Oceanography Vocab

1/13/17

Biotic

A living organism 

 Bioluminescence

The production and emission of light by a living organism. 

Abiotic 

Not derived from living things. 

Hydrothermal vents

A  vent that exposes heat to the water causing the water to get warmer and able to sustain animal life.

Limiting Factors 

An environment condition that has affected the population or growth of an organism(s) causing it to decrease. 

 Upwelling

Usually motion driven act, pushing cooler, more nutrient filled water up to the ocean surface. 

Carrying Capacity 

The number of people, other living organisms , or crops that a region and support without environment degradation.

Intertidal Zone 

The area that is above water at low tide but below the water at high tide.  

Population 

How many organisms are in that certain area. 

Neritic Zone

The relatively shallow part of he ocean above the drop off. Around 200 meters in depth. 

Predator 

An animal or person who preys on others naturally. 

Open Ocean Zone 

The open sea where it leaves the continental shelf into a deep area of the ocean. It is 65% of the ocean completely open water. 

Prey 

An animal that is hunted and used for food. 

Water Column 

A column of water that is measured from the surface to the bottom sediments of  the body of water.

Competition 

An activity or condition of which two or more organism are competing in. (Animals for food) 

Estuary 

A semi-enclosed body of water that has access to open ocean bringing fresh water drainage from land. 

Definite 

Clearly true or proven. 

Benthos 

organisms on the bottom of the ocean that crawl to move. 

Wetlands 

Land that has marshes or swamps; saturated land 

Nekton 

 Aquatic animals that are able to swim and move independently in water currents.

Food web 

A system of interlocking food chains. 

Plankton

Microscopic organisms floating around the ocean being pushed to different locations by the currents. 

Symbiosis 

The interaction of two different organisms living together, both benefiting from it. 

Salinity 

The concentration of dissolved salts in water. 

Commensalism

The class of relationships between two organisms while one is getting some type of benefit, but the other organism isn't being affected.

Alternative 

Available as another possibility. 

Mutualism 

Symbiosis that benefits both organisms. 

Alvin 

Vehicle that can go at deep sea levels. Can go 14,764 ft.

Parasitism 

A living parasite in or on another organism.  

Sonar

A system to detect animals under water and also measure water depth by emitting sound pulses by measuring their return  after being reflected.

Producer 

Organisms that make their own food 

Submersible 

A craft being able to be submerged into the water used for exploring and research. 

Consumer

A person or thing that eats or uses something. 

Scuba 

Under water breathing apparatus . 

Decomposer 

An organism, especially in soil bacterium , fungus , or invertebrate, that decomposes organic material.  

ROV

Unoccupied, highly maneuverable and operated by a crew in aboard vessel.  

Distinct 

Recognizably different in nature from other similar things. 

Consist

Be made something up of or contain .

Primary Consumer 

Usually herbivores, feeding on plants and fungus. Animals that eat primary producers. 

Secondary Consumer 

Animals that eat primary consumers. They are carnivores

Expand 

Make larger or bigger. 

Conclude 

Bring something to an end.