Page 219 - Dive the Seas and More-2

Coral Reef Teacher’s Guide Resources

fish, anemones, and other related organisms, which, reef face – the seaward facing slope of the reef. seagrass
when stimulated, ejects a harpoon‐like chemically – simple aquatic plants that grow on the sandy floor
paralyzes the victim. of the lagoon.
nocturnal – term used to describe animals that be‐ secondary consumer – organisms that typically ob‐ tain
come active during the night. their nutrients by eating primary consumers; typi‐ cal‐
ly carnivores that get t heir nutrients by eating her‐ bi‐
nudibranch – a marine organism also called a sea
vores.
slug or marine snail.
sediment – fine particles of solid matter suspended in
octocorals – coral polyps that typically have eigh
water or settling to the bottom of it.
tentacles and secrete flexible skeletons; also called
soft corals. soft coral – coral polyps that secrete flexible skel‐
etons; also called octocorals.
omnivore – an animal that eats both plants and
animals. spawning – a form of sexual reproduction where eggs
patch reef – an island of coral usually found growing and sperm are released, usually in water.
on the floor of a lagoon. species – a group of organisms that look alike and are
photosynthesis – process by which the zooxanthel‐ capable of producing fertile offspring.
lae use sunlight to convert the carbon dioxide and sustainable – use that minimizes negative impacts on
water in the polyp tissue into oxygen and carbohy‐ the ecosystem or environment while maintaining its
drates. contribution to society.

phytoplankton – tiny floating or drifting aquatic symbiotic – mutually beneficial relationship between
plants. plankton – tiny floating or drifting aquatic two different species.
plants or animals.
synergistic – working together.
planula – free‐swimming coral larva. tentacles – flexible, unsegmented feelers used for
feeding, touching, and smelling.
pollution – that which makes something foul or un‐
clean. tetraodontoxin – a powerful poison in some fish which
can cause serious illness and even death if ingested.
polyp – the tiny cylindrical body of a coral animal
which has a mouth opening surrounded by tenta‐ tropics – region of the Earth’s surface lying between the
cles. tropic of Cancer and the tropic of Capricorn (23 degrees,
27 minutes north and south of the equator).
population – all the members of a species that live
in the same area and make up a breeding group. vertebrate – an animal with a backbone.
predation – a relation between animals in which zooxanthellae – one‐celled tissue os various animals,
one captures and feeds on others. such as hard coral polyps, and produce photosynthetic
products that the host can use.
primary consumer – organisms that get their nu‐
tri‐ ents from primary producers; typically herbi‐ zooplankton – tiny floating or drifting aquatic animals.
vores that get their nutrients by eating plants.
primary producer ‐‐ organisms capable of produc‐
ing their own food, typically through photosynthe‐
sis, using light as an energy source.
propagules – specialized seed pods that grow on
the end of mangrove roots which drop down from
the canopy of the tree.
protection – the act of defending or guarding
from attack.
reef crest – the highest and shallowest part of
the reef.

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