marine science midterm 1

toothed whales

odontocetes

baleen whales

mysticetes

loggerhead turtle

caretta caretta

green sea turtle

chelonia mydas

hawksbill turtle

eretmochelys imbricata

butterflyflish

chaetodontidae

damselfish

pomacentridae

angelfish

pomacanthidae

surgeonfish

acanthuridae

rabbitfish

siganidae

parrotfish

scaridae

wrasse

labridae

grunt

haemulidae

snapper

lutjanidae

grouper

serranidae

jacks

carangidae

squirrelfish

holocentridae

triggerfish

balistidae

goby

gobiidae

barracuda

sphyraenidae

trunkfish

ostraciidae

trumpetfish

aulostomidae

eels

muraenidae

flounder

bothidae

pufferfish

diodontidae tetraodontidae

sexual dimorphism

different physical characteristics between males and females of the same species

countershading

a form of camouflage, darker color on top and lighter color on bottom

tropicalization

transformation of ecosystems by tropical organisms that move towards the poles due to warming ocean temperatures

facilitation

species interaction in which at least one benefits and neither is harmed

competition

interactions between organisms trying to get the same limited resources

science

study of cause and effect using the scientific method

benthic

lowest level of a body of water like the seafloor, and the organisms that live there

pelagic

open ocean and water column and organisms in this free-swimming environment

climate change

significant changes in temperature, precipitation, and other conditions over a long period of time

ecosystem engineer

species that shape ecosystems by modifying, maintaining, or creating habitats

mutualism

symbiotic relationship in which both species benefit

predation

organism (predator) kills and eats another (prey)

grazing

herbivorous organisms feeding on plants/algae

carnivory

organisms capture and eat other animals

parasitism

symbiotic relationship in which one organism (parasite) lives on another (host) and benefits at the expense of the host

echolocation

emit soundwaves and listen for echoes that reflect off objects, used by animals to find food and navigate

ecology

study of how living organisms interact with one another and their physical environment

radula

ribbon-like feeding organ covered in rows of tiny teeth, found in most mollusks, used to scrape and cut food

scyphozoa

class of large jellyfish, tetramerous symmetry, have medusa stage in life cycle

anthozoa

flower animals, polyps only (lacks medusa), largest taxon in cnidaria (sea anemones, hard corals, soft corals)

madreporite

porous, sieve-like structure in echinoderms (sea stars and sea urchins), entry point for water into the water vascular system

exoskeleton

hard external covering that provides protection and support for invertebrates

cnidocite

stinging cell used to capture prey and defend against predators, found in cnidarians

spicule

small, mineralized, rigid structural material in sponges that provide support

experiments

manipulate variables under controlled circumstances to see how one variable affects another. strength: shows cause and effect. weakness: may not accurately reflect complexity in the real world.

observations

watching and recording qualitative and quantitative data based on natural events. strength: real data from nature. weakness: cannot prove cause/effect.

modeling

using computer simulations to represent real systems. strength: makes large-scale phenomena accessible and tests scenarios safely. weakness: oversimplifies details.

meta-analysis

combining results from many studies to find overall patterns. strength: strong, broad conclusions. weakness: depends on quality/consistency across other studies.

experimental network

coordinated experiments across sites/labs to compare results. strength: increases reliability, shows global patterns. weakness: expensive and difficult to organize.