Coral reefs

Coral reefs

Coral reefs are structures formed from the calcium carbonate secretions of corals. They are colonies of tiny animals in marine areas containing few nutrients.

Industry: Natural environment

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Coral reefs

Isobath

Natural environment; Coral reefs

A line on a map or chart that connects all points having the same depth below a water surface.

A planktonic larva that gains its nutrition from yolk (semi-crystalline phospholipoprotein granules). In most bony fishes, yolk is supplied by the yolk sac, a bag-like ventral extension of the gut ...

Groyne

Natural environment; Coral reefs

A solid structure built at an angle from a shore prevent erosion from currents, tides and waves, or to trap sand.

Amoeboid movement

Natural environment; Coral reefs

A type of motility of a cell in which cytoplasmic streaming (directional flow of cytoplasm) extrudes outward of the cell to form pseudopodia (false feet) so that the cell can change its location.

Oxygen isotope ratio (18O)

Natural environment; Coral reefs

An expression for the ratio of the 18O to 16O atoms in a sample relative to a standard, defined as: δ18o = (18O/16O sample - 18O/18O standard)/ 18O/16O standard.

Nutrient

Natural environment; Coral reefs

Any substance assimilated by organisms that promotes growth. Marine scientists typically measure nitrites, nitrates, phosphates, and silicates as nutrients for plant growth.