms the three-dimensional real world features and their
locations on the Earth’s curved surface into a mapped, two-dimensional surface; projections cause
distortions in one or more of the following spatial properties: distance, area, shape, and direction
Pup—a young animal of various species, especially young pinnipeds
Pupping—the process of giving birth by pinnipeds
Purse seine—a large commercial fishing net pulled by two boats, with ends that are pulled together
around a shoal of fish so that the net forms a pouch or “purse”
Radiolarian—planktonic or benthic protozoan that possesses protective coverings usually made of silica
Rainy season—the period extending from July through December in tropical climates. The rainy season
is characterized by heavy winds, squalls, gales, and heavy rainfall
Range⎯the maximum extent of geographic area used by a species
Rare—a plant or animal restricted in distribution or number; in the case of sea turtles, rare means that a
species occurs, or probably occurs, regularly within the region but in very small numbers
Re-cementation—asexual development in corals where pieces of branching and plate corals break off
and reattach themselves to the surface of the reef where they continue to grow
Recreational fishing—fishing for sport or pleasure
Recruitment—the settling of a coral larva on a reef substrate and the establishment of new coral colony
Red algae—division of algae (Rhodophyta) consisting of large multicellular, structurally complex
photosynthetic organisms that grow attached to rocks or other substrates; largely marine; some forms
instrumental in formation of coral reefs by precipitating calcium carbonate; form large rocky masses
Reef crest—shallow portion of a bank/barrier reef that is seaward of the lagoon
Reef flat—shallow (semi-exposed) area between the shoreline intertidal zone and the reef crest of a
fringing reef. This zone is protected from the high-energy waves commonly experienced on the shelf and
reef crest
Reef front—the fore reef area including the buttress reef, the reef terrace, reef escarpment, and reef
slope
Reef slope—zone of the fore reef occurring below the reef escarpment which is the steeply-sloped
transition between the fore reef terrace and the fore reef slope. The fore reef slope is steeply sloped and
occurs in water depths of 55 m to 60 m
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