Glossary

Antennae
Two attachments (structures) located on the head of an organism used for sensing its environment (feeling its environment)
Barrier reef
A reef that has formed a wall on the outside of a lagoon (shallow part of the reef) enclosing an island chain; can also be formed by the sinking of an island pushing out its fringing reef
Biodiversity
An area that is rich in many different living plants and animals (has a lot of). The variety of all life on Earth and the interconnections among living things
Camouflage
The ability to blend (hide) in to one’s surroundings and remain unnoticed (not seen)
Carnivore
Meat-eater
Colony
A number of animals living and working together in harmony
Communities
An area supporting various types of plants and animals which depend on each other for their survival
Competition
The daily interaction between organisms over available resources (ability to live together)
Compost
Broken down organic material, such as kitchen and garden waste
Conservation
Keeping a natural resource from being degraded (damaged) by human activities
Coral polyp
A soft-bodied marine animal living in colonies (groups) known as corals; it makes a hard limestone skeleton of which the structures are today’s coral reefs
Corallite
The hard limestone cup in which a coral polyp lives and builds around itself
Cyanide fishing
The use of poison to stun (shock) and catch fish
Decomposer
Animals that break down organic (pure) material and feed on natural rubbish
Deforestation
The removal of trees and plants from forest areas
Destructive fishing
Those fishing methods considered to be harmful to the surrounding environment and coral reefs
Detritus
Broken down organic matter; often food for animals
Dry littoral forest
Type of vegetation and forest found in coastal areas (areas near the sea) which receives little rainfall
Dynamite fishing
Method of fishing using sticks of dynamite to blow up areas of reef where fish may be hiding
Ecosystems
Different life forms interacting, competing (living together) and working together in a balanced way
Endangered
When populations of an individual species(animals or plants) are very few and therefore, the world is at risk of losing this species
Endemic
A species that is found only in that particular area and no where else in the world
Energy
The power gained by consuming (eating/taking in) sunlight or food, in order to be active
Extinction
When all the individuals of a species of animal no longer exist (when all animals are lost/dead)
Fertilizer
Material used to make soil rich and enable plants and trees to grow healthy and strong
Filter-feeder
An animal that gets its food by straining small particles from its surrounding water
Fishing yield
Number of fish caught
Food chain/web
The exchanging of energy between living organisms
Fringing reef
A reef that grows on the edge of an island
Habitat
The specific area where an animal feeds, sleeps, breeds, and is able to find all its necessary resources to live
Herbivore
Animals that feed on plant matter only
Heritage
Aspects of an individual’s historical, cultural and traditional background
Indicator species
Those animals that are chosen because their presence or absence shows a change in the health of the surroundings
Introduced predators
An animal that has been brought in to an area where it has not existed before and will prey (feed) on the animals living in that same area before. A species that does not naturally occur in an area. Also called alien, exotic, or non-native species, these invaders can cause major problems for native plants and animals.
Invasive species
An organism that is new to an area and has the ability to successfully take over the available resources
Invertebrates
Animals with no back-bone
Jet propulsion
The rapid movement caused by sucking in water and squirting (pushing) it out rapidly of a jet-like siphon (pump)
Litter
Waste products
Mucus
A slimy substance made by animals to protect or keep themselves moist
Nutrients
Compounds which allow organisms to grow healthy; food for organisms
Ostia
Millions of tiny holes found in a sponge
Outbreak
Excess number of individuals causing damage to the area
Out-compete
To be more successful at gaining access to a resource
Overfishing
The practice of either taking too many individuals of a species at one time or taking too many of a certain size of that individual so that there is none left for the future
Pesticide
A chemical used to kill insects; often used in farming
Photosynthesis
The process where plants use sunlight, carbon dioxide and water to make sugars for energy
Pollution
Waste matter that is damaging to the environment
Predation
Where one animal hunts another for its food
Primary consumer
Animal that eats green plants
Producer
Organism that uses sunlight to make energy; plants
Recycle
The act of using an item again
Secondary consumer
Animal that eats other smaller plant-eating animals; carnivore
Sediment
Fine soil and mud particles floating in the water
Selective fishing
To make an educated decision on the fish that are caught
Slash-and-burn farming
The rotation of clearing and burning land used in farming; this method strips the soil of minerals
Soil erosion
The washing of soil away from the land
Spawning aggregations
Groups of fish which gather together in the one area to breed at a particular time of year or day
Species diversity
Many different types of plants and animals
Subsistence
Obtaining only enough food for your household
Substrate
The type of living and non-living material that makes up the sea bed
Survey
The process of counting and recording the living and non-living aspects of an area
Sustainable
The continued wise use of a resource today so that it is still there to be used tomorrow
Symbiosis
The relationship between two organisms where both parties benefit
Tourism
Industry where foreigners visit a country to experience its different culture and natural environment
Toxin
Natural poisons
Tube feet
The suction pads found on the bottom of the feet of many invertebrates
Wet tropical rainforest
Type of dense vegetation found in warm areas of high rainfall
Zooxanthellae
Extremely tiny algae (plant cells) living inside the tissue of an animal providing it with energy by using sunlight

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