Vocabulary
A community of organisms that interact with each other and their physical environment
What is an ecosystem?
Often called blue-green algae, but are truly bacteria. Photosynthesize at great rates and transform nitrogen to usable molecules for sea creatures
What are cyanobacteria?
Creatures in the phylum Porifera without specialized organs, instead each specialized cell works together to run water througha series of canals to take in nutrients and remove waste.
What are sponges?
Special organ of molluscs that forms the shell
What is the mantle?
In class Chondrichthyes, or non-bony fish, the main component of the skeleton
What is cartilage?
A close living situation between 2 species where at least one of the species benefits
What is symbiosis?
Part of multicelular algae that receives sunlight for photosynthesis
What is the blade?
Creature form in the phylum Cnidaria that looks like an umbrella with tentacles pointing downward
What is a medusa?
Thin flexible, internal shell of a squid that provides support and a bit of structure.
What is a pen?
Special gas-filled sac that most bony fishes have that help them to rise or sink in the water
What is an air bladder?
Organs for taking oxygen from water
What are gills?
Gas-filled floats that help to hold algae upright in the water
What are pneumatocysts?
Creature form in the phylum Cnidaria that looks like a barrel with tentacles pointing upward
What is a polyp?
Fascinating body design that helps echinoderms like starfish move
What is a water vascular system?
Whales use this special form of communication utilizing a unique set of organs that work together to create , send out , and receive sounds
What is echolocation?
The production of visible light by living organisms
What is bioluminescence?
Part of algae that keeps it from floating away
What is a holdfast?
Stinging structures covering tentacles that are a common feature of cnidarians
What are nematocysts?
Echinoderm bodies are designed with a base of this number of radiating parts
What is 5?
Toothed whatles hunt in large groups called this
What is a pod?
Branch of biology that explores organisms living in or around the ocean.
What is marine biology?
An organism that either cannot swim at all or cannot swim strong enough to move against the ocean current
What is plankton?
These creatures often divide their body up to produce multiple mouths, remaining connected by a thin layer of tissue often forming large colonies called a reef.
What is coral?
In Crustaceans, the body part that is formed by the fused head and thorax
What is the cephalothorax?
Toothless whales use this organ to strain plankton out of ocean water for nutrition
What is baleen?