AICE Marine Science Chapter 5 Vocab

Ahermatypic

Soft corals that do not build reefs

Anchorage

[boats] The portion of a harbor or estuary used for ships to anchor; [organisms] location on a substrate where a sessile organism attaches + lives

Artificial Reef

An artificial underwater structure built to mimic the characteristics of a natural reef

Atoll

A coral reef somewhat circular in shape with a central lagoon

Barrier Reef

A reef separated by a lagoon from the land mass with which it is associated

Bio-Erosion

The breakdown of hard ocean substrates by living organisms through a number of mechanisms

Calcium Carbonate

A chemical compound w/ the formula CaCO3, which is found in rocks, pearls, + shells of marine organisms

Climate Change

Changes in global or regional climate patterns, especially changes that have been since the late 20th century

Coral Bleaching

The loss of symbiotic algae from the tissues of corals as a result of environmental factors

Fringing Reef

A reef close to + surrounding newer volcanic islands or that borders continental landmasses

Geomorphology

The study of the characteristics, origin, + development of landforms

Hermatypic

Hard corals capable of reef-building

Limestone

A sedimentary rock consisting mainly of calcium that was deposited by the remains of marine animals

Ocean Acidification

A reduction in the pH of the ocean over an extended period of time, caused primarily by uptake of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere

Patch Reef

Small, isolated reef usually located within the lagoon of a barrier reef

Polyp

The sessile (non-moving) life stage of coral animals

Radiocarbon Dating

A process used to estimate the age of organic material by measuring the radioactivity of its carbon content (also called carbon dating)

Reef Erosion

The gradual wearing away of a coral reef by the action of living organisms (bioerosion) + physical factors, such as storms

Run-Off

The flow of water from land caused by precipitation

Subsidence

Sinking of land

Substrate

The surface or material on or from which an organism lives, grows, or obtains its nourishment

Zooxanthellae

Symbiotic, photosynthesis dinoflagellates living within the tissues of many invertebrates