Continental shelf

The underwater shelf extending from a continent out to sea to a depth of about 165 fathoms or 1,000 feet. Long period swells of about 20 seconds will begin to feel the ocean floor ...

continental shelf

Fishing; Marine fishery

Underwater portion (shelf) of the continent, with moderate inclination, extending seaward from the shore to the edge of the continental slope where the inclination increases ...

continental shelf

Geography; Physical geography

Shallow sea floor fringing continents. That part of the continental plate that is currently flooded due to modern sea levels.

continental shelf

Weather; Meteorology

The zone around the continents extending from the low-water mark seaward to where there is a marked increase in slope to greater depths.

nodulose

Natural environment; Coral reefs

With small nodules, knobs or swellings.

fissure

Natural environment; Coral reefs

A deep and narrow depression cutting across the reef front with origins relating to jointing planes in the reef limestone or non-limestone bedrock.

damselfish

Natural environment; Coral reefs

A large family (Pomacentridae) of bony fishes which are abundant and common inhabitants of coral reefs. They possess robust, deep, and laterally compressed bodies. The majority of ...

complementary resources

Natural environment; Coral reefs

A pair of resources for which consumption by the consumer of one resource reduces its requirement for the other.

antennule

Natural environment; Coral reefs

A small antenna, especially the first pair of antennae in crustaceans.

odontophore

Natural environment; Coral reefs

A tooth-bearing structure found in most mollusks, except bivalves. It consists of several muscles and a cartilage which support the radula and radula sac; the term is also applied ...