Marine Glossary - DCU

Marine Glossary
(Compiled from the following on-line resources: http://oceanlink.island.net/, http://www.mbari.org/, http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/ )
A
abaxial
abciss
abiotic factor
abyssopelagic Zone
accessory
acropetal
aculeate
acute
adaptation
adaxial
adherent
adsorption
adventitious
akaryotic
akinete
alginate
alien species
situated away from main axis, often on underside of branch
detach, separate from main structure
The physical, chemical and other non-living components of the environment that an organism lives
in. These factors include all aspects of climate, geology, and atmosphere that affect ecological
systems. Compare biotic factor.
'Abysso' meaning 'no bottom', this zone of the ocean begins 4000 m below the surface of the ocean
and extends down to the sea floor. This zone is home to a variety of unique critters that are specially
adapted to the inhospitable conditions that these depths create. Visit the Abyssopelagic Zone on
OceanLink to learn about life in the abyss.
subsidiary, like a non-chlorophyll pigment
from the base to the apex
bearing a sharp point
sharply pointed
Any change in the structure or function of an organism which makes it better suited to its
environment. For example, the torpedo body shape of a tuna allows for fast swimming in the open
ocean.
situated toward the axis, often on the upper side of branch
closely attached
A process in which solids or liquids attract and hold other solids, liquids, or gases in a surface film,
without chemically combining with them.
irregular, secondarily produced, not a primary part
without a true nucleus
enlarged cell with food reserves and thick cell wall which may undergo dormancy, e.g. in
Cyanobacteria
salt form of alginic acid, a polysaccharide colloid produced in walls of Phaeophyceae made of
mannuronic acid and guluronic acid units
A plant or animal that has been introduced by humans to a location outside its native range. Also

allele
alloparasite
alternate
amorphous
amyloplast
anadromous
anaerobic
anisogamy
anterior
antheridium
apical
apogamy
apomeiosis
aquaculture
arcuate
articulated
autotroph
autotrophic
auxiliary cell
axis
called introduced, non-native, exotic and invasive species.
One of the alternative forms of a particular gene. Each gene is comprised of two alleles, one
inherited from the father and one from the mother. However, within a population, many alleles may
exist for one gene. Hair colour in humans is a great example! See also genes.
parasite not related to its host
branched at different levels on opposite sides of main axis
lacking definite structure or shape
colorless organelle related to starch production
Fish that must ascend rivers and streams from the sea in order to breed.
living without free oxygen, in a reducing atmosphere
reproduction by motile gametes that differ in morphology or behavor
in front, or toward the front
cell that produces motile male gamete
at or near the apex or top, distal
development of an organism without gamete fusion (fertilization)
nuclear division without meiosis
The controlled cultivation and harvest of aquatic animals or plants, such as finfish (e.g., salmon),
shellfish (e.g., clams, oysters), and edible seaweeds.
curved like a bow, crescent-shaped
jointed or segmented, e.g. Calliarthron or Halimeda
An organism that synthesizes organic molecules from inorganic starting materials through
photosynthesis or chemosynthesis. Autotrophs are ecologically important as primary producers as
they ultimately provide energy for all heterotrophic organisms. See also chemosynthesis,
photosynthesis; compare heteroptroph.
capable of producing its own food
cell in post-fertilization development in the Rhodophyta which receives the diploid (2N) zygote
nucleus and then develops the gonimoblast filaments
main stem or central line of development on which secondary or side branches are borne
B
ballast water
Water carried by a ship to improve its stability when it is lightly loaded. It is normally discharged into

asal
baseline thematic mapping (BTM)
basipetal
bathymetry
bathypelagic zone
benthic
benthic
benthic
biaxial
biflagellate
bifurcate
bilateral
bioaccumulation
bioaccumulation
biodiversity
biodiversity
biogeoclimatic ecosystem
classification (BEC)
biological controls
biological oxygen demand (BOD)
the ocean when the ship is loaded with cargo.
near point of attachment to substratum
A digital integration of satellite imagery and land-use, land-cover, and topographic data to produce
an “image map” with contour lines and vector planimetry information.
in direction from apex to base
The depth of water in the ocean as it relates to the topography or features of the ocean floor.
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.
Organisms that live on or in the sediment at the bottom of aquatic ecosystems such as lakes, rivers,
and the ocean.
attached to substratum, not planktonic
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 infauna
are organisms that live within the surface sediments such as clams and worms. Compare pelagic.
having two axial cell rows
having two flagella
divided into two parts, forked
having two sides
An increase in the concentration of a chemical in a biological organism over time, compared to the
chemical’s concentration in the environment. Compounds accumulate in living things if they are taken
up and stored faster than they are broken down or excreted.
The process whereby pollutants are taken up, retained and concentrated in the cells of plants and
animals.
The variety and abundance of life, including ecosystems, communities, and the genetic composition
of species. Also called biological diversity.
The variation in life on Earth reflected at all levels, from various ecosystems and species, to the
genetic variation within a species. See also ecosystem diversity, species diversity, genetic diversity.
A classification system in British Columbia that distinguishes terrestrial zones based on climate,
soils, and dominant vegetation.
Using natural enemies of a particular species, usually predators and pathogens, to control
population.
A measure of the amount of oxygen required for bacteria to break down organic matter (e.g., sewage

ioluminescence
biomagnification
biotic factor
biseriate
bisporangia
blade
blue listed species
boreal
branchlets
bulbous
by-catch [fishery]
effluent) in water. If BOD is too high, fish and other aquatic organisms are deprived of the oxygen
they need for survival.
Meaning living (bio) light (luminescence) is the light produced by living organisms and the emission
of such biologically produced light. Also commonly referred to as 'phosphorescence'. For more info,
visit the Salty Science Algae Page.
The process that results in the accumulation of a chemical in an organism at higher levels than are
found in its food. It occurs when a chemical becomes more and more concentrated as it moves up
through a food chain
A living component of the environment which arises from and affects living organisms (distinct from
physical factors). For example, the interaction between predators and prey is a biotic interaction.
Compare abiotic factor.
arranged in two series or rows
sporangia that divides to produce 2 spores perhaps by mitotic division, in Corallinales and some
other Rhodophyta
flat, leaf-like structure
A species classified by the BC Conservation Data Centre as not immediately threatened but of
concern because of characteristics that make it particularly sensitive to human activities or natural
events.
northern, colder waters
smallest pigmented branches or secondary branches, ramuli
swollen
Discarded catch plus incidental catch. Discarded catch is the portion of the fishery catch that is
returned to the sea because of economic, legal, or personal considerations. Incidental catch is
retained catch of non-targeted species.
C
calcareous
callus
capitate
carcinogen
carpogonium
calcified, hardened with lime (calcium carbonate), e.g. in the Corallinales
abnormal, thickened part often a reaction of wounding
shaped like a head, swollen at one or both ends
A substance that may cause cancer in animals or humans.
haploid (N) female sexual structure in Rhodophyta consisting of single cell and its extension, the

trichogyne
carposporangia
single celled structures that produce the diploid (2N) carpospores on the parasitic carposporophyte
in Rhodophyta
carpospore
non-motile diploid (2N) spores formed on parasitic carposporophyte stage of the Rhodophyta, which
germinate to form tetrasporophyte stage
carposporophyte
the diploid (2N) stage of Rhodophyta which develops after fertilization of the carpogonium
cartilaginous
fleshy, but firm or even tough and leathery
CCCMA
Canadian Centre for Climate Modelling and Analysis (located at the University of Victoria).
CDC (B.C. Conservation Data The provincial government office that tracks species and ecosystems that are in some danger of
Centre)
disappearing from British Columbia. The CDC annually publishes the provincial red and blue lists.
centrifugal
developing from the center outward
centripetal
developing inward toward the center
certification [of products for A process whereby an independent, third-party auditing body conducts an inspection and awards a
sustainability]
certificate using independently developed standards and objectives.
chart datum
The Canadian Hydrographic Chart Datum (CHCD) is the lowest tide that can be expected in a given
locality considering gravitational effects alone. Even lower tides may occur rarely if strong or
persistent winds and storm surges work to further lower the water. The chart datum is used as a
reference point for measuring water level at tide gauge stations on the coast.
chemosynthesis
The process whereby chemical energy is used to make organic compounds from inorganic
compounds. One example is the oxidation of ammonia to nitrite by nitrifying bacteria. Compare
photosynthesis.
chloroplast
double-membrane bound organelle inside the cell with photosynthetic pigments on thylakoids
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.
clone
a population asexually derived from a single cell or individual
CO2 equivalent The amount of CO2 that would cause the same effect as a given amount or mixture of other greenhouse gases.
coenocytic
multinucleate, without cell crosswalls, composed of multinucleate cells or segments
colony
aggregation or loose organization of similar cells (or organisms) which developed from a single
original cell or organism, each capable of independence from the rest of the colony
commensal
organisms living in, on or with another, without any particular advantage or harm from the
relationship
community
A naturally occurring group of plants and animals that live within a certain environment and interact

compensation point
compound
compressed
concave
conceptacle
congener
conjugation
conservation
conservation biology
conservation covenant
contamination
convergent evolution
convex
corridor
cortex
cortical
COSEWIC (Committee on the
Status of Endangered Wildlife in
Canada)
cosmopolitan
with each other. Communities are often defined by a dominant species (e.g. kelp forest community)
or the major physical characteristics of the area (e.g. mud flats).
conditions where respiration is in balance with photosynthesis, with generally no net gas exchange,
in algae usually related to habitat depth
having multiple parts or branches, not simple
flattened
saucer-shaped, with surface that curves inward
cavity or chamber containing reproductive structures with opening to the surface for release, e.g. in
Corallinales and Fucales
A term in chemistry that refers to one of many variants or configurations of a common chemical
structure. Although similar, congeners may have different toxicological properties and fates in the
environment.
special form of isogamy where the reproductive protoplasts of two organisms form a common tube
and fuse together, e.g. in Zygnemataceae
The protection of wild species and their ecosystems.
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 through
stewardship of entire biological communities.
A legal agreement that specifies the ways in which a piece of land can be used. A conservation
covenant is incorporated into the land deed and protects the land in perpetuity.
Substances, including those found naturally, that are present at concentrations above natural
background levels, or whose distribution in the environment has been altered by human activity.
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.
having surface that curves outward
An area of intact habitat that allows wildlife to move in relative safety from one place to another.
tissue lying between the epidermis layer and the central medulla tissue
relating to the cortex
A national committee of experts that assesses and designates which wild species are in some
danger of disappearing from Canada.
found in many parts of the world

costate
cover cells
critically endangered
crosswall
cruciate
cryptic colouration
cryptostoma
cuneate
cuticle
cystocarp
cystocarpic
cytokinesis
ribbed
sterile cells cut off from during the formation of tetrasporangia in Rhodophyta
IUCN classification for a species for which the best available evidence shows that it is facing an
extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
end wall of a cell in a filament
generally cross-shaped; in the Rhodophyta, the type of division where tetrasporangium divides in
two planes at right angles to each other
To protect themselves against predators, many animals acquire colouring and markings to match
and conceal them in their usual surroundings. For example the nudibranch (sea slug), Rostanga
pulchra, is practically indiscernible from the red sponges on which it lays its eggs.
cavity open to surface that contains hairs or pariphyses, e.g. in Fucales
wedge shaped, triangular with acute angle downward
structureless layer on outer surface of some plants
the carposporophyte and surrounding envelop of haploid (1N) female gametophyte tissue (or
pericarp) in the Rhodophyta
bearing cystocarps, signaling a fertilized female gametophyte in the Rhodophyta
process of cell division, as opposed to nuclear division
D
decomposer
decomposition
desmid
detritus
detrivore
diatom
diatomaceous earth
An organism which gains energy by breaking down the final remains of living things. Predominantly
bacteria and fungi, decomposers are important in freeing the last of minerals and nutrients from
organics and recycling them back into the food web. See also decomposition; compare detrivore.
The biochemical process where biological materials are broken down into smaller particles and
eventually into basic chemical compounds and elements. See also decomposer.
green algae that have conjugation of non-flagellate, amoeboid gametes
Dead organic matter of plant or animal. See also detrivore.
An organism that feeds on large bits of dead and decaying organic matter. What detrivores leave
behind is used by decomposers. Crabs and seabirds are examples of detrivores. Compare
decomposer; see also detritus.
member of Bacillariophyceae
siliceous geological deposits made up of diatom frustules

diatoms
diffuse growth
dioecious
dioxins and furans
diploid
disturbed environment
diurnal
divergent Evolution
DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid)
Microscopic algae with plate-like structures composed of silica.
generalized growth, not localized at apex or base
(two houses) producing male and female gametes on different individuals or clones
Two families of chlorinated organic compounds that can be formed as by-products of activities such
as pulp bleaching and waste incineration. Both can persist in the environment for many years and
some forms are highly toxic.
having twice the basic haploid number of chromosomes
Alteration of part or all of a living community from natural or human activity. Storms, landslides and
El Ninos are examples of natural events; clearcutting, pollution, and harbour dredging are examples
of human-caused disturbance.
having daily periodic cycle, e.g. endogenous circadian rhythm
The evolution of one species to a number of different forms. Compare convergent evolution; see also
evolution.
The primary genetic material of a cell that makes up genes and chromosomes. See also genes,
chromosome.
E
ecological niche
ecology
ecoregion classification
ecosection
ecosystem
ecosystem
The role a plant or animal plays in its community. The niche of an organism is defined by what it
eats, its predators, salt tolerances, light requirements etc. Two species cannot live stably in the same
habitat if they occupy identical niches.
The study of the physical and biological interactions between an organism and its natural
environment.
A classification system in B.C. that describes areas of the province with similar climate, physical land
and water features, vegetation, and wildlife potential. The classification has five levels from broadest
to narrowest: ecodomain, ecodivision, ecoprovince, ecoregion, and ecosection. See Demarchi 1996
for more details. See also, Marine Ecosystem Classification.
The finest scale in the Ecoregion Classification system. Forty ecosections make up the coastal and
marine region of B.C..
Plants, animals, and the physical environment (water, air, soil, etc.) interacting in a given area.
A community of plants, animals and other organisms that are linked by energy and nutrient flows and
that interact with each other and with the physical environment. Rain forests, deserts, coral reefs, and

ecosystem diversity
ecotourism
ecotype
ectocarpin
ectoparasite
effluent
ejectosome
El Niño Southern Oscillation
(ENSO)
endangered
endangered
endemic
endemic
endocrine
endocytic
endophytic
endozoic
ENSO
environment
epicone
epilithic
epilithic
grasslands are examples of ecosystems.
The diversity of biological communities and their physical environment. Diversity is determined by
the species composition, physical structure and processes within an ecosystem. This is the highest
level of biodiversity. See also biodiversity; compare species diversity, genetic diversity.
Nature-based tourism that is ecologically sustainable.
A subgroup within a species that has developed distinct physical or behavioural characteristics in
response to its local environment that persist even if individuals are moved to a different environment.
sex hormone produced by female gametes of Ectocarpus that causes male gametes to cluster near
source of the hormone
parasite living outside its host
Industrial or urban waste discharged into the environment.
type of ejectile organelle found in cryptomonads
See ENSO
A species facing imminent extirpation or extinction very soon (COSEWIC).
A species or ecosystem that is so reduced or delicate that it is threatened with or on the verge of
extinction. Compare extinct, extirpated, threatened, vulnerable.
A species native to, and restricted to, a particular geographical region.
An animal or plant species that naturally occurs in only one area.
System of the body that releases hormones into the blood stream or lymph system. These hormones
control growth, metabolism, mood, and reproduction and influence almost every cell and organ in the
human body.
living inside a cell
living within tissues of host plant or alga
living with tissues of animal host
El Niño Southern Oscillation, an interannual variation in climate related to large-scale shifts in
tropical atmospheric pressure manifested by El Niño and La Niña events.
All of the physical, chemical, and biological factors in the area where a plant or animal lives.
part of dinoflagellate cell anterior to the cingulum
living on rock or stone
A term for organisms that live attached to rocks. Latin translation: epi = upon, lith = rock. This term is
general to terrestrial and marine habitats, ie. some lichens are epilithic.

epipelagic zone
epiphytic
epitheca
epizoic
escapement
estuary
eukaryotic
euphotic zone
euryhaline
eutrophic
eutrophication
eutrophication
evolution
exotic species
external threat [to protected areas]
extinct
extinct
extirpated
extirpated
See photic zone.
living on a plant
the epivalve and epicingulum of a diatom frustule or cell wall
living on an animal
The number of fish that escape commercial or recreational fishing and return to spawn; these make
up the expected breeding population.
The mouth of a river where fresh and salt water meet and mix. Estuaries tend to be highly productive
environments.
having membrane-bound organelles
that upper layer of the ocean that receives sufficient light for photosynthesis to occur, to depths of
perhaps 180 feet in Monterey Bay
tolerant of range of salinities
nutrient-rich
A process by which over-enrichment of a water body with nutrients results in excessive plant growth
and oxygen depletion.
Enrichment of a water body with nutrients, resulting in excessive growth of phytoplankton,
seaweeds, or vascular plants, and often depletion of oxygen.
The process by which a species' structural and behavioural characteristics change over many
generations, sometimes in response to changes in environmental conditions. "New" species develop
in this way. For example, scientists think that whales gradually evolved from land animals. See also
convergent evolution, divergent evolution.
See alien species
Something occurring outside the protected area boundary that threatens ecosystems and
biodiversity within the protected area. For example, roads, urban development, tourist infrastructure,
forestry, mining, agriculture.
A species that no longer exists.
A species which no longer exists. The Stellar sea cow is an example of a species which once lived
on the Pacific's East Coast and is now extinct. Compare extirpated.
A species no longer existing in the wild locally, but which occurs elsewhere.
A species no longer existing in Canada, but occurring elsewhere on Earth. Compare extinct.
F

facultative
fecal coliform bacteria
fertilization
fish population
fish stock
floridean starch
flux
food chain
food chain
food web
food web
fountain growth
fragmentation
fragmentation
exhibiting some ability or function under some environmental conditions but not under others
Bacteria found in the intestinal tracts and feces of warm-blooded animals.
The joining or fusion of the male gamete (sperm) and the female gamete (egg) to form a zygote
during sexual reproduction. See also gamete, zygote.
A discrete group of fish that are of the same species, in the case of salmon, spawn in the same
stream.
A species, subspecies, geographical grouping, or other grouping of fish that is managed as a unit.
branched glucan polymer, storage produce of Rhodophyta present as granules outside the
chloroplasts
The amount of a substance, such as mercury, flowing from or over a given area per unit time.
The feeding relationships between species in a biotic community, from the producers (plants) up
through various levels of consumers (animals) . An example would be algae eaten by the water flea,
which is eaten by a minnow, which is eaten by a trout, which is finally eaten by an eagle (or a
person). Although often portrayed as a single chain of events, the reality is a web of interactions
between species.
A linear sequence of organisms that exist on successive trophic levels within a natural community,
through which energy is transferred by feeding. Primary producers capture energy from the
environment (through photo- or chemo-synthesis) and form the base of the food chain. Energy is then
passed to primary consumers (herbivores) and on to secondary and tertiary consumers (carnivores
and top carnivores) (e.g. phytoplankton -> zooplankton -> herring -> salmon -> killer whales). Once
they die, these organisms are in turn consumed and their energy transferred to detrivores and
decomposers. Compare food web.
See food chain
A non-linear network of feeding between organisms that includes many food chains, and hence
multiple organisms on each trophic level. For example, both sharks and tuna eat herring, and sharks
also eat tuna. Visit and tour around the Pacific Northwest Food Web on the OceanLink website.
multiaxial growth usually of many filaments in which cell divisions occur
Changing a continuous ecosystem, such as a forest, into smaller patches by disturbing the land.
Fragmentation can be caused naturally, for example by fire, landslides, and trees falling in storms,
and by humans during road building, forest harvesting, land clearing, and other activities.
production of new individuals from fragments of original individual

frustule
fucoidan
fucosan vesicle
furans
furcellaran
fusion cell
siliceous cell wall of a diatom
water-soluble, sulfated polysaccharide in Phaeophycean cell wall
small, refractive particle or physode in cell of Phaeophycea, containing tannin-like compounds
See Dioxins and furans.
sulfated polysaccharide gel (like carrageenan) found in cell wall of red alga Furcellaria
cell produced by fertilization
G
gametangium
gamete
gamete
gametophyte
generalist
genes
genetic diversity
geniculum
genotype
gillnet
cell in which gametes form
sexual cell capable of uniting in fertilization with compatible cell to form zygote
A mature reproductive cell that is capable of fusing with another gamete of the opposite sex to form
a zygote. Male gametes are typically known as sperm and female gametes a typically known as
eggs. See also fertilization, zygote.
gamete-producing phase in the life history
A species that can live in many different habitats and can feed on a number of different organisms.
For example, shore crabs on the Pacific coast live in a wide variety of habitats, such as mud, sand
and rock, and feed on everything from the algae growing on rocks to invertebrates to detritus.
Compare specialist.
The hereditary material coded in cells that determine how an organism will look and behave. A gene
is a single unit located on a chromosome and is thereby passed from one generation to the next.
Genes are what make each species and individual unique. For example, genes are responsible for
hair colour and texture in humans. See also chromosome, DNA.
The genetic variation that occurs within a population or species. For example, there are several
different colour dog whelk shells and ochre sea stars. See also biodiversity; compare ecosystem
diversity, species diversity.
flexible portion of the thallus, such as the non-calcified segments between calcified intergenicula of
articulated corallines
The genetic makeup of an organism. The actual appearance of an individual (the phenotype)
depends on the interaction between different forms (or alleles) of genes and between the genotype
and the environment. Compare phenotype.
A net set upright in the water to catch fish by entangling their gills in its mesh.

girdle
gland cell
gliding movement
gonimoblast
greenhouse gases
gross domestic product (GDP)
groundfish
part of a diatom frustule between valves, also called cingulum
special, refractive cell in some red algae which may function in secretion or storage of compounds
movement of an organism when in contact with substratum
diploid filaments of carposporophyte (formed in Rhodophyta after fertilization) that bear the
carpospores
A gas that absorbs and re-emits infrared radiation, warming the earth’s surface and contributing to
climate change. Greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere by many naturally occurring
processes and by human activities such as fossil fuel combustion, deforestation, agriculture, and
industrial activity.
The total market value of all goods and services produced within a country during a specified period
of time.
Fish that live on or near the bottom of the ocean.
H
habitat
habitat
hairs
halogenated compound
haplobiontic
haploid
haptera
haptonema
herbivore
hermaphrodite
The place where a plant grows or an animal lives, and all the characteristics of that place, including
climate, food, shelter, and others.
The immediate space where an animal or plant lives and has food, water and protection. Habitat
loss, which includes the destruction, degradation, or fragmentation of habitats, is the primary cause of
decreasing biodiversity.
colorless, elongate unicellular or multicellular structures
An organic compound that has one or more halogens, such as fluorine, chlorine, or bromine,
substituted for hydrogen molecules. In a fully halogenated compound, all hydrogen has been
replaced with chlorine or fluorine. The resulting compounds are generally less flammable but more
toxic.
having single, free-living phase in its life history
having single basic set of chromosomes
multicellular structures that form holdfasts of kelps
cellular extension with distinctive structure characteristic of some Prymnesiophyceae
A plant-eating animal. Sea urchins re a good example of a marine herbivore as they feed on kelp.
See also heterotroph, primary consumer.
having both male and female reproductive organs, capable of forming male and female gametes on

hermaphrodite
heterocyst
heterogamous
heteromorphic
heterotrichy
heterotroph
heterotrophic
holdfast
holoplankton
homogeneous
hypocingulum
hypocone
hypogynous cell
hypolithic
hypotheca
hypovalve
the same individual
An animal that has both male and female reproductive organs. Nudibranchs (sea slugs) are a good
example o a hermaphrodite.
specialiazed, thick-walled cell of some Cyanobacteria which may be site of nitrogen fixation
sexual reproduction where gametes are not identical in size or shape
having life history phases morphologically different, having distinctly different gametophyte and
sporophyte stages
filamentous thallus having erect and prostrate parts
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
matter. Compare autotroph.
having non-autrotrophic, non-photosynthetic nutrition
structure of attachment to substratum
organisms that spend their entire existence as free-floating drifters
Similar or uniform structure or composition throughout.
part of the girdle of a diatom frustule adjacent to the hypovalve
portion of dinoflagellate cell posterior to the cingulum
cell directly beneath the carpogonium in the Rhodophyceae
living on lower surface of rocks
part of diatom frustule consisting of hypovalve and hypocingulum
flattened or covex plate of diatom frustule opposite the epivalve
I
impervious surface
inorganic
intergenicula
internal threat [to protected areas]
A hard surface that prevents or slows the entry of rain and meltwater into the soil, causing water to
run off the surface in greater quantities and at an increased rate of flow. Examples include roads,
rooftops, and parking lots.
Part of or derived from non-biological material. A chemical compound that does not include a carbon
chain. Compare organic.
nonflexible, calcified segments between flexible joints in articulated corallines and Halimeda
Something occurring inside the protected area boundary that threatens ecosystems and biodiversity
within the protected area. For example, roads, visitor facilities, recreational use, exotic species, and

internode
intertidal
intertidal
introduced species
introduced Species
invasive Species
involucre
IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change)
iridescence
isogamous
isomorphic
isostatic rebound
IUCN (World Conservation Union)
IUU catch
activities that consume or extract resources.
part of axis intermediate between two nodes
The portion of seashore between the highest and lowest tides.
occurring between high and low tide levels, exposed at low tide
See alien 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
species are also called exotic, nonnative, and alien species. See also invasive species, native
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 a
decrease in local diversity. See also introduced species, native species.
sterile jacket of cells around reproductive structures
An international group of experts responsible for scientific assessments of global change.
rainbow-like display of color on an alga's surface
having gametes which are morphologically alike
morphologically similar, having similar looking gametophyte and sporophyte phases of life history
A geological process in which the earth’s surface rises as stresses imposed by the weight of ice
during the last glacial period are gradually released.
The world’s largest conservation network composed of 82 states, 111 government agencies, more
than 800 nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and some 10,000 scientists and experts from 181
countries in a unique worldwide partnership. The IUCN publishes the IUCN Red List of Threatened
species, a global list of species at risk.
A fisheries catch that is illegal, unreported, and unregulated. It includes catches that are concealed
or misreported as other species in violation of regulatory limits; unreported discards and recreational
catches; and catches of species that authorities do not have a mandate to monitor.
K
karyogamy
kelp
union of two nucleii
member of brown algal order Laminariales

keystone predator
keystone species
Krummholz
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 kelp
which house a huge diversity of other organisms. If sea otter populations are lowered in an area the
kelp beds are generally reduced and urchin barrens appear.
A species that has a major influence on community structure.
Stunted, scrubby trees typical of windswept alpine regions close to treeline; from German for
“crooked wood”.
L
lamina
laminaran
Landsat Land Remote-sensing
Satellite
leucoplast
littoral
flattened leaf-like blade
storage product of Phaeophyta, branched polymer of polysaccharide made up of glucans, soluble in
the cell
A series of satellites that produce images of the Earth from space.
colorless, usually starch-containing plastid
near the shore, intertidal
M
macroalgae
macrothallus
marine ecosystem classification
marine protected area
mastigoneme
maximum daily flow (MDF)
large, macroscopic algae, seaweeds
large, conspicuous phase of organisms's life history
A part of the BC Ecoregion Classification system that further divides the benthic marine environment
into ecounits based on seven physical parameters. There are 263 unique ecounit codes along the
B.C. coast.
A generic term used to describe an area of intertidal or subtidal terrain, together with its overlying or
contiguous water and its associated flora and fauna, and historical and cultural features, which has
been reserved by law to protect all or part of the habitats and/or species found within it. Note: The
Canadian government also has specific, legislated designations called Marine Protected Areas.
These provide a certain level of protection to an area.
fine hairlike appendage of a flagellum
The highest recorded daily average discharge at a river gauging station (in cubic metres per

MDF
mean trophic level
medulla
meiosis
meristoderm
meroplankton
mesokaryotic
mesopelagic zone
microthallus
moneocious
monopodial
monostromatic
monotypic
morphology
multialxial
second).
See maximum daily flow
The average position in the food chain of species caught in a particular fishery. Mean trophic level of
fisheries landings has been adopted internationally by the Convention on Biodiversity as an indicator
of the integrity of marine ecosystems. See also Trophic level.
central tissue of thallus
nuclear division in which chromosome number is reduced from diploid to haploid, genetic
segregation of chromosomes
superficial, outer layer of dividing cells in brown algae in the order Laminariales
organisms that spend part of their life cycle as plankton and part on the benthos
having chromosomes that persist in condensed form at all times, the condition of the dinoflagellate
nucleus
Also called the "twilight zone" of the ocean, this area from 200m to 1000m in depth, is bordered by
the photic zone above and darkness below. It's in this zone where you start to see bioluminescence
on all sorts of animals. Visit the Mesopelagic Zone on OceanLink to learn about the animals unique to
these depths.
the tiny, inconspicuous stage of an organism's life history, alternating with the macrothallus stage
(one house) producing male and female gametes on the same individual
mode of development where primary axis maintains main line of growth and secondary laterals are
produced off that main axis
blade composed of a single layer of cells
a genus having only one species
The form and structure of an organism, in particular its outside features.
axis composed of multiple, longitudinal filaments, each derived from one apical cell
N
nanoplankton
native species
natural selection
plankton from 2 to 20 microns in diameter that would pass through the mesh of a normal plankton
net
A species that occurs naturally in an area (i.e. is not introduced). Compare introduced species,
invasive species.
The main mechanism of evolutionary change. In a given population of organisms, there are heritable

nearshore
nekton
nemathecium
nematocyst
neritic
neuston
nitrogen-fixation
node
nonrenewable resource
nutritive cell
traits that enable some members to contribute a larger number of offspring than others. If these
offspring also have a greater reproductive success, then the genetic composition of the population is
altered, thus evolution. See also selection pressure.
An indefinite zone extending seaward from the shoreline to well beyond the breaker zone.
Pelagic organisms that are free-swimming and so whose movements are independent of the tides,
currents and waves. Such animals include fish, whales, squid, crabs and shrimps. The distribution of
nekton is limited by temperature and nurtient supply and decreases with decreasing depth. Compare
benthic, plankton.
wart-like structure bearing reproductive parts
complex ejectile organellee produced in a new dinoflagellate genera
living in coastal ocean waters
organisms that live at the ocean-atmosphere interface
incorporation of atmospheric nitrogen as a nitrogen source in the cells of certain bacteria and
Cyanobacteria
site on an axis from which leaves or branches arise
A resource that is in limited supply and can't be replenished by natural processes, at least not for
thousands of years or more. Fossil fuels are nonrenewable resources. Compare renewable resource.
specific cell of carpogonial branch with which carpogonium fuses after fertilization in some red algae
of the order Cryptonemiales
O
obtuse
offshore
oligotrophic
oogamy
oogonium
order
organelle
organic
blunt or rounded at the end
The zone beyond the nearshore zone where sediment motion induced by waves alone effectively
ceases and where the influence of the sea bed on wave action is small in comparison with the effect
of wind.
nutrient-deficient
union of gametes in which a sperm fertilizes a relatively large, non-motile egg
female reproductive cell containing one or more female gametes or eggs
the taxonomic grouping between class and family
specialized structure in a cell, like a plastid or nucleus
Part of or derived from living organisms. Or a chemical compound that contains carbon as an

orthophotograph
ostiole
over-consumption
ovoid
essential component. Compare inorganic.
A photograph on which all distortions caused by tilt, relief, and perspective have been corrected.
opening in conceptacle or cystocarp through which spores or gametes can escape
The use of resources at a rate that exceeds the ability of natural processes to replace them.
egg-shaped
P
pacific decadal oscillation
PAHs
paramylon
paraphysis
parenchyma
parthenogenetic
pathogen
PBDEs
PCBs
PDO
pelagic
pelagic
pelagic
A decadal-scale climate phenomenon related to changes in the geographic location of a persistent
low-pressure centre over the Gulf of Alaska.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are ubiquitous environmental contaminants that are formed by the
incomplete combustion of organic materials, such as wood or fossil fuels.
a glucose polymer which serves a food reserve in Euglenophyta
a sterile hairlike structure among sporangia or gametangia, as those in the brown algal order
Fucales
tissue composed of living thin-walled cells of equal diameter that usually function in photosynthesis
or storage
production of new individual from single, unfertilized gamete, usually the egg
A disease-causing agent, including bacteria, viruses and fungi, usually microscopic in size.
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers are a class of chemicals used extensively as flame retardants to
decrease flammability of certain materials. They are added to plastics used in furniture upholstery,
carpet backings, electrical insulation, computer and TV cases, and other consumer goods.
Polychlorinated biphenyls are a class of stable, waxy to oily compounds that were used as heatresistant
coolants or insulators in electrical equipment.
See pacific decadal oscillation
Organisms that live in open waters away from the bottom of aquatic ecosystems such as lakes,
rivers, and the ocean.
living in the open ocean, offshore
Refers to the plants and animals that live in the water column or in the open waters of the ocean
rather than the ocean floor (see benthic). Life is found throughout the pelagic zone, however is more
concentrated at shallower depths. Pelagic organisms can be further divided into the plankton and
nekton. Compare benthic.

pericarp
pesticides
phagotrophy
phenotype
phosphoresence
photic zone
photosynthesis
phragmoplast
phycobilin
phycobilisome
phycocyanin
phycoerythrin
phycoplast
phylum
phylum
phylum
phytoplankton
sterile jacket of cells surrounding the carposporophyte in the Florideophycidae
Chemical products used to reduce or eliminate unwanted organisms, regarded as "pests". Pesticides
are often used on gardens, agricultural land, roadsides, and golf courses to eliminate species
considered undesirable or damaging.
endocytosis or engulfing particles of food as a mode of nutrition
The physical appearance of an individual that is the result of that individual's genotype and the
interaction of the genotype with the environment during development. Hence, individuals with the
same genotype may have different phenotypes in different environments. Compare genotype.
See Bioluminescence.
The surface layer of the ocean that is penetrated by sunlight. The photic zone is the layer of the
ocean that has been explored the most as it is relatively easy to access with conventional diving
equipment. In the photic zone phytoplankton flourish and it is where the fish, marine mammals, and
marine invertebrates that most people are familiar with are found. Light can penetrate down to
approximately 200m which marks the end of the photic zone. Also referred to as the Sunlight Zone or
the Epipelagic Zone.
A chemical process whereby plants and algae use a sun's energy to make sugars (organic
compounds) from carbon dioxide and water (inorganic compounds). See also autotroph,
chemosynthesis.
microfibrils parallel to the spindle axis at telophase across which a cell plate is deposited in cell
division
biliprotein pigments of Cyanobacteria and Rhodophyta
organelle on surface of thylakoids in which biliprotein pigments are present in Cyanobacteria and
Rhodophyta
blue water-soluble biliprotein pigment of Cyanobacteria and Rhodophyta
red water-soluble biliprotein pigment of cyanobacteria and Rhodophyta
assemblage of microtubules perpendicular to the spindle and at the equator of the cell at telophase
in cell division
A major subdivision of classification in the animal kingdom.
primary taxonomic grouping, division
The broadest classification for animals. Compare species.
Microscopic floating plants that live suspended in bodies of water and drift about because they
cannot move by themselves or because they are too small or too weak to swim effectively against a

phytoplankton
pinnate
pit connection
plankton
plankton
planozygote
plurilocular
pneumatocyst
pollutant
polyglucan granules
polygon
polysiphonous
polysporangium
polystichous
polystromatic
population
predator
prey
primary consumer
primary producer
current.
The plant and algae component of the plankton; the primary producers of almost all marine food
webs. Compare zooplankton.
feather shaped, with lateral branches on either side of a central axis
discrete len-shaped plug of cytoplasm held between two adjacent cell walls in the Rhodophyta
drifting organisms
Pelagic organisms that float through the water column, not attached to any substrate and unable to
move against the currents and tides. Plankton can be further divided into phytoplankton and
zooplankton, meroplankton and holoplankton. Compare nekton.
a motile zygote
having many small chambers or locules
gas bladder or float as in the brown alga Macrocystis
A contaminant whose concentration in the environment is high enough to result in deleterious
effects.
polymers of glucose somewhat like glycogen in animals
As used in computerized mapping (Geographical Information Systems), a stream of digitized points
approximating the delineation (perimeter) of an area on a map. It is used to graphically represent the
features of a defined area (e.g. an ecosystem or a type of land use) along with its associated
attributes.
having many filaments or pericentral cells as in the red alga Polysiphonia
a sporangium producing many spores, homologous with a tetrasporangium
type of thallus constructed of true parenchyma as in some brown algal orders
blade of many cell layers
The number of individuals of a particular species that live within a defined area.
An animal that hunts and kills other animals for food.
An animal that is used by other animals for food.
A heterotrophic, herbivorous organism that feeds directly on a primary producer. Urchins are a
primary consumer as they feed on kelp. See also heterotroph, food chain; compare secondary
consumer.
An autotrophic organism that makes complex organic compounds from inorganic compounds
through the process of photosynthesis or chemosynthesis. For example, phytoplankton synthesize
sugars (organic compounds) from carbon dioxide and water(inorganic compounds) using energy from

primary production
procarp
procumbent
propagule
protected area
protected unit
protuberant
proximal
pseudoparenchyma
pyrenoid
the sun. Phytoplankton is one example of a marine primary producer. See also autotroph, food chain.
Synthesis of organic matter by plants, which is the main source of energy and nutrition for other
consumers in the ecosystem (e.g. herbivores). See also chemosynthesis, photosynthesis.
carpogonial branch adjacent to one or more auxiliary cells in Rhodophyta
trailing, lying flat along substratum, prostrate
multicellular structure for asexual reproduction
A generic term used to describe areas of land and/or water that are protected in some way. The
protected area may be called a park, an ecological reserve, or another name. The Canadian
government also has specific, legislated designations called Protected Areas and Marine Protected
Areas. These provide a certain level of protection to an area.
An area of protected land or protected ocean that is geographically continuous. For example, two
protected areas that join one another make up one unit, and a protected area that occurs in four
geographically distinct fragments makes up four units.
bulging outward
toward the base, distal
tissue resembling parenchyma with large, thin-walled cells, but developmentally filamentous
organelle usually within a plastid, usually associated with starch food reserves
Q
quadrat
An ecological sampling unit that consists of a square frame of known area. The quadrat is used for
quantifying the number or percent cover of a given species within a given area. See also transect.
R
raphe
receiving environment
receptacle
recruitment
red listed species
elongate opening in the valves of some pennate diatoms
The site or area where pollution or wastewater ends up after being discharged from a treatment
facility or an outfall; usually a stream, river or ocean environment.
fertile area where gametangia or sporangia arise as in the brown algal order Fucales
The number of individuals entering a population or a fishery each year.
A species that is legally designated as threatened or endangered under the provincial Wildlife Act, is
extirpated, or is a candidate for such designation.

egeneration
renewable resource
rhizoid
riparian
rugose
The replacement or renewal of a forest stand by natural or artificial means.
A resource that can be replenished through natural processes within a human life span, if it is
soundly managed. Compare nonrenewable resource.
simple anchoring organ
Beside or along the bank of a stream or river.
wrinkled
S
SARA
saxicolous
saxitoxin
secondary consumer
selection pressure
sensitive ecosystems
seta
sieve area
sieve tube
silicoflagellate
smart growth
sorus
special concern
specialist
speciation
species
see species at risk act
living on rock
neurotoxin produced by dinoflagellate Gonyaulax
A heterotrophic, carnivorous organism that feeds on a primary consumer. Herring feeding on
zooplankton are an example of a secondary consumer. See also food chain, heterotroph, primary
consumer.
A measure of the effectiveness of natural selection in altering the genetic composition of a
population. See also natural selection.
Ecosystems that are particularly vulnerable to human or natural impacts.
stiff hair, projection or bristle
field of pores through which translocation occurs as in brown algal order Laminariales
longitudinal file of sieve elements as in brown alga Nereocystis
Chrysophycean organism with silicious skeleton
Environmentally sensitive land development with the goals of minimizing dependence on auto
transportation, reducing air pollution, and making infrastructure investments more efficient.
a group or cluster of reproductive structures
A species that may become a threatened or an endangered species because of a combination of
biological characteristics and identified threats (COSEWIC).
A species with a very narrow range in habitat or food requirements. For example, the Marbled
Murrelet nests in old-growth forests on thick branches high up in the forest canopy. Compare
generalist.
The evolution of one or more species from an existing species.
The classification for a group of organisms that is distinct from other such groups. Breeding within

species
species abundance
species at risk
species at risk act
species diversity
species richness
spermatium
spore
sporophyll
sporophyte
SPSS
stellate
stephanokont
stewardship
stichidia
stipe
stock
stromatolite
sublittoral
subspecies
the group will produce fertile offspring.
A group of organisms that differ from all other groups of organisms and that are capable of breeding
and producing fertile offspring. This is the smallest unit of classification for plants and animals.
Compare phylum.
The total number of individual of a species within a given area or community. Compare species
richness.
A wild species that is at risk of extinction or extirpation. The level of risk is identified, from highest to
lowest, as endangered, threatened, and special concern. Both federal and provincial agencies
designate species at risk, but only federal listings have legal protection under the Species at Risk Act
(SARA).
A federal act, proclaimed in June 2003, that applies to all federal lands in Canada, all wildlife species
listed as being at risk, and their critical habitat.
A measure of both species abundance and species richness. An area that has a large number of
species and many representative individuals from each species is more diverse than an area that has
only a single species. See also biodiversity; compare ecosystem diversity, genetic diversity.
The number of different species that exist within a given area or community. Compare species
abundance.
non-motile male gamete in Rhodophyta
cell which functions in reproduction but not as a gamete
fertile, spore-producing blade as in brown algal order Laminariales
the usually diploid spore-producting phase of a life history
Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, a set of software utilities available from SPSS Inc.
star-shaped
with ring of flagella
Looking after something important and valuable that you do not own.
specialized branch bearing tetrasporangia in some Rhodophyta, usually larger than vegetative
branches
stalk or erect portion as in brown algal order Laminariales
See fish stock.
fossilized, calcareous accumulation of Cyanobacteria
below lowest low tide level
A formally named subdivision of species composed of geographically discrete populations that differ

in appearance, behaviour, and/or genetics from other members of the species. Subspecies are
capable of interbreeding with other members of their species.
substrate
The material upon or within which a plant or animal live or grows (e.g. rocky or sandy substrate). See
also benthic.
subtidal The area extending below the lowest tidemark.
sunlight zone
See photic zone.
supporting cell
cell bearig the carpogonial branch in Rhodophyta
sustainable
A sustainable way of life is one in which human needs are met without diminishing the ability of other
people, wild species, or future generations to survive.
symbiosis
An interaction between two different species where either both, one or neither of the organisms
benefit from the relationship. Many symbiotic relationships are obligatory (e.g. tropical reef building
corals and their algal symbiont).
sympodial
mode of development where primary axis is continually replace by lateral axes which become
temporarily dominant then are replaced by their own laterals
systematics
The area of biology that deals with the diversity of living organisms, their relationships to each other
through evolution, and their classification. Can also be referred to as taxonomy.
T
taxon (pl: taxa)
taxonomy
taxonomy
TEQ
teratogen
terrain resource information
management program (TRIM)
terrestrial protected area
A group into which similar organisms are classified. For example, genus, species, or subspecies.
Theory and practice of classifying living organisms.
The theory and practice of describing, naming and classifying plants and animals. See also
systematics.
Toxicity equivalence, the international method of relating the toxicity of various dioxin/furan
congeners to the toxicity of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin.
An agent or substance that may cause physical defects in the developing embryo or fetus when a
pregnant female is exposed to that substance.
A program to produce digital maps using the Universal Transverse Mercator coordinate system as
the cartographic framework. TRIM mapping for B.C. consists of 7027 mapsheets covering the
province at a scale of 1:20 000. Each mapsheet is precisely 12 minutes of longitude wide by 6
minutes of latitude high.
A generic term used to describe areas of land (including freshwater) that are protected in some way.

tetrasporangia
tetrasporophyte
thallus
threatened
threatened
thylakoid
total suspended solids (TSS)
transect
transition zone
trichoblast
trichogyne
trichothallic growth
The protected area may be called a park, an ecological reserve, or another name. The Canadian
government also has specific, legislated designations called Protected Areas. These provide a
certain level of protection to an area.
cell in which diploid (2N) nucleus undergoes meiosis and forms four haploid (N) spores or
tetraspores in the Rhodophyta
diploid phase which produces tetraspores in the Rhodophyta
organism's body, not differentiated into roots, stems, leaves
A species likely to become endangered if limiting factors are not reversed (COSEWIC).
A species likely to become endangered if limiting factors are not reversed. Compare endangered,
extinct, extirpated, vulnerable.
photosynthetic lamella or sac
A measurement of the amount of solid matter in wastewater or effluent, usually expressed in parts
per million.
A straight line placed on the ground along which ecological measurements are taken. If an ecologist
wanted to sample the diversity of intertidal organisms in the intertidal, he/she would place a number
of transects perpendicular to the shore and take samples at predetermined interval lengths. See also
quadrat.
intercalary meristem in region between stipe and blade where active cell division occurs in the brown
algal order Laminariales
simple or branched filament at apex of the red family Rhodomelaceae
receptive elongation of the female reproductive structure in the Rhodophyta where male gametes
become attached
growth from cell division at the base of a filament or group of filaments as in the brown algal order
Desmarestiales
trophic
Pertaining to food or nutrition.
trophic level (TL) The feeding position occupied by a certain organism in a food chain. Plants have a TL value of 1,
herbivores (plant-eaters) have a TL of 2, and so on up the food chain. The value for top predators
rarely exceeds 5.
trophic levels
twilight zone
uniaxial
The energy levels or steps in a food chain or food web: primary producer, primary consumer,
secondary consumer, tertiary consumer etc.
see mesopelagic zone.
having axis composed of one single filament

U
unilocular
upland
urban sprawl
utricle
produced in a single cavity or cell as in the unilocular sporangium of the brown algal order
Ectocarpales
Any land that occurs above the high tide mark at the seashore.
A pattern and pace of land development in which the rate of land consumed for urban or suburban
purposes exceeds the rate of population growth using the developed land. Sprawl results in an
inefficient and consumptive use of land and its associated resources.
swollen terminal portion of filament or siphon as in siphonous green alga Codium
V
valve
variety
vesicle
vulnerable
vulnerable
opposite faces of diatom frustule or cell wall
Taxonomic classification, used primarily in plants, to indicate any kind of variation within a species.
membrane-bound organelle
IUCN classification for species for which the best available evidence shows that it is facing a high
risk of extinction in the wild.
A species of special concern because of characteristics that make it particularly sensitive to human
activities or natural events. Compare endangered, extinct, extirpated, threatened.
W
water cycle
wrack
The continuous circulation of water from the atmosphere to the earth, including the ocean, and back
to the atmosphere through condensation, precipitation, evaporation, and transpiration.
tangled mass of seaweeds on the beach
Y
yellow list
Uncommon, common, declining, and increasing species—all species not included on the prvincial
Red or Blue lists, but tracked by BC Conservation Data Centre.

Z
zoochlorella
zooplankton
zoospore
zooxanthella
zygote
zygote
zygotic meiosis
symbiotic green-pigmented algal cell in tissue of animal host
Animal component of the plankton that feed on phytoplankton and other zooplankton (primary
consumers). Compare phytoplankton.
flagellated, asexual reproductive cell
symbiotic golden-pigmented algal cell in tissue of animal host
the product of fertilization
A fertilized egg. Or the diploid cell that results from the joining of two haploid gametes (sperm and
egg) during sexual reproduction, that will cleave to form an embryo. See also fertilization, gamete.
meiosis that occurs during zygote maturation or germination