8 Terms
Contributors in Marine biology
Marine biology
critical salinity
Biology; Marine biology
A salinity of approximately 5 to 8% that marks a minimum of species richness in an estuarine system.
symbiosis
Biology; Marine biology
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 ...
mutualism
Biology; Marine biology
An interaction between two species in which both derive some benefit.
invasive species
Biology; Marine biology
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 ...
deposit feeder
Biology; Marine biology
An organism that derives its nutrition by consuming some fraction of a soft sediment.
detrivore
Biology; Marine biology
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.
