Invertebrates and Coral Reefs

Flashcards covering key vocabulary related to invertebrates and coral reefs.

Invertebrates

Animals without a backbone; represent 96% of all described species.

Phylum Porifera

Group of invertebrates known as sponges, characterized by cellular organization and a sac-like body with pores.

Cnidaria

Phylum that includes jellyfish and corals, exhibiting tissue-level organization and radial symmetry.

Gemmules

Specialized structures in sponges that can survive harsh environments through asexual reproduction.

Nematocysts

Stinging organelles found in cnidarians, used to capture prey or repel predators.

Scyphozoa

Class of Cnidaria that includes the true jellyfish, with a medusa-dominant life stage.

Anthozoa

Class of Cnidaria that includes corals and sea anemones, characterized by polyp-only form.

Coral Bleaching

Loss of zooxanthellae from corals due to stress factors like temperature increase, leading to coral death.

Ocean Acidification

Decreased pH levels in the ocean due to increased carbon dioxide, affecting coral growth.

Echinodermata

Phylum that includes invertebrates such as starfish and sea urchins, characterized by radial symmetry in adults.

Ecdysozoa

Superphylum that includes invertebrates that molt, such as arthropods and nematodes.

Heterogeneous assemblage

A diverse collection of groups, such as the various invertebrate phyla, with over 35 different types.

Zooxanthellae

Symbiotic algae living within coral tissues, crucial for coral nutrition through photosynthesis.

Aquatic Habitat

The environment in which aquatic organisms, such as corals and sponges, thrive.

Bilateria

Group of animals with bilateral symmetry and three germ layers, including vertebrates and many invertebrates.

Base of food webs

Invertebrates play a fundamental role at the base of food chains in various ecosystems.