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

Radiocarbon dating

Natural environment; Coral reefs

A dating method used to determine the age of samples containing carbon. The method measures the disintegration of the 14C atom. 14C is produced in the atmosphere by cosmic ray bombardment, and has a ...

Protein

Natural environment; Coral reefs

A large complex molecule made up of one or more chains of amino acids. A typical protein contains 200-300 amino acids but some are much smaller and some much larger, e.g., titin, a protein found in ...

Nudibranch

Natural environment; Coral reefs

A opisthobranchiate mollusk (sea slugs), having no shell except while very young. The gills are naked and situated upon the back or sides.

Fin ray

Natural environment; Coral reefs

A slender, rod-shaped structure that supports the membranes of the fins of fishes. There are two types of rays, soft rays and spines. Soft rays are jointed, often branched, and flexible near their ...

Dichotomous key

Natural environment; Coral reefs

A tool to help identify taxa. It is made up of pairs of choices. Each choice is between statements describing specific traits of the taxa under consideration. Only one statement will be true for each ...

Cost-benefit analysis

Natural environment; Coral reefs

An assessment of the short-term and long-term costs (losses) and benefits (gains) that arise from an economic decision. If the calculated benefits exceed the calculated costs, the decision to buy an ...

Triggerfish

Natural environment; Coral reefs

Any of several species of tropical coral reef fishes in the order Tetraodontiformes, family Balistidae, with laterally compressed bodies, heavy scales, and tough skins. Triggerfishes are named for ...