8 Terms
Contributors in Marine biology
Marine biology
guild
Biology; Marine biology
A group of species, possibly unrelated taxonomically, that exploit overlapping resources.
secondary consumer
Biology; Marine biology
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.
primary consumer
Biology; Marine biology
A heterotrophic, herbivorous organism that feeds directly on a primary producer. Urchins are a primary consumer as they feed on kelp.
atoll
Biology; Marine biology
A horseshoe or circular array of islands, capping a coral reef system perched around an oceanic volcanic seamount.
boundary layer
Biology; Marine biology
A layer of fluid near a surface, where flow is affected by viscous properties of the fluid. At the surface, fluid velocity must be zero, and the boundary layer is a thin film that depends on surface ...
complex life cycle
Biology; Marine biology
A life cycle that consists of several distinct stages (e.g., larva and adult).
chromosome
Biology; Marine biology
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.
