Glossary
abiotic factors nonliving things in the
environment, e.g., water and minerals
absorbed light light that is taken up by a
substance
acid a solution that contains a larger number of
hydrogen ions than hydroxyl ions
acid precipitation formed when moisture in air
absorbs chemicals; acid rain
acorn worm wormlike protochordate; adult has
dorsal nerve cord and gill slits
adaptation any characteristic of an organism
that enables it to live successfully in its
environment
adductor muscles short, tough muscles that
hinge together a bivalve’s shells
agar chemical in red algae that is used in foods,
medicines, and bacterial cultures
air embolism blockage of a blood vessel by a
gas bubble in an important organ
algae plantlike protists, many single-celled, that
carry out photosynthesis
algal bloom a sudden increase in the algae
population in shallow waters
algin chemical in kelp that is used in foods and
many different products
ambient pressure total pressure on a diver; the
sum of atmospheric pressure and hydrostatic
pressure
amniotic egg contains large yolk; enclosed in a
case to prevent water loss; first seen in reptiles
amphipods tiny, beach-dwelling shrimplike
crustaceans with flattened sides
amplitude volume of a sound, represented by
height of the sound wave
ampulla bulblike structure at the top of each
tube foot, used in movement
ampullae of Lorenzini in shark, nerve receptors
in tiny pores in snout, which detect electric
fields of other animals
angle of insolation angle at which the sun’s
rays strike Earth’s surface
annelids see segmented worms
aphotic zone vast area below photic zone; no
light penetrates to these depths
aquaculture process of farming aquatic
organisms (marine and freshwater)
aqua-lung a tank of compressed air that is
strapped to the diver’s back
aquanauts scientists who explore the undersea
world
Archimedes’ principle states that the buoyant
force on any object is equal to the weight of
the liquid that the object displaces
Aristotle’s lantern in sea urchins, five-toothed
mouth part for eating algae
arrow worm tiny, transparent worm that lives
near the ocean surface; active hunter with
mouth bristles for hooking prey
arthropods animals with jointed appendages,
exoskeleton, bilateral symmetry
asexual reproduction the production of
offspring by one parent
atoll a string of coral islands that form a circle
(around a sunken island)
autotrophs organisms that make their own
food; the producers: plants and algae
bacteria single-celled organisms that lack a
nuclear membrane (monerans)
baleen in whales, overlapping plates of fibrous
protein used for filter feeding
baleen whales filter feeders with baleen plates;
eat zooplankton and small fish
barnacle sessile crustacean with overlapping
calcium carbonate plates and cirri
barotrauma any diving injury associated with
pressure
barrier beaches long ridges of sand formed by
deposit of sediments offshore
barrier reef a coral reef that grows about 25
kilometers offshore, separated by a channel
from the mainland
599
base a solution (alkaline) that contains a larger
number of hydroxyl (than hydrogen) ions
bathyscaphe a deep-diving vessel developed in
the 1950s
bathysphere a round, deep-diving vessel with a
porthole, attached to a ship by a cable
bathythermograph narrow canister used to get
temperature profile of ocean
bends a decompression illness (gas bubbles in
joints and tissues) that happens to divers
during a rapid ascent
benthic term used to describe bottom-dwelling
organisms
benthic zone life zone that includes entire
ocean floor, from intertidal to basin
benthos organisms that inhabit the benthic
zone
bilateral symmetry body plan in which
structures on left side of body are same as
those on right side of body; first in worms
binary fission asexual reproduction in which a
cell divides into two cells of equal size
biodiversity the great variety of life-forms
within a habitat, ecosystem, or the entire
Earth
biological magnification the increase in
concentration of a chemical (usually toxic) in
a food chain; also called biomagnification
bioluminescence the ability of an organism to
produce light in its body
biotic factors livings things in the
environment, e.g., plants and animals
bivalves mollusks with two shells, e.g., clams;
also called pelecypods
black skimmer seabird that catches fish with its
lower jaw as it flies over ocean
bloodworm segmented worm that lives in
marine sediments; has bristles
blowhole in whales and dolphins, opening on
top of head used for breathing
blubber in cetaceans and pinnipeds, a thick
layer of fat under the skin
bony fishes have bone skeleton, loose scales on
skin, swim bladder; e.g., tuna
book gills in horseshoe crab, overlapping
membranes used for breathing and
locomotion
brackish a mixture of freshwater and salt water,
found in estuaries
600 Glossary
bradycardia in diving marine mammals, ability
to slow the heart rate during deep dives;
important part of diving response
breaching behavior in which whales leap out of
water and crash back down
brittle stars solitary, nocturnal echinoderm,
with long, skinny arms for moving
brown pelican large coastal bird that dives to
catch fish in its big throat pouch
brown tide an algal bloom of diatoms that
clouds shallow, coastal waters
bryozoan microscopic, multicellular, benthic
animal that lives within a calcium carbonate
or chitin compartment in colonies
budding asexual reproduction in which a
smaller individual develops on, and breaks off
from, the larger parent body
buffers chemicals in ocean water that help
maintain a stable (neutral) pH
bulkheads walls that form watertight
compartments inside a ship’s hull
buoyancy upward force that supports floating
objects
byssal threads tough, fibrous protein threads
that attach mussels to a substrate
camouflage ability to change appearance to
blend in with natural surroundings
carapace in crustaceans, part of exoskeleton
that covers head and chest regions
carnivores term that describes flesh-eating
animals; usually have sharp teeth
carrageenan chemical in seaweed used as a
binding agent in foods and toothpaste
cartilage flexible connective tissue, composed
of cells and protein
cartilaginous fishes have cartilage skeleton, gill
slits, placoid scales; sharks and rays
cell theory states that all living things are made
of one or more cells, perform the same basic
life functions, and come from preexisting cells
cephalopods swimming mollusks, with
prominent head and foot (tentacles); usually
lack an external shell, have streamlined body,
swim by jet propulsion
cephalothorax in crustaceans, segment that
comprises head and chest regions
cetaceans order of aquatic mammals that
includes all whales and dolphins
chambered nautilus deep-water cephalopod
that has an external shell, with gas-filled
inner compartments to regulate buoyancy
chemosynthesis process by which organisms
derive energy from chemicals
chitin type of carbohydrate that makes up the
exoskeleton of arthropods
chiton mollusk with overlapping shells on
muscular foot; no tentacles, scrapes algae off
rocks with radula, in intertidal zone
chlorophyll the green pigment; important in
process of photosynthesis
chordates animals having dorsal nerve cord,
notochord, and pharyngeal gill slits at some
stage of development; includes all
protochordates and vertebrates
chromatophores in cephalopods, special
pigmented cells that expand and contract to
enable camouflage
chromosomes threadlike structures made up of
molecules of DNA that have instructions for
reproduction
cilia microscopic hairs in and on animals, used
in feeding and movement
circumnavigate to sail completely around Earth
cirri in barnacles, pairs of feathery appendages
that catch food particles
claspers in male shark, pair of organs between
pelvic fins that transfer sperm
climax community the last stable community
to appear in any succession
cnidarians multicellular animals characterized
by two cell layers, saclike digestive tract,
tentacles, radial symmetry, and nerve net;
e.g., jellyfish, sea anemones, and corals
cnidoblasts in cnidarians, the stinging cells
contained in their tentacles
coelom fluid-filled space that separates digestive
tract from skin; in annelids
collar cells sponge cells with flagella that beat
back and forth to pump water
colonial animals organisms that live attached
to one another by a thin membrane and so
have shared nutrition; e.g., the coral polyp
color contrast in fish, a pattern of different
colors that identifies the species
commensalism symbiotic relationship in which
one species benefits while the other species is
not affected by the association
common tern small shorebird that nests on
sand and dives to catch small fish
compound substance that contains two or more
kinds of atoms that are chemically joined, or
bonded, together
compound light microscope research tool with
two lenses for magnification
compressions in a sound wave, air molecules
that are squeezed together
condensation process of cloud formation,
occurs when molecules of water vapor come
close enough together; part of the water cycle
conjugation among protozoans, two parents
exchange parts of their micronuclei (genetic
material) before undergoing binary fission
conservation careful management and
protection of natural resources and the
environment
consumers organisms that do not make their
own food; they (animals) ingest food
continental drift theory that the continents
once formed one large landmass, then broke
apart and drifted to their present positions
continental rise slightly elevated region formed
at base of continental slope by accumulation
of mudslide sediments
continental shelf relatively shallow part of
seafloor that adjoins continents
continental slope area where seafloor drops
steeply at outer edge of continental shelf
contractile vacuole structure in protozoan cell
that pumps out excess water
control group in an experiment, the group not
exposed to the variable
controlled experiment uses an experimental
group and a control group to test a hypothesis
convection current continual movement of
gas or liquid in a cycle as the heated part rises
and the cooler part sinks; inside Earth, causes
molten magma to rise from mantle into crust;
in atmosphere, causes breezes
copepod tiny, abundant crustacean; important
as base of oceanic food chain
coral polyp the coral animal, usually colonial;
resembles small sea anemone
coral reef stony formation built up from the
seafloor by colonial coral polyps
cordgrass types of marsh grasses found in the
intertidal zone (Spartina)
Glossary 601
Coriolis effect states that the spin of Earth
causes winds and surface waters to move
clockwise in northern hemisphere and
counterclockwise in southern hemisphere
cormorant common shorebird that dives to
catch fish
countercurrents slow, deep horizontal ocean
currents that flow in opposite direction of
surface currents
countershading in fish, a fixed pattern of
darker skin on top, lighter skin below
crest the highest point of a sound wave or water
wave
crinoids echinoderm having many feathery
arms, usually atop a jointed stalk
crocodilians large reptiles that have a four-
chambered heart; alligators and crocodiles
crust Earth’s surface layer (above mantle), about
40 kilometers thick
crustaceans arthropods with bilateral
symmetry, exoskeleton, and two main body
segments (cephalothorax and abdomen)
current a large mass of continuously moving
ocean water
cuttlefish bottom-dwelling squidlike
cephalopod that feeds on invertebrates
cyanobacteria the blue-green bacteria; the only
photosynthetic monerans
decomposers organisms that break down and
recycle dead organic matter
decompression a decrease in pressure upon
ascent; if too rapid, can cause gases to come
out of solution and form bubbles
delta fan-shaped feature formed by sediments
that pile up at a river’s mouth
density defined as mass per unit volume
desalination removal of salt from ocean water
to produce freshwater
dew water that condenses (from vapor to liquid)
on a solid surface
dew point temperature at which water vapor
condenses as a cloud or fog
diatoms single-celled protists (algae); part of
phytoplankton community
diffusion movement of molecules from an area
of higher concentration to an area of lower
concentration; passive transport
602 Glossary
dinoflagellates single-celled protists (algae) that
have two flagella; phytoplankton
disruptive coloration in fish, patterns that
obscure body outline, for protection
dissecting microscope research tool for viewing
larger specimens under magnification
dissolved oxygen (DO) the oxygen that is
dissolved in bodies of water
diving chamber early chamber for diving that
contained a supply of air
diving response in marine mammals, a group
of structural and behavioral responses that
enables deep diving; also called diving reflex
diving suit watertight canvas suit with a metal
helmet, weighted boots, and air pumped
through a tube
dugong herbivorous, aquatic mammal
(sirenian) found mainly in warm Pacific
coastal waters; also called sea cow
dunes in upper beach area, small hills of sand
formed by the wind
echinoderms spiny-skinned animals with radial
symmetry, internal skeleton, but no body
segments
echolocation in cetaceans, a natural form of
sonar used in communication and hunting
ecological succession process by which one
community of organisms gradually replaces
another community over time; also called
biological succession
ecology study of interaction of living things
with each other and environment
ecosystem the interacting biotic and abiotic
factors within an environment
ectothermic term for animal in which body
temperature is determined by temperature of
external environment; also cold-blooded
eel grass a type of sea grass that grows along the
Atlantic and Pacific coasts
effluent the liquid discharge of sewage that has
been chemically treated
El Niño periodic warm ocean current that
develops in middle of the Pacific
electromagnetic spectrum all forms of solar
radiation, including visible light
electron microscope research tool for viewing
tiny objects with highest magnification
embryo the early stage of development during
which there is a rapid division of cells
encrusting organisms living things that grow
over the surfaces of substrates
endangered species term for species that are in
immediate risk of extinction
endoskeleton an internal skeleton; first seen in
the echinoderms
endothermic term for animal that can generate
its own body heat, e.g., birds and mammals;
also warm-blooded
enzyme a protein that regulates the speed of a
chemical reaction without itself being
changed; also called organic catalysts
estuary environment formed at mouth of river,
where freshwater and salt water mix
eukaryotes organisms that have nuclear
material enclosed within a membrane
evaporation process by which liquid water
changes to a gas
excurrent siphon in bivalves, part of siphon
through which waste products exit
exoskeleton in arthropods, tough body
covering, or outer skeleton, of chitin
experimental group in an experiment, the
group exposed to the variable
extinct condition of a species when it no longer
exists anywhere in the world
eyespots in sea stars, tiny light receptors located
at the end of each arm
fault a crack in Earth’s crust that occurs at the
margin of two plates
feather stars crinoids that move by means of
flapping their feathery arms
filter feeders term for animals that strain their
food from the water
fisheries industry that commercially harvests
fish and shellfish
fjord a steep, deep, narrow inlet from the sea,
formed by the action of glaciers
flatworms species of worms that have a flat
body form; platyhelminthes
fog air that is saturated with moisture near the
ground (ground-level cloud)
food chain food relationship in which each
organism serves as food for the next one
food pyramid food chain arranged as a diagram
with the lowest trophic level at the base and
highest trophic level at the top
food web food relationships, composed of
many interconnected food chains
foraminiferan unicellular protist with a calcium
carbonate shell; zooplankton
fossil fuels fuels such as coal, gas, and oil that
release carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) into
atmosphere when burned
frequency the number of wavelengths per
second of a particular radiation
fringing reef a coral reef that grows a few
kilometers offshore, parallel to the mainland
fungi unicellular and multicellular eukaryotic
organisms that absorb nutrients
gametes reproductive cells that contain the
haploid number of chromosomes; function in
sexual reproduction
ganglia nerve cell clusters that act like a simple
brain; found in flatworms
gastropods mollusks that have one shell,
usually coiled (as in snails); univalves
genome total genetic make-up of an organism,
i.e., all its genes
giant tube worms deep-sea worms that live in
tubes near hot-water vents
gill net intercepts school of fish, which get
caught by gills in net’s mesh
gill slits in cartilaginous fish, visible openings
for breathing; often ventral
global warming worldwide warming trend,
possibly due to increase in greenhouse gases
graph pictorial representation of data that
shows relationships
greenhouse effect a warming of Earth caused
when heat is trapped in the atmosphere by
water vapor and carbon dioxide
greenhouse gas substances, such as carbon
dioxide, that are released when fossil fuels are
burned; trap heat in the atmosphere
guyots flattened undersea structures, formed
when tops of seamounts are eroded by waves
and currents
gyres circular ocean currents caused by
deflection of water by the continents
Glossary 603
halocline layer of water that shows rapid
increase in salinity; 100 to 200 meters deep
hatchlings baby turtles or birds, just after they
break through their shells
heat of fusion energy lost when there is a
change in state from liquid to solid
heat of vaporization energy absorbed when
there is a change in state from liquid to gas
heavy metals elements that are discharged by
industries into waterways; harmful to living
things when they biomagnify in their tissues
herbivores term that describes plant-eating
animals; usually have blunt teeth
heterotrophs organisms that live on food made
by others; the consumers
hirudin chemical anticoagulant secreted by
leech into prey to aid blood flow
holdfast tough, fibrous pad of tissue that
anchors seaweed, e.g., Fucus, to a rock
homeostasis ability of an organism to maintain
a stable internal environment
horseshoe crab arthropod with six pairs of
appendages, carapace, book gills, and spiked
tail (telson); lives in coastal waters
host organism that is fed on by a parasite living
in or on it
hot spot an area of intense geologic activity in
the crust where a seamount forms
humidity the amount of moisture in the
atmosphere
hurricane coastal storm with wind velocity that
exceeds 120 kilometers per hour
hydroid cnidarian; colonial animal composed
of different polyps that function together as a
single organism; e.g., Obelia and Physalia
hydrometer weighted glass tube used to
determine the density of a liquid
hydrostatic pressure pressure exerted by the
water’s mass (due to its density)
hydrothermal vent an area in the rift zone at
which hot springs emerge
hygrometers instruments that are used to
determine relative humidity
hypothermia excessive loss of body heat caused
by exposure to very cold water
hypothesis a possible solution to a problem;
tested in an experiment
604 Glossary
hypoxia meaning “low oxygen,” aquatic
condition in which the dissolved oxygen level
is below minimum level needed by fish
incurrent siphon in bivalves, part of siphon
through which water that contains food and
oxygen enters
inner space term used to describe the undersea
world
intertidal zone on a beach, the area between
high tide and low tide
island arcs groups of volcanic islands that form
an arc near an ocean trench
isopods tiny, shallow-water crustaceans that
have flattened bodies, seven pairs of legs
jawless fishes parasitic, jawless, retain larval
notochord (no true backbone), and lack true
scales (lamprey)
kelp the largest seaweeds in the ocean, they are
types of brown algae
keys (cays) small islands that form when
chunks of coral stone break off from reefs and
accumulate on seafloor
krill cold-water, shrimplike, planktonic
crustacean; eaten by fish, whales, and seals
lancelet fishlike protochordate; adult retains all
three primitive chordate traits
land breeze cool breeze that flows from the
land to sea (during summer night)
larva free-living stage in the early development
of an organism
lateral line organ line of sensitive sound
receptors along each side of a fish’s body
latitude geographic measurement lines
(measured in degrees north or south) that run
parallel to the equator
leech segmented worm without bristles; some
free-living, some parasitic
lichen composed of an alga and a fungus
growing in a symbiotic relationship; usually
first pioneer organism to appear on rocks
life zone region that contains characteristic
organisms that interact with one another and
their environment
lobtailing behavior in which whales wave and
smash tail on ocean surface
longitude geographic measurement lines
(measured in degrees east or west) that run
from north pole to south pole
long-lining fishing method that uses long lines
with many hooks attached
longshore current a current that moves parallel
to shore, produced by waves that break at an
angle to the shore
magma molten material within Earth’s mantle
(called lava at Earth’s surface)
manatee herbivorous aquatic mammal
(sirenian) found in warm Atlantic coastal
waters; also called sea cow
manganese nodules valuable mineral deposits
found on the ocean floor
mangrove community thick growth of
mangrove trees along tropical coasts
mangrove trees trees that grow in salt water
along tropical shores worldwide
mantle region of geologic activity between the
Earth’s core and crust
mantle in bivalves, thin membrane that secretes
the shell and lines insides of shell
to protect internal organs; in cephalopods,
mantle cavity is used in movement
mariculture process of farming marine (plant
and animal) organisms
marine biology study of life in the sea; also
called biological oceanography
marine ecology study of ecological interactions
within the ocean
marine geologists scientists who study features
of, and changes in, the seafloor
marine iguana Galápagos lizard that swims and
feeds (on algae) in the ocean
marine sanctuaries protected areas in which no
commercial activities are permitted
marine science study comprising marine
biology and oceanography
marsh grasses a variety of plants that grow
along sandy beaches of calm bays
mass the amount of matter in an object, not
dependent on gravity
maximum sustainable yield largest amount of
fish that can be taken from a population
without threatening its future size
medusa in jellyfish, umbrella-shaped body part
composed of two membranes
melanin one of the most common skin
pigments (found in chromatophores)
melon in dolphins, a fatty bump on forehead
that focuses sounds in the head
meniscus the curved surface of a liquid in a
cylinder
mesoglea in jellyfish, jellylike mass between the
two membranes of the medusa
metabolic activity internal energy (activity)
level of an organism
metric system the system of measurement used
in science
mid-ocean ridge undersea volcanic mountain
range that encircles the globe
minerals natural, inorganic substances
(resources) formed in Earth’s crust
mixture contains two or more substances that
can be separated by ordinary physical means
mollusks soft, bilaterally symmetrical animals
with head (and brain), foot region, coelom,
coiled visceral mass, and usually an external
or internal shell
molting in crustaceans, process of shedding
outer covering (to grow) each year
monerans bacteria and blue-green bacteria; the
single-celled prokaryotes
mud flat community part of estuary, dark mud
with high decay and no grasses
multicellular describes organisms made up of
more than one cell
mutualism symbiotic relationship in which
both species benefit from the association
myoglobin in diving marine mammals, an
oxygen-binding protein in muscles that
increases their oxygen-carrying capacity
during deep dives
Nansen bottle used to collect water samples
from different depths in water column
natural resources materials from the
environment that people use and eat
neap tides weaker tides (not too high or low)
produced twice each month
nekton term for marine animals that have the
ability to swim
Glossary 605
nematocyst in cnidoblasts, coiled thread with a
barb, usually toxic
nematodes see roundworms
nephridia pair of coiled tubes, for excretion, in
each body segment of annelids
neritic zone region of relatively shallow water
above continental shelf; life zone beyond
subtidal zone
nerve net simple nervous system, a network of
nerve cells and receptor cells
neutral a solution that contains equal numbers
of hydrogen ions and hydroxyl ions; having a
pH of 7.0
nitrogen fixation the process of producing
nitrates from atmospheric nitrogen
nitrogen narcosis a confused state of mind that
may occur during deep dives
nonbiodegradable litter that cannot be broken
down by natural processes
nonpoint source pollution oil pollution from
many diffuse points of origin
nudibranch gastropod that lacks, or has a
reduced, shell; also called a sea slug
nutrition utilization of food by living things for
growth and energy
O2 minimum zone area of lowest dissolved
oxygen, at 1000-meters depth
ocean basin deepest part of the ocean floor
(beyond continental slopes)
oceanic zone life zone beyond neritic zone that
includes most of open ocean
oceanographers scientists who study the sea
oceanography study of the physical
characteristics of the sea
omnivore an animal that consumes both
animals and plants
operculum in snails, thick pad of tissue that
closes shell opening over foot; in bony fish,
flap of tissue that covers gills
organelles tiny structures in cells that carry out
important functions
osculum large hole at top of sponge through
which water and wastes exit
osmoregulation ability of aquatic organisms to
maintain proper water balance
osmosis movement of water molecules from an
area of higher concentration to an area of
606 Glossary
lower concentration across a cell membrane;
passive transport
osmotic pressure increased water pressure in an
aquatic organism, due to inability to
osmoregulate; can upset cell function
osprey catches fish with its talons as it flies over
coastal water; also called fish hawk
ostia many small holes (pores) in sponge
through which food particles enter
oystercatcher large coastal bird that has long
knifelike beak to catch mollusks
parapodia paddlelike appendages of
sandworms, for moving through wet sand
parasite organism that obtains its food by living
in or on the body of another organism
parasitism symbiotic relationship in which one
species (the parasite) benefits while the other
species (the host) is harmed by it
pelagic term for open-water (wider-ranging)
species of fish, such as tuna
pelagic zone largest life zone in ocean, entire
ocean of water above sea bottom; includes the
neritic and oceanic zones
pH the degree of acidity or alkalinity of a
solution (power of hydrogen ions)
photic zone part of the ocean that light
penetrates; average depth of 100 meters
photophores patches of bioluminescent tissue
in organisms in dim waters
photosynthesis the manufacture of simple
carbohydrates by plants and algae
phytoplankton plantlike members of the
plankton community, e.g., diatoms
pigment a coloring matter found in cells and
tissues of plants and animals
pinnipeds group of marine mammals that
includes seals, sea lions, walruses
pioneer community first group of organisms to
appear in an area devoid of life
placoid scales in cartilaginous fish; scales are
tiny teeth embedded deep in skin
planarian type of flatworm found in freshwater
and marine habitats; has eyespots, ganglia,
and bilateral symmetry
plankton community of organisms that float
and drift near ocean surface
planula ciliated, swimming larva of some
invertebrates
plate tectonics theory that Earth’s crustal plates
float on the mantle
plates segments of Earth’s crust that float (with
the continents on top) on the mantle
pod in cetaceans, the extended family group in
which they live and travel
pollutants substances that have a harmful effect
on living things
pollution substances introduced into the
environment that harm living things
polyculture farming of different fish species
(that eat different foods) together
polyp in cnidarians, body structure with
mouth, tentacles, and digestive cavity; lives
attached to a substrate
powder feathers in aquatic birds, they repel
water to protect underlying down feathers
precipitate a solid substance that may be
produced when two liquids are mixed
precipitation forms of moisture that fall to
earth, such as rain and snow
predator an animal that kills and eats other
animals (the prey)
preen in birds, method of grooming; the beak is
used to spread oil through feathers
prey an animal that is killed and eaten by
another animal (the predator)
primary consumer the first-level consumer
(of producers) in a food chain, e.g., the
zooplankton that eat phytoplankton
proboscis sharp, sticky extension in ribbon
worm’s head, used to spear food
producers organisms, such as algae and plants,
that make their own food
prokaryotes organisms that lack a nuclear
membrane (single-celled monerans)
prop roots arching roots that anchor mangrove
trees into the muddy sand
protists kingdom of mostly single-celled
organisms (protozoa and algae) that
have nuclear material enclosed in a
membrane
protochordates primitive invertebrate
chordates: tunicate, lancelet, acorn worm
protozoa tiny animal-like protists; ingest food
pseudopods cytoplasmic extensions used for
movement by some protozoans
purse seine net net that surrounds and traps
large schools of fish near surface
radial symmetry body plan in which
appendages are arranged around a central
point; in cnidarians and echinoderms
radiant energy all forms of energy emitted from
the sun
radioactive wastes unstable radioactive
isotopes that emit harmful high-energy rays
and particles as they break down
radiolarian a unicellular protist zooplankton
with a transparent silica cell wall
radula ribbonlike toothed structure of
gastropods used for scraping up food
rarefactions in a sound wave, where air
molecules are spaced farther apart
red tide an algal bloom of dinoflagellates that
may poison other organisms
reed grass a tall marsh grass (Phragmites) that
has fluffy brown tassels
reflected light light that bounces off a surface
refraction the bending of light as it passes
through substances of different densities
regeneration asexual reproduction in which a
whole new body can be grown from parts of
the parent body
relative humidity amount of water vapor
in the atmosphere compared to maximum
amount that air can hold at given
temperature
remote sensors instruments that gather data
about Earth without being in physical contact
with it, e.g., satellites
rhizomes the underground stems of plants such
as turtle grass
ribbon worm free-living marine worm; flat,
large, unsegmented, has proboscis and
more advanced body systems than in the
flatworms
rift valley a depression that runs along the crest
of the mid-ocean ridge
rip current fast, narrow current of water moving
seaward, formed when a sandbar breaks
robots explorational vehicles that do not carry
humans on board
rocky coasts shores made up of solid rock; often
more steep than sandy beaches
rogue waves tall, lone waves formed when
waves meet other waves or currents
rotifer microscopic, multicellular, ciliated
animal that lives in moist sands
Glossary 607
roundworms most numerous sea worms;
usually small, free-living, cylindrical
salinity the amount of salt dissolved in water
salt glands in marine reptiles and birds, excrete
a salty solution to rid excess body salts
salt marsh community part of estuary where
grasses grow in shallow water; wetlands
sand dollar round echinoderm, with no arms
and short spines covering skin
sandbar sand eroded by wave action that gets
deposited in a long hill offshore
sandpiper small shorebird that has narrow bill
for catching small invertebrates in sand
sandworm segmented worm that lives in
intertidal and subtidal muddy sands
sandy beach environment along a shore
composed of sand (loose sediments)
scaphopods mollusks with a tapering shell,
burrow in sand undersea; tusk shells
scavengers animals that eat the remains of
already dead plants and animals
scientific method an organized step-by-step
problem-solving approach
scuba tank see aqua-lung; acronym for self-
contained underwater breathing apparatus
sea a smaller part of an ocean, where two
continents lie close together
sea anemones cnidarians; have tentacles and a
nerve net; live as sessile polyps
sea breeze cool breeze that flows from the sea to
land (during summer day)
sea cucumber echinoderm with soft, oblong
body and tube feet arranged in five rows; has
no arms, spines, or endoskeleton
sea ducks ducks that dive into ocean to eat
mollusks, crustaceans, and fish
sea grass types of grass that grow in shallow
subtidal zones along coasts
sea gull ocean bird that feeds on crabs, dead
marine animals, and garbage
sea level the point at which the ocean surface
touches the shoreline
sea lilies sessile crinoids with feathery arms; live
attached by a stalk to seafloor
sea otter smallest of marine mammals, Pacific
Coast member of weasel family
sea snake venomous, tropical ocean-dwelling
reptile with rudderlike tail
608 Glossary
sea stars echinoderms that usually have five
arms radiating from a central body
sea turtle turtles that live and feed in sea, but
come ashore to lay their eggs
sea urchin round echinoderm, with no arms
and long spines covering skin
seabirds term for all birds that depend on the
ocean for their survival
seafloor spreading the moving apart of Earth’s
plates, caused by the upward movement of
magma under the mid-ocean ridge
seamounts small undersea mountains formed
by lava piling up on seafloor; they form over
hot spots in the mantle
seaweeds multicellular algae that live in the
ocean
secondary consumer the second-level
consumer (of primary consumers) in a food
chain, e.g., shrimp that eat zooplankton
segmented worms characterized by body
divided into segments; have coelom
sessile term for organisms that live attached to a
substrate
setae hairlike bristles that stick out from the
parapodia of sandworms
sexual reproduction the production of
offspring by two parents
sieve plate in sea star, small filter on dorsal
surface through which water enters
siphon in mollusks, water-flow passageway, or
tube; used for feeding and breathing (in
bivalves) and locomotion (in cephalopods)
sirenians large, docile, plant-eating marine
mammals; manatees and dugongs
skin gills in sea stars, small, ciliated projections
on skin, used for breathing
sludge solid part of sewage that settles to
bottom of tank during treatment
snowy egret tall salt-marsh bird that has
pointed bill for grabbing small fish
solute any substance that a solvent, such as
water, holds in a dissolved state
solution a solvent with substances (solutes)
dissolved in it, e.g., salt water
solvent substance, such as water, that can
dissolve other substances
sonar a device that emits and receives sounds,
used to detect underwater objects; acronym
for sound navigation ranging
spawning in bony fish, the release of gametes
during external fertilization
specific gravity ratio of the density of a
substance to the density of distilled water
specific heat the heat storage ability of a
substance such as land or water
spicules in sponges, chalk or silicon spines that
form a rigid skeleton
spiracles in cartilaginous fish, breathing holes
on dorsal side behind each eye
spongin in sponges, an elastic framework of
protein fibers
spore reproductive cell that contains the
haploid number of chromosomes; functions
in asexual reproduction
spring tides the highest and lowest tides,
produced twice each month by strong
gravitational pull when sun, moon, and Earth
are aligned
spyhopping behavior in which whales raise
head above water to look around
stereoscopic microscope research tool with two
eyepieces for viewing
stock term that refers to population of a living
resource that is harvested
stranding a behavior in which whales become
beached (and die) along shores
strandline line of seaweed and debris that
marks boundary between the intertidal and
supratidal zones
subduction occurs when one crustal plate
plunges down under another plate
submarine canyons steep, V-shaped
depressions that cut through the continental
shelf; extensions of sunken river valleys
submersibles manned research vehicles used for
undersea scientific exploration
subtidal zone the coastal life zone that remains
underwater (below low tide)
supratidal zone on a beach, the area above the
intertidal zone (above high tide)
surf zone the region of crashing waves along
a sandy beach
swells waves that have longer periods and more
rounded crests
swim bladder in bony fish, internal gas-filled
organ that lets a fish adjust its level in the
water (i.e., enables neutral buoyancy)
swimmerets in crustaceans, small paddlelike
appendages under the abdomen
symbionts members of two different species
involved in mutually beneficial relationship
symbiosis close relationship between different
species; usually beneficial
tail flukes in cetaceans, hind flippers used to
propel animal through the water
talons in hawks and eagles, e.g., osprey, strong
curved claws for grabbing prey
tapeworm parasitic flatworm found in
intestines of fish and other animals
telson in horseshoe crab, long spiked tail that is
used in locomotion
territoriality behavior in which an organism,
e.g., a fish, defends its home area
tertiary consumer the third-level consumer (of
secondary consumers) in a food chain, e.g.,
fish that eat shrimp
thallus leafy part of a seaweed; it produces the
reproductive cells
thermal plume a flow of water with higher
temperatures than those of the surrounding
waters; usually from industrial discharge
thermal pollution the release into natural
waterways of heated water
thermocline in ocean, the permanent boundary
that separates warmer water above from
colder water below
threatened species term for species that are in
less immediate risk of extinction
tidal bore a lone wave formed by the incoming
tide at sloping mouth of a river
tidal currents swift-moving currents parallel to
shore, produced by tidal change
tidal range the vertical distance between low
tide and high tide
tide the daily rise and fall of the ocean seen
along the shore; due to gravity
tide pools small habitats formed when spaces
between rocks retain water at low tide
toothed whales hunters with peglike teeth; eat
fish, squid, penguins, and seals
topography study of Earth’s surface features, on
land and on the ocean floor
toxic chemicals pollutants that are harmful to
living things and the environment; usually
come from industrial and agricultural wastes
Glossary 609
transmitted light light that passes through a
substance
trawling net type of net released from stern of
ship and pulled through water
trematode parasitic flatworm found in fish and
other animals; also called flukes
trenches deepest, steepest depressions on ocean
floor, formed by subduction
trial refers to each time that an experiment is
carried out
trophic level each feeding level in a food chain
(producers to consumers)
trough the lowest point of a sound wave or
water wave
tsunami giant waves generated by sudden
seismic activity in Earth’s crust
tube feet in echinoderms, tiny feet located in
groove under arms; used in feeding,
breathing, and movement
tunicates sessile protochordates; larval stage has
primitive chordate traits
turbidity the measure of the level of clarity or
murkiness of water
turbidity current fast, subsurface current found
along steep continental slope
turtle grass a type of sea grass that grows along
the Gulf Coast and Florida
tusk shells see scaphopods
undertow the returning current of water from a
wave that breaks on the beach
unicellular describes single-celled organisms
upwelling the rising of a cold, nutrient-rich
current from deep in the ocean
variable any factor that can affect the outcome
of an experiment
veliger swimming, ciliated larva of a snail; part
of plankton community
vertebrates higher chordates; all have a
skeleton, backbone, skull, and brain
vertical migration behavior in which
organisms move up and down in the
610 Glossary
water column each day in response to
changing levels of light (and food resources)
wandering albatross largest, most oceanic of
diving seabirds; glides on air currents over the
ocean for years at a time
water budget total amount of water contained
in and on planet Earth
water column vertical zone of water that
extends from ocean surface to bottom
water cycle continuous movement of water
between ocean, atmosphere, and land
water vascular system in sea stars, a network of
water-filled canals that enables movement
watershed the land area through which water
passes on its way to the ocean
wave an up-and-down movement of the ocean
surface, i.e, a form of energy that moves
across the water
wave height the vertical distance between the
top (crest) of a wave and the bottom (trough)
of the preceding wave
wave train a series of waves, one followed by
the other, moving in the same direction;
produced when a steady wind blows
wavelength the length of one complete wave
cycle of each type of radiation
wetlands area of grasses growing in shallow
water; see salt marsh community
whirlpool rapid movement of surface waters in
a circle; also called an “eddy”
whitecap a mixture of air and water from
narrow wave crests blown by wind
zonation pattern of distinct bands, or zones, of
habitats along a coast, each with its own
distinct community
zooplankton animal and animal-like plankton
that drift on ocean surface, e.g., copepods
zooxanthellae dinoflagellate algae that live
symbiotically within coral polyps
zygote fertilized egg cell that contains the
diploid number of chromosomes
 Index
A American saltwater crocodile,
310–311
Abalone, 222 Amino acids, 144
Abdomen, 242, 253 Ammonia, 519–520
Abiotic factors, 517 Amniotic egg, 309
Absorbed light, 467 Amoco Cadiz, 552
Abyssal plain, 67 Amphibians, 309
Accuracy in making observations, Amphipods, 245–246
37 Amplitude, 476
Acid, 369, 370 Ampulla, 264
Acid precipitation, 370 Ampullae of Lorenzini, 289
Acorn barnacle, 72, 246 Amylase, 143
Acorn worm, 282–283 Anchovies, 505, 572
Acetabularia, 123 Anemones, 223
ACTS (Advanced Communication Angelfish, 85
Technology Satellite), 578 Angle of insolation, 416
Adaptation, 65 Anglerfish, 65, 299, 472
Adductor muscles, 214 Animal kingdom, 95
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP), Animals, 97. See also Marine
151, 521, 522 animals;
Aeration, 41 colonial, 181
Aerobic respiration, 151 metabolic life of, 448
African plate, 392 nutrition in, 142–145
Agar, 127 osmoregulation in aquatic,
Air bladders, 125 458–459
Air embolism, 456 Annelids, 200, 214
Algae, 63, 65, 71, 96, 117, Antarctic ice shelf, 431
118–127, 471, 532 Anthozoa, 172, 178
adaptations of, 135–136 Aphelion, 490
brown, 119, 123–126 Aphotic zone, 65
green, 119, 120, 121, 123 Apogee, 489
identifying pigments in, AQUA, 29
481–482 Aquaculture, 582
nutrition in, 108–111 fish, 583–585
red, 119, 126–127 Aqua-lung, 15
reproductive cycle of, 119–120 Aquanauts, 15–16, 31–32
Algal bloom, 104, 108, 348, 557 Aquariums, 31
Algin, 125, 586 Aquatic animals, osmoregulation
Alligators, 310 in, 458–459
Alternation of generations, 120 Archimedes, 5
Alternative energy sources, 432 Archimedes’ principle, 5–6
Alvin (submersible), 16, 17, 18, 30, Arctic Ocean, 361, 364
203, 403 Argo (robot vehicle), 18
Alzheimer’s disease, 199 Aristotle’s lantern, 265
Ama pearl divers, 455 Arrow worms, 204–205
Amazon River, 362 Arthropods, 236, 237, 583
Ambient pressure, 453 diversity among, 249–252
Amebas, 149 Ascension Island, 316–317
Amebocytes, 156 Asexual reproduction, 104,
Ameboid movement, 149–150 153–154
Astronauts, 15
Athlete’s foot, 96
Atlantic green crab, 533
Atlantic hagfish, 284
Atlantic Ocean, 361, 364, 390,
402
Atlantic ribbed mussels, 533
Atlantic sea star, 260
Atlantic tube worm, 202
Atmosphere, 385, 415
Atoll, 409
Atom, 368–369
ATP (adenosine triphosphate),
103
Auks, 322
Autotrophs, 109
B
Bacilli, 98
Bacteria, 96–100
blue-green, 70, 96–97, 99–100,
520, 555
chemosynthetic, 521
coliform, 543, 544
decay, 76, 78–79, 98–99,
519–520
denitrifying, 520
magnetic, 99
oil-eating, 553
Balboa, Vasco Núñez de, 8
Bald eagle, 547
Baleen, 332, 341
Baleen whales, 331–333, 335, 336
Ballard, Robert D., 18, 31, 32
Barnacles, 63, 72, 76, 81, 118–119,
236, 246–249, 529
filter feeding in, 536–537
structures and life activities of,
247–249
Barotrauma, 455–457
Barracuda, 84, 86, 280, 293
Barrier beaches, 75, 363
Barrier islands, 363
Barrier reef, 408–409
Base, 369
Basket sponges, 161
Basket stars, 268
Bath sponge, 159
Bathyscaphe, 16
611
Bathysphere, 16
Bathythermograph, 447
Bat star, 260
Bay barnacle, 72
Beach Cleanup Campaign, 562
Beaches, 404–406
barrier, 75, 363
sandy, 67–69, 404
Beach fleas, 61, 246
Beach grass, 127–128
Beach hoppers, 61
Beaching of whales, 340–341
Beach plants, 127–129
Beach plum, 128
Beach sand, examining, 87–88
H.M.S. Beagle, 11, 409
Beebe, William, 16
Beluga whale, 333, 340, 477
Bends, 456
Benthic organisms, 155
Benthic zone, 67
Benthos, 67
biodiversity among, 66
Big bang theory, 385
Bikini Island, 409
Bilateral symmetry, 195, 196, 237
Binary fission, 154
Binocular microscope, 53
Biodiversity, 83
among the benthos, 66
Biological filtration, 40
Biological magnification, 548
Biological succession, 531
Bioluminescence, 108, 300, 466,
471–472, 474
Biomagnification, 548
Biota, 60
Biotic factors, 517
Biotoxins, 341
Birds. See also Marine birds
common shore, 319–320
diving pelagic, 321–322
diving shore, 320–321
marine, 317–323
migratory, 77
oil pollution and, 551–552
shore, 79–80
Bivalve mollusks, 262
Bivalves, 72, 214–218, 229
feeding in, 230–231
life activities of, 215–217
movement in, 217–218
reproduction in, 218
structures of typical, 214–215
Black-backed gull, 320
Blackfish, 72
Black mangrove trees, 132
Black skimmer, 321
Black smokers, 403
Black spot disease, 530
612 Index
Blastula, 159, 175
Blood fluke, 196
Bloodworms, 79, 202
Blowhole, 334–335
Blowout, 577
Blubber, 339, 344, 349
Blue claw crab, 69, 238
Blue-green bacteria, 70, 96–97,
99–100, 520, 555
Blue mussel, 72
Blue-ringed octopus, 226
Blue whale, 95, 331–333, 332, 334,
341, 477
Bony fishes, 284, 290–298
breathing in, 291–292
buoyancy in, 294–295
digestion and transport in,
295–296
food gathering in, 295
locomotion in, 292–294
reproduction in, 297–298
sensitivity in, 296
Book gills, 251
Boring sponge, 160
Botton feeding, 285
Brackish water, 74–75, 548
Bradycardia, 351–352
Brain coral, 83, 180–181
Brazil, 362
Breaching, 337
Breaker, 496
Breaking waves, 496–497
Breakwaters, 507
Breathing
in bony fish, 291–292
in whales, 334–335
Breeze
land, 419–420
sea, 419
Bristle worms, 202
Brittle star, 259, 260, 268, 270
Brown algae, 119, 123–126
Brown pelican, 81, 320–321
Brown tide, 104–105, 556–557
Bryozoans, 155, 162–164
life functions of, 163–164
Budding, 154, 163, 176
Buffers, 370–371
Bulkheads, 19
Bull shark, 287
Buoyancy, 5–6
in bony fish, 294–295
Butterfly fish, 85
By-catch fish, 574
Byssal threads, 216
C Chitin, 162, 237
Caenorhabditis elegans, 199
Calanus, 450
Calcium, 145
Calcium carbonate, 100, 127,
147, 160, 162, 183, 215, 261,
367–368, 377
California brown pelican, 547
California Current, 501
California gray whale, 338, 589
California grunion, 301
California sea hare, 223
California sea otter, 345
Calorie, 443
Camouflage, 84, 474
in fish, 298–299
Cape Hatteras, 363
Cape of Good Hope, 8
Carapace, 237, 313, 315
Carbohydrates, 142–143
Carbon, 144
Carbon cycle, 518
Carbon dioxide, 151, 152
Carbon dioxide-oxygen cycle, 519
Carbon monoxide, 385
Carboxyl group, 144
Caribbean Sea, 361
Carnivores, 340–341, 523
Carp, 583
Carrageenan, 126–127, 585
Carson, Rachel, 546–547
Cartier, Jacques, 9
Cartilaginous fishes, 284–290, 295
characteristics of, 284–286
Catfish, 583
Caulerpa, 122
Cayman Islands, 409
Cays, 409
Cell theory, 110
Cellular respiration, 151, 152
Celsius (C) scale, 50–51
Centimeters, 46
Centric diatoms, 103
Cephalopods, 224, 226–228, 229
elusive, 227–228
life activities of, 226–227
reproduction in, 228
structure of typical, 226
Cephalothorax, 242, 253
Cetaceans, 331–341, 450
Chaetognatha, 204
H.M.S.Challenger, 13
Chambered nautilus, 227, 454–455
Chelonia, 313
Chemical oceanography, 367
Chemicals, toxic, 546–548,
550–555
Chemosynthesis, 99, 204, 404
Chemosynthetic bacteria, 521
Chinook salmon, 449
Chiton, 229
Chloride, 145
Chloride ion, 367 Compound, 367 adaptations of, 253–254
Chlorinated hydrocarbons, 547 hydrated, 387 structures and life activities of,
Chlorophyll, 97, 99, 100, 101, 102, Compound light microscope, 242–243
123, 146 52–53 Crest, 475–476
Chloroplasts, 101, 102, 106, 109, Compressions, 475 Crinoids, 270
110, 118, 182 Conclusions, drawing, 39, 42 Crocodiles, 309, 310
Cholera, 543 Condensation, 366 saltwater, 310–311
Chordata, 281 Cone snail, 220–221 Crown conch, 81
Chromatophores, 226, 473 Conjugation, 154 Crown-of-thorns sea star, 259
Chromium, 551 Conservancies, 591 Crust, 389–390
Chromosomes, 98, 101, 119 Conservation of resources, Crustaceans, 61, 236–252, 474
Chrysophyta, 103 569–592 features of, 237–238
Cilia, 148, 296 Consumers, 109, 517–518 species of, 238–249
Ciliophora, 149 primary, 523 Ctenophora, 176
Circumnavigation, 8–9 secondary, 523 Cuttlefish, 226, 227
Cirri, 247, 249 tertiary, 523 Cyanobacteria, 100
Clams, 64, 104, 108, 146, 148, Continental drift, 394 Cycliophora, 158
214–215 theory of, 387 Cyclosis, 152
Clamworm, 200 Continental rise, 398 Cytoplasm, 101, 152
Claspers, 290 Continental shelf, 64–65, 397,
Classification, 95–97 570, 576
Cleaner shrimp, 528 Continental slope, 397 D
Cleaning shrimp, 244 Continents, 361 Dall porpoises, 331
Cleaning wrasse, 528 origin of, 387–390 Damselfish, 86
Clean Water Act (1972), 550 Contour feathers, 318 Dark Ages, 8
Climate, ocean and, 415–433 Contractile vacuole, 152–153 Darwin, Charles, 10, 312, 409
Climax community, 532, 534 Contraction, 153 Data, 37
Clouds, 366, 470 Control group, 35–36, 37 Daughter cells, 153–154
Clownfish, 179, 528 Controlled experiment, 35 DDT, 547–548, 550
Cnidarians, 172–186 Convection current, 390–391, Decay bacteria, 76, 78–79, 98–99,
Cnidoblasts, 174 420–421, 503 519–520
Coastal marsh, 80 Cook, James, 10 Decomposers, 78–79, 98, 523–524
Coast Guard, 562 Copepods, 104, 148, 244, 450, Decomposition, 542
Coasts, rocky, 70–82, 125, 524–525, 530 Decompression, 456
406–407 Copper, 551, 579 Decompression chamber, 456
Cobalt, 579 Copper sulfate, 387 Decompression illness, 456–457
Cocci, 98 Coral, 180–184, 532 Deep Drone (remotely operated
Cod, 574, 575 types and structure of, 180–181 vehicle), 17
Codium, 123 Coral atoll islands, 409 Deep ocean currents, 504–505
Coelacanth, 300–301 Coral bleaching, 183–184 Deep-sea fishing, 64, 65
Coelom, 200, 214, 261–262, Coralline seaweeds, 127 Deer, 134
263 Coral polyp, 82, 84, 181–182, 183, Dehydration synthesis, 142–143,
Coliform bacteria, 543, 544 528, 532 144
Collar cells, 156 Coral reefs, 60, 82–86, 100, 172, Delta, 406
Colonial animals, 181–182 183–184, 280, 474, 515 Denayrouze, Auguste, 15
Colonies, 544 biota of, 60 Denitrifying bacteria, 520
Color destruction of, 259 Density, 48
fixed patterns of, 474 features of, 83–84 Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), 521,
of the ocean, 469–470 inhabitants of, 84–86 522
in ocean organisms, 473–474 types of, 408–409 Dependent variable, 38
Color contrast, 85, 474 Cordgrass, 76, 130, 533 Deposition, 506
Columbus, Christopher, 8, 12 Coriolis, Gaspard, 501 Desalination, 580–581
Comb jellies, 176, 178 Coriolis effect, 501 Detouring, 350
Commensalism, 529 Cormorant, 320 Detritus, 76
Commensal organisms, 529 Countercurrents, 504 Dew, 423–424
Commercial fishing, 64–65 Countershading, 474 Dew point, 424
Common tern, 320 Cousteau, Jacques-Yves, 15, 16, 31, Dias, Bartholomeu, 8
Communication in whales, 32, 457 Diatomaceous earth, 104
340–341 Crabs, 64, 74, 146, 236, 237, Diatoms, 101–105, 109, 145, 148,
Community, 515 240–243, 583 377, 524

Index 613
Diatoms (continued) Earthworms, 193, 198, 200, 201
cell structure of, 101–103 Echinoderms, 259–271
diversity in, 103–105 Echoes, 395, 479
life functions of, 112 Echolocation, 343, 479
Differentiation, 199 in whales, 340–341
Diffusion, 152 Ecological succession, 531–532,
Digestion 534
in bony fishes, 295–296 Ecology, 515, 517
in protozoa, 150–151 marine, 517–518
Dinoflagellates, 105–108, 109, 149, Ecosystems, 517, 542
182 Ectoderm, 155, 195
effects of, 106, 108 Ectothermic animals, 294, 309
Dipeptide, 144 Ecuador, 362
Diploid, 119 Eddy, 506
Disaccharide, 143 Eel grass, 131
Disruptive coloration, 85 Effluent, 545
Dissecting microscope, 53 Egg cells, 162, 175
Dissolved oxygen, 372, 557–558 Egret, 134
Diurnal tide, 488 Eiders, 320
Diving chamber, 14–15 Electromagnetic spectrum, 467
Diving devices, 14–15 Electron microscope, 54
Diving response, 350–352 Electrons, 368
in humans, 353–354 Elk horn coral, 83
Diving suit, 15 El Niño, 428–429, 505, 525
Diving vessels, 15–16 El Niño-Southern Oscillation
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), 98, (ENSO) event, 428–429
145, 154, 554 Embryo, 159
Dog whelk, 72 Encrusting organisms, 160
Dolphinfish, 293 Endangered species, 588
Dolphins, 331, 340, 454, 478–479, Endangered Species Act (1973),
480 588–589
Dome, 576 Endoderm, 155, 195
Dorsal fin, 335 Endoplasmic reticulum, 102
Down feathers, 318 Endoskeleton, 261
Dragonfish, 299 Endothermic animals, 323, 339,
Dredging, 507 450
Drieberg, Friedrich von, 15 Energy
Ducks, 320 alternative sources of, 432
Dugongs, 342, 348, 349 geothermal, 386
Dungeness crab, 533 kinetic, 441, 442, 443, 453
Dysentery, 543 light, 467
potential, 452–453
radiant, 416, 467
E solar, 416, 466
Eared seals, 342 Eniwetok Island, 409
Earle, Sylvia, 17, 31, 32 Enteromorpha, 123
Ear squeeze, 456 Environment, 60
Earth marine, 60–86
climate on, 364–365 Environmental Protection Agency
crust of, 389–390 (EPA), 548, 562
formation of, 385 Enzyme, 143, 144, 179
gravity on, 47–48, 488–489 Epicenter, 498
inner core of, 388 Epidermis, 173
interior of, 388–389 Equator, 361, 362, 416
magnetic field of, 394 Equatorial countercurrent, 428
mantle of, 388 Erosion, 506
water budget of, 364–366 Escherichia coli, 544
as water planet, 359, 361–363 Estuary, 74–75, 78, 555
Earthquakes, 389, 390, 393, 394 Euglena, 94, 106, 149
undersea, 498 Eukaryotes, 96
Euphotic zone, 65
Eurasian plate, 392, 393
Evaporation, 366, 375, 415
Excretion in protozoa, 152–153
Excurrent siphon, 215, 281
Exoskeleton, 237
Experimental group, 35–36, 37
Extinct species, 587–588
Exxon Valdez oil spill, 551–552
Eyepiece, 52
Eyespots, 85, 94, 106, 264
F
Fahrenheit (F) scale, 50
Fan coral, 83
Fan worm, 193, 202
Farming the sea, 581–586
Fats, 143
Fatty acid, 143
Faults, 393, 394
Feather stars, 260, 270
Feeding. See also Nutrition
in jellyfish, 174–175
in sea anemone, 179
in sea turtles, 314
Fertilization, 120, 162
Fetch, 495
Fiddler crabs, 76–77, 81, 240–241
Filter feeders, 72, 148, 160–161,
216, 247
Filtration, 40–41
Finback whale, 331–333, 477
Fish, 280–301
bony, 284, 290–298
breathing and transport in,
302–303
camouflage in, 298–299
cartilaginous, 284–290, 295
flat, 63
jawless, 283–284
methods of catching, 572–574
pelagic, 293, 572
predatory, 74
strange shapes and behaviors of,
299–301
Fish aquaculture, 583–585
Fisheries
analyzing data from, 593–594
marine, 570–571
Fish hawk, 321
Fishing
commercial, 64–65
deep-sea, 64, 65
Fish kill, 108
Five-kingdom classification system,
95–97
Fjord, 407
Flagella, 105, 119
Flamingos, 319

614 Index
Flashlight fish, 472 Giant clam, 215, 529 Hagfish, 283–284, 530
Flat fish, 63 Giant spider crab, 242 Halley, Edmond, 15
Flatworms, 194 Giant squid, 227–228 Halocline, 376
Floating Instrument Platform Giant tube worms, 203–204 Hammerhead sharks, 287
(FLIP), 16, 17, 18, 30 Gill membranes, 215–216 Hand lens, 51
Florida Keys, 409 Gill net, 572 Haploid, 119
Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act Gills, 238–239, 372 Hard corals, 83, 180–181
(1978), 589–590 Gill slits, 282, 283, 285 Hatchetfish, 454
Flounder, 63, 77, 293, 298, 474, Glaciers, 75, 364, 406–407, 445 Hatchlings, 316
574, 575 Glasswort, 131 Hawaiian Islands, 399, 400, 404,
Fluke, 196 Global cooling, 365 444
Flying fish, 299 Global ocean currents, 500–501 Hawksbill sea turtle, 313, 314
Focusing, 51 Global warming, 432–433 Heat, 443
Fog, 366, 423–424 Glomar Challenger (drilling ship), Heat of fusion, 444
Food and Drug Administration 29 Heat of vaporization, 444
(FDA), 551 Glucose, 110, 143 Heat storage ability, 443
Food chain, 148, 523–524 Glycerol, 143 Heavy metals, 551
Food gathering, in bony fish, 295 Glycoprotein, 448 Hemaphrodites, 164
Food pyramids, 525–527 Goldfish, 459 Hemocyanin, 239, 251
Food relationships, 522–527 Golgi apparatus, 103 Hemoglobin, 520
Food webs, 524–525 Gonyaulax, 108 Hepatitis, 543
Foraminiferan, 147 Gooseneck barnacles, 249 Herbivores, 342, 523
Forams, 149 Graduated cylinders, 47 Hermaphrodite, 195–196, 202,
Fossil fuels, 432, 576 Gram, 48 205, 247
Franklin, Benjamin, 10–11, 500 Graph, 37–38 Hermit crab, 77, 127, 184, 241
Frequency, 467 Grass carp, 583 Herodotus, 14
Freshwater, 580–581 Grasses, 534 Heron, 134, 319
Frigate birds, 279 Gravity, 47–48 Herring, 572
Fringing reef, 408–409 specific, 48 Herring gull, 320
Frogs, 309 tides and, 488–490 Hertz, 476
Frustule, 104 Gray whales, 332, 333 Hertz, Heinrich, 476
Fry, 584 Great auk, 586–587 Heterotrophic nutrition, 142
Fucus, 124–125 Great Barrier Reef, 83, 180, 408 Heterotrophs, 109
Fungi, 96–97, 98 Great white shark, 287, 294 Heyerdahl, Thor, 12, 499, 500
Fur seals, 342 Green algae, 119, 120, 121, 123 High-power objective, 53
Fusion, 444 Greenhead fly, 252 High tide, 61, 72, 73, 80, 486–487
Greenhouse effect, 430, 432–433 Hirudin, 203
Greenhouse gas, 432 Holdfast, 63, 124
G Green sea turtle, 313, 314, Homeostasis, 153
Galápagos Islands, 11, 269, 279, 316–317 Homer, 14
312, 362 Green sea urchin, 265–266 Horseshoe crabs, 222, 249–251,
Gametes, 119–120, 162 Greenwich, England, 362 490–491
Ganglia, 195 Groin, 507 life cycle of, 251
Gannets, 279, 322 Grouper, 528, 530 structures and life activities of,
Gastrodermis, 173 Grunion, 490 250–251
Gastropods, 218–223, 229 Grunion run, 490 Host, 196, 530
diversity in, 222–223 Grunts, 84–85, 479 Hot spots, 399
structures of typical, 219–220 Guano, 522 Hot springs, 386
Genes, 98 Guillemots, 322 Hudson, Henry, 9
Genetic engineering, 98 Gulf of Mexico, 406 Hudson (River) Canyon, 397
Genome, 98 Gulf shrimp, 243–244 Humans, underwater pressure and,
Genus name, 95 Gulf Stream, 11, 424, 500–501 455
Geologists, 387 Guyots, 399 Humidity, 422–423
Geology, 384 Gymnodinium, 108 Humpback whale, 330, 331–333,
of the ocean, 384–409 Gyres, 501 336, 337, 339, 340, 477, 590
Geosat (satellite), 397 Hurricanes, 425–426
Geothermal energy, 386 damage by, 426–427
Geysers, 386 H Hydra, 172
Giant kelp, 73–74 Habitat, 60, 515 Hydrated compounds, 387
Giant acorn barnacle, 72 Haddock, 574, 575 Hydrocarbons, 576

Index 615
Hydrogen, 369, 519 Island arcs, 401 of sea urchins, 266–267
Hydrogen cyanide, 385 Isopods, 245–246, 530 of sponges, 157, 159
Hydrogen sulfide, 78, 99, 385, 403, tides and, 490–491
521 Life functions
Hydroids, 184–186, 223 J in bryozoan, 163–164
Hydrolysis, 143, 144, 145 Jason (undersea robot), 17, 18 in diatoms, 112
Hydrometer, 41, 48, 49, 422 Jawless fishes, 283–284 in protozoa, 150
Hydrosphere, 384, 415 Jaws, 283 in sponges, 155–157
Hydrostatic pressure, 453 Jellyfish, 146, 172, 173–178, 185, Life zone, 61, 67
Hydrothermal vent communities, 528 Light
16 feeding in, 174–175 behavior of, 467–468
Hydrothermal vents, 99, 403, 404, life cycle of, 175–176 refraction of, 468–469
441, 443 Jetty, 507 water and, 467–470
Hydrozoa, 172 Jim suit, 17 Light energy, 467
Hypothermia, 450 Journal of Marine Biology, 29 Limestone, 181, 183, 367–368
Hypothesis Journal of Marine Science, 29 Limpet, 71, 223
forming and testing, 34 Linnaeus, Carolus, 95
rejection of, 42 Lion’s mane jellyfish, 174
valid, 39 K Lipase, 143
Hypoxia, 557–558 Kelp, 63, 124, 125, 345, 586 Lipids, 143–144
Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, 313 Liter, 47
Keyhole limpet, 223 Lithosphere, 384, 415
I Keys, 409 Litter, 559–562
Ice Age, 75, 364, 365, 397, 406 Killer whale, 333, 335, 524 Littoral current, 506
Iceberg, 445–446 Killifish, 77, 524–525 Littoral drift, 506
Icebreakers, 445 Kilograms, 48 Liver fluke, 196
Icefish, 448 Kinetic energy, 441, 442, 443, 453 Lobsters, 74, 146, 236, 237–240,
Iceland, 386, 401 Kon-Tiki, 12 583
Iguana, 309 Krill, 148, 245, 322, 525 structures and life activities of,
Illumination, 41 238–240
Incurrent siphon, 215 Lobtailing, 336–337
Independent variable, 38 L Locomotion in bony fishes,
Indian Ocean, 361, 364 Lady crab, 69 292–294
Indicator solution, 374 Lake trout, 530 Logbook, 33–34
Ingestion in protozoa, 150–151 Laminaria, 125 Loggerhead sea turtle, 177, 313,
Inner space, 14 Lamont-Doherty Geological 315
exploring, in ocean, 14–18 Observatory, 30 Loihi, 400
Inorganic compound, 518 Lancelet, 282, 283 Longitude, 361–362, 363
Insects, 236 Land breeze, 419–420 Long-lining, 572
marine, 252 Land crabs, 81 Longshore current, 506
Interdependence, 516–535 Landfills, 560 Long-spined sea urchin, 265
Interior, U.S. Department of, 562 Land trusts, 591 Lower beach, 127
International Ice Patrol, 20 La Niña, 428–429 Lower intertidal zone, 73
International Maritime Larsen ice shelf, 431 Low-power objective, 52
Organization, 561 Larva, 159 Low tide, 61, 80, 486–487
Intertidal zone, 61, 63, 67, 68, 118, Lateral line organ, 289, 296 Luciferase, 472
127, 268 Latitude, 361–362, 363 Luciferin, 472
lower, 73 salinity and, 375 Lunging, 336
mid, 72–73 Lava, 390, 391, 404–405, 444
upper, 70–71, 123 Law of the Sea treaty, 579–580
Intracellular digestion, 151, 156, Leatherback sea turtle, 313, 314 M
179 Leech, 203 Mackeral, 572
Invertebrates, 97, 171 Length, 46 Macrocystis, 125
mariculture of, 582–583 Leopard shark, 287 Madreporite, 263–264
Iodine, 145 Lichen, 534 Magellan, Ferdinand, 8–9
Ions, 367, 368 Life cycle. See also Reproduction Magma, 389–390, 391
Iridescence, 222 of horseshoe crabs, 251 Magnetic bacteria, 99
Irish moss, 73, 126–127, 585 of jellyfish, 175–176 Magnusion Act (1976), 572, 574
Iron, 145, 579 in sea anemone, 179–180 Maine lobster, 238

616 Index
Maltase, 143 Marsh ducks, 320 Mollusks, 61, 68, 71, 119, 213–229
Mammals, 134. See also Marine Marsh grass, 76, 130–131 Molting, 238, 251
mammals Marsh mosquito, 252 Monerans, 96, 100
Mammary glands, 330 Mass, 47–48 Monosaccharide, 143
Manatees, 342, 346–348 Maury, Matthew Fortaine, 11 Monterey Canyon, 397
threats to, 348–349 Maximum sustainable yield, 574 Mont-Saint-Michel, 486
Manganese, 579 Mayol, Jacques, 351, 455 Moon, tides and, 488
Manganese nodules, 579 Mechanical filtration, 40–41 Moon jelly, 175
Mangrove community, 80–81, 132, Mediterranean Sea, 374–375 Moon snail, 220, 221–222
133–134 salinity of, 502 Moray eel, 84
Mangrove snapper, 81 Medusa, 173, 175 Morula, 159
Mangrove swamps, 81, 132, 133, Melanin, 473 Mosquitoes, 252
134, 515 Melon, 340 Mosses, 534
Mangrove trees, 80–81, 132–134 Meniscus, 47 Mother-of-pearl, 222
Manta ray, 285 Mercury, 550–551 Mt. Everest, 399
Mantis shrimp, 244 Mergansers, 320 Mud carp, 583
Mantle, 215, 388 Meridians, 362 Mud flat community, 78–80
Mariana Trench, 16, 399 Mermaid’s purse, 290 Mudslides, 398
Mariculture, 582 Meroplankton, 146 Mud snail, 68, 79, 220, 222
of invertebrates, 582–583 Mesenchyme, 155 Multicellular organisms, 118, 155
seaweed, 585–586 Mesoderm, 195 Mushroom, 96
Marine animals Mesoglea, 173–174 Muskrats, 134
protecting, 586–591 Metabolic activity, 448 Mussels, 63, 72, 76, 104, 108, 148,
simple, 141–164 Metabolism, 142 214, 216, 532
Marine aquarium, setting up, Meteor, 13 mariculture of, 582–583
40–41 Meteorologists, 387 Mutualism, 528–529
Marine biology, 31 Meter, 46 Myocytes, 157
Marine birds, 308, 317–323 Meterstick, 46 Myoglobin, 351
adaptations of, 318, 324–325 Methane, 576
Marine ecology, 515, 517–518 Metric ruler, 46
Marine environments, 60–86 Metric system, 45–46 N
Marine fisheries, 570–571 Michel, Jean-Louis, 18 Nansen, Fridtjof, 13
Marine geologists, 29, 384 Microscope, 51 Nansen bottle, 13
Marine grasses, 130–132 binocular, 53 Narwhal whale, 333
Marine iguanas, 279, 312–313 compound light, 52–53 National Hurricane Center, 426
Marine insects, 252 dissecting, 53 National Marine Fisheries Service,
Marine life, tides and, 491 electron, 54 575
Marine life zones, 61–67 research, 53 National Marine Sanctuary
Marine lizard, 308, 309, 312–313 stereoscopic, 53 Program, 590
Marine Mammal Protection Act Mid-Atlantic Ridge, 16, 391, 392, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
(1972), 588 393 Administration (NOAA), 426
Marine mammals, 330–352, 350, Mid-intertidal zone, 72–73 National Oceanographic and
450 Mid-ocean islands, 391 Atmospheric Administration
sounds produced by, 479 Mid-ocean ridge, 401–402 (NOAA), 29, 30–31, 562
Marine organisms, unicellular, Midway Island, 409 Natural resources, 570
94–111 Milkfish, 584 Nature Conservancy, 591
Marine plants, 117 Milky Way, 385 Nautilus, 226, 227
Marine reptiles, 308, 309–317 Milligram, 48 Neap tides, 489
adaptations of, 309–310, Millimeter, 46 Nekton, 292–293
324–325 Minamata disease, 550 Nematocysts, 174–175, 178, 179,
Marine resources, 570–574, Minerals, 144–145, 578=580 185, 186
576–581 Minke whales, 477 Nematodes, 198
monitoring, 30–31 Mississippi River, 406 Nephridia, 202
Marine sanctuaries, 590 Mitochondria, 102–103 Nereocystis, 125
Marine science, 28–32 Mixed tide, 488 Neritic zone, 64–65, 570
popular, 31–32 Mixture, 367 Nerve net, 173, 178
Marine snails, 63 Mola, 300 Neutral, 370
Marine worms, 68, 193–205 Mole crab, 68, 69, 241 Neutral buoyancy, 295, 454
MARPOL Treaty, 561 Molecule, 368 Newtons, 451

Index 617
Newton, Sir Isaac, 488
Nickel, 551, 579
Nitrates, 76, 98
Nitrogen, 385, 519, 520
Nitrogen cycle, 519–520
Nitrogen fixation, 520
Nitrogen narcosis, 455, 457
Noctiluca, 106, 108, 472
Nonbiodegradable litter, 559
Nonpoint source pollution,
552–553
Nonpoint sources, 552–553
Nonrenewable resources, 570
Nonvascular plants, 121
Nori, 126, 586
North American plate, 390, 392,
393
North Atlantic Current, 501
North Atlantic swordfish, 574
Northern hemisphere, 362, 418,
501
Northern lobster, 238
North Pole, 362, 445
No-see-um, 252
Notochord, 281, 282
Nuclear wastes, 553
Nucleus, 102
Nudibranch, 223
Nurse shark, 287
Nutrient agar, 99
Nutrient recycling, 542
Nutrients, 142
Nutrition. See also Feeding
in algae, 108–111
in animals, 142–145
O Operculum, 220, 292
Obelia, 185
Observations, 37–39
Ocean(s), 361. See also Sea
climate and, 415–433
color in organisms in, 473–474
color of, 469–470
composition of water, 21–22
depth of, 396
effect of pressure on life in,
454–455
effect of temperature on life in,
447–448, 450
exploring inner space of, 14–18
formation of, 386–387
geology of, 384–409
getting oil from, 576–578
historical exploration of, 4–10
pH of water in, 41
pollution in, 541–562
salinity of, 48–50, 374–377
scientific exploration of,
10–14
618 Index
temperature of, 416, 418–419,
434–435
variations in, 446–448, 450
winds of, 419–421
Ocean basin, 67, 402
Ocean currents, 499–507
deep, 504–505
global, 500–501
vertical, 502–503
Ocean floor
formation of, 393–394
topography of, 395–399,
401–404
Oceanic zone, 64, 65, 67
Oceanographers, 395
Oceanography, 31
beginning of, 11, 13
chemical, 367
Ocean sunfish, 300
Ocean waves, 491–494
action of, 493–494
height of, 493
measuring, 492–493, 508–509
Octopus, 213, 225, 226, 298, 474
Ocular, 52
Oil, getting, from ocean, 576–578
Oil-eating bacteria, 553
Oil immersion lens, 53
Oil platforms, harvesting of
mussels from, 583
Oil pollution, 551–553
Oils, 143
Oithona, 450
Oligochaeta, 200
Olive ridley sea turtle, 313
O2 minimum zone, 372
Omnivores, 523
Orange roughy, 575
Orca whale, 335
Organelles, 101, 102–103
Organic catalysts, 143
Organic compound, 142, 518
Oscillatoria, 100
Oscilloscope, 475
Osculum, 156
Osmoregulation
in aquatic animals, 458–459
in the salmon, 459–460
Osmosis, 152, 458
Osmotic pressure, 458–459
Osprey, 81, 321, 547
Ostia, 156, 157
Ovary, 162
Overfishing, 525, 574
Oxygen, 151, 369, 519
dissolved, 372, 557–558
in the water, 372–373
Oxygen cycle, 518–519
Oystercatcher, 319
Oysters, 81, 104, 148, 214,
216–217
mariculture of, 582–583
P
Pacific hagfish, 284
Pacific Ocean, 361, 364, 390
Pacific plate, 392, 393
Pacific ridley sea turtle, 313, 314
Paddle worm, 202
Pangaea, 387, 390
Papillae, 204
Paralytic shellfish poisoning, 108
Parapodia, 200–201
Parasite, 196, 283, 530
Parasitism, 529–530
Parchment worm, 202
Parrot fish, 84, 86
Parthenogenesis, 162
Pascals, 451
Pathogens, 543
PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls),
548, 550
Pear cactus, 128
Pearl, 216–217
Pectoral fins, 293, 335–336
Pelagic fish, 293, 572
Pelagic zone, 64–65, 67
Pelecypods, 214
Pelicans, 547
Pelvic fins, 293
Penguins, 279, 318, 322–323
Pennate diatoms, 103
Perigee, 489
Perihelion, 490
Periwinkle snail, 71, 220
Petrels, 322
Petroleum, 576
pH, 41, 369–372, 563–564
Phaeophyta, 123
Pharyngeal gill slits, 281
Phoenicians, 7
Phosphates, 76, 98, 522
Phosphorus, 145, 521
Phosphorus cycle, 521–522
Photic zone, 65, 468
Photophores, 472
Photosynthesis, 65, 102, 109–110,
145, 182, 371, 372, 518
Phragmites, 130
Phycocyanin, 100, 126
Phycoerythrin, 126
Phytoplankton, 65, 101, 146, 466,
471, 526
Piccard, Auguste, 16
Piccard, Jacques, 16
Pickle weed, 131
Pigments, 97, 298, 473
identifying, in algae, 481–482
Pigmy shark, 286 Preen, 318 Rainwater runoff, 375
Pill bug, 246 Prehensile lip, 348 Rarefactions, 475
Pilotfish, 529 Pressure Rattail, 575
Pilot whale, 333 ambient, 453 Raw sewage, 543
Pinnipeds, 342, 450 defined, 442 Razor clam, 79, 217
adaptations of, 343–344 effect of, on ocean life, 454–455 Recombinant DNA technology, 98
reproduction in, 343 hydrostatic, 453 Recompression chamber, 456
Pioneer community, 532 temperature and, 442–460 Recycling, 560–561
Pitch pine, 128 underwater, 451–457 Red algae, 119, 126–127
Placoid scales, 284 Prestige, 552 Red mangrove trees, 132
Planarian, 195–196 Prey, 524–525 Red Sea, 100, 374–375
Plankton, 28, 76, 81, 101, 105, Primary consumer, 523 Red sea bream, 584
118, 130, 146, 550 Prime meridian, 362 Red tide, 107, 108, 348
Plankton net, 105, 146 Prism, 469 Red-tide dinoflagellates, 341
Plant kingdom, 95 Proboscis, 197, 200, 252 Reed grass, 130
Plants, 97 Proboscis monkey, 134 Reef shark, 86
beach, 127–129 Producers, 117, 517–518 Reflected light, 467
nonvascular, 121 Prokaryotes, 96–97 Refraction, of light, 468–469
vascular, 121, 129 Propane, 576 Regeneration, 264–265, 268
Planula, 175–176 Prop roots, 132 Regulator, 15
Plasma membrane, 101 Proteins, 144, 519 Relative humidity, 422
Plast tectonics, theory of, 390–394 Protists, 94, 96, 117, 141 Remora, 529
Plates, 390 Protochordates, 281–283 Remotely operated vehicles (ROV),
Platyhelminthes, 194 Protozoa, 96, 149–154 17–18
Plover, 80 excretion in, 152–153 Remote sensors, 28–29
Plovers, 319 ingestion and digestion in, Remote Underwater Manipulator
Plumeworm, 202 150–151 (RUM III), 29
Pod, 338 life functions of, 150 Renewal resources, 570
Pogonophora, 203 reproduction in, 153–154 Reproduction. See also Life cycle
Polar bear, 342, 349 respiration in, 151 in algae, 119–120
Polar ice caps, 364 sensitivity, 153 asexual, 104, 153–154
Polar molecule, 369 transport in, 152 in bivalves, 218
Pollutants, 542 water balance in, 152–153 in bony fish, 297–298
Pollution, 541–562 Pseudopods, 149–150 in cephalopods, 228
defined, 542 Psychrometers, 422 in pinnipeds, 343
groups and organizations Ptolemy, 7 in protozoa, 153–154
against, 561–562 Puffer fish, 298 in rotifers, 162
litter, 559–562 Puffins, 322 in sea stars, 264
sewage, 542–546 Purple sea urchin, 265 in sea turtles, 314, 316–317
solutions to, 560–561 Purse seine net, 572 sexual, 104, 154, 159, 162
thermal, 554–555 Pygmy octopuses, 226 in sharks, 290
toxic chemicals in, 546–548, Pyrrophyta, 105 in snails, 221–222
550–555 in whales, 334
Polychaetes, 202 Research institutes, 30
Polyculture, 583–585 Q Research microscope, 53
Polyp, 176, 179–180 Qualitative test, 374 Research paper, writing, 42–44
Polypeptide, 144 Quantitative test, 374 Resolution (drilling ship), 29
Polyplacophora, 229 Resources
Porcupine fish, 298 conservation of, 569–592
Porifera, 155 R marine, 570–574, 576–581
Porphyra, 126, 586 Raccoons, 134 monitoring marine, 30–31
Porpoises, 331, 478–479 Radial symmetry, 173, 178, 260 natural, 570
Portuguese man-of-war, 185–186 Radiant energy, 416, 467 Respiration, in protozoa, 151
Potassium hydroxide, 370 Radiation, 416 Respiratory tree, 271
Potential energy, 452–453 solar, 418 Results, 37–39
Powder feathers, 318 Radioactive wastes, 553–554 Reverse osmosis, 580–581
Precipitate, 374 Radiolarian, 147–148, 149 Rhizomes, 132
Precipitation, 365, 366, 415 Radula, 71, 72, 220, 221 Rhodophyta, 126
Predator, 524–525 Rails, 134 Ribbed mussel, 76
Predatory fish, 74 Rainbow, 469 Ribbon worms, 197, 198

Index 619
Ribonucleic acid (RNA), 102 Satellites
Ribosomes, 102 in marine science, 28–29
Rift valleys, 402 in tracking sea turtles, 315
Rift zone, features of, 402–404 Saturation, 422
Right whale, 331–333, 336, 477 Sawfish, 286
Ring of Fire, 401 Saxotoxin, 108
Ringworm, 96 Scallops, 104, 148, 214, 217
Rip current, 505–506 Scaphopods, 229
Ripple, 491–492 Scavengers, 220, 523–524,
River otter, 346 524–525
Robots, 17–18 Science project
Rock barnacle, 72, 246 exhibiting, 44–45
Rock beauty, 85 performing, 42
Rock-boring urchin, 266 Scientific measurements, 45–51
Rock lobster, 238 Scientific method, 27, 33–39,
Rockweed, 63, 72–73, 124–125 42–45
Rocky coast environment, 70–82, Scientific name, 95
125 Scripps Institution of
Rocky coasts, 406–407 Oceanography, 30
Rogue waves, 496–497 Scuba diving, 455
Rorquals, 332, 333 Scuba tank, 15
Rotifers, 155, 161–162 Scud, 246
reproduction in, 162 Scurvy, 10, 145
Roundworms, 198, 199 Scyphozoa, 172, 173
Rouquayrol, Benoit, 15 Sea, 361. See also Ocean(s);
Seafloor
cycles in, 517–522
S farming of, 581–586
Salamanders, 309 light and life in, 471–474
Salinity, 41, 48–50, 252 reasons for saltiness of, 377
effects of, on water density, salinity of, 373–379
461–462 salts, 368
variations in, 374–377 sound in, 475–480
Salmon, 584–585 Sea anemones, 63, 74, 171, 172,
osmoregulation in, 459–460 178–180, 181–182, 185, 528,
Salt, 368, 578–579 529
Salt glands, 310, 311–312, 318 feeding in, 179
Salt marsh community, 75–77, life cycle of, 179–180
133 Seabirds, 317
Salt marshes, 252, 546 Sea biscuits, 265, 267
Saltwater crocodiles, 309, Sea breeze, 419
310–311 Sea cucumber, 259, 260, 269,
Saltwater marsh, 524 270–271
Salty sea, 373–377 Sea ducks, 320
San Andreas fault, 393 Sea fan, 181
Sandbar, 505 Seafloor
Sand collar, 221–222 features of, 397–399, 401
Sand crab, 69 spreading, 392–393, 394
Sand dollar, 63–64, 260, 265, 267 Sea grasses, 131–132
Sand dunes, 67, 127–128 Sea gulls, 530
Sand fly, 252 Sea hare, 223
Sandpiper, 80, 319 Sea horse, 299
Sandworms, 79, 171, 200–202 Sea ice, 445
adaptations of, 206–208 Sea lamprey, 283–284, 530
Sandy beach, 67–69, 404 Sea lettuce, 118, 119, 586
Sarcodina, 149–150 Sea level, 364, 431
Sardine, 474 Sea lilies, 260, 270
Sargasso Sea, 125–126 Sea lions, 279, 342–343
Sargassum, 125 Seals, 341, 342–343, 350
Sargassum fish, 299 Seamounts, 398–399
Sea otter, 266, 341, 342, 344–346
threats to, 345–346
Sea palm, 123–124
Sea plume, 181
Seaquakes, 477
Sea roach, 246
Sea rod coral, 83
Seasat (satellite), 397
Seaside goldenrod, 128
Sea slug, 223
Sea snakes, 309–310, 311–312
Sea soup, 148
Sea squirts, 281–282, 283
Sea star, 459
SEASTAR, 28–29
Sea stars, 63, 72, 74, 160, 214, 259,
260–265
adaptations in, 261–265,
272–273
feeding and locomotion in,
262–264
response, reproduction, and
regeneration, 264–265
types of, 260–261
Sea turtles, 309, 313–317
feeding in, 314
reproduction and development
in, 314, 316–317
satellite tracking of, 315
Sea urchins, 73–74, 259, 260,
265–267, 345
life cycle of, 266–267
predation and protection
among, 265–266
Seawalls, 507
Sea wasp, 174
Sea water, substances in, 367–368
Seaweed, 72–73, 118
mariculture of, 585–586
Sea whip, 181
Secchi, Pietro, 556
Secchi disk, 556
Secondary consumer, 523
Sedimentary rock, 576
Segmented worms, 198, 200
Seismic activity, 390
Semidiurnal tide, 488
Seminal receptacle, 240
Sensitivity
in bony fish, 296
in protozoa, 153
Setae, 201
Sewage, 543–544
treatment of, 544–546, 558
Sewage pollution, 542–546
Sexual reproduction, 104, 154,
159, 162
Sharks, 286–290, 295, 526, 529
protection of, 288
reproduction in, 290

620 Index
 structures and behavior of, Spat, 582 Supratidal zone, 61, 118
289–290 Spawning, 297 Surface currents, 501
Shearwaters, 322 Specific gravity, 48 Surf clam, 68–69
Shellfish, 322 Specific heat, 420, 443 Surfing, 495
Ships, buoyancy of, 5–6 Specific name, 95 Surf zone, 68–69
Shipworm, 213, 218 Spermaceti, 339 Surtsey, 401
Shorebirds, 79–80 Sperm cells, 162, 175 Swamps, mangrove, 81
common, 319–320 Sperm whale, 228, 333, 339–340 Swells, 494
diving, 320–321 Spicules, 160 Swim bladder, 294–295, 295, 296,
Shore shrimp, 76, 244 Spider crab, 241–242 454, 479
Shrimp, 64, 148, 179, 236, 237, Spiders, 236 Swimmerets, 237, 240
243–244, 583 Spiny lobster, 84, 238 Swimmer’s itch, 196
Shrubs, 534 Spiracles, 285 Swordfish, 293, 551
Sieve plate, 263–264 Spirilla, 98 Symbion, 158
Silica, 101, 145, 148, 160, 377 Spirostomum, 149 Symbionts, 179
Silver chloride, 374 Sponge, 63, 146, 155–161 Symbiosis, 179, 182, 527–530,
Silver nitrate, 374 diversity in, 159–161 534
Silversides, 69 life cycle of, 157, 159
Sinus squeeze, 456 life functions of, 155–157
Siphon tube, 215 Spongin, 160 T
Sirenians, 348 Spore, 119 Table salt, 367
Skate, 286 Spotted trunkfish, 84 Tail flukes, 335, 336
Skin gills, 261, 271 Spring tides, 489 Talons, 321
Slack water, 506 Spyhopping, 337 Tapeworms, 196
Sling psychrometer, 422 Squamata, 311 Taxonomy, 95, 158
Slipper shell, 222–223, 529 Squid, 213, 226, 322, 572 Telson, 251
Sludge, 545 Staghorn coral, 83, 180–181 Temperature, 50–51
dumping of, in ocean, 558 Starches, 142, 143 defined, 442
Snail fur, 184 Star coral, 180–181 effects of
Snails, 64, 81, 160, 214, 219–220, Starfish, 259 on ocean life, 447–448, 450
345, 448 Statistical analysis, 39, 42 on water density, 461–462
life activities of, 220–221 Steller’s sea cow, 349 pressure and, 442–460
reproduction in, 221–222 Stereoscopic microscope, 53 variations of, in the ocean,
speed of, 55–56 Stimuli, 153 446–448, 450
Snowy egret, 319 Stinging tentacles, 186, 187–188 Tern, 134
Society of Plastics Industry, 562 Stingray, 285–286 Territoriality, 86
Sodium, 144, 145 Stony red algae, 127 Territory, 86
Sodium chloride, 367 Storm petrels, 321–322 Tertiary consumer, 523
Sodium hydroxide, 370 Stormy weather, 424–425 Testes, 162
Soft corals, 83, 180–181 Stranding, 340–341 Thallus, 119
Soft-shell clam, 79, 217, 238 Strandline, 61, 118 Thermal plume, 555
Soil erosion, 556 Striped bass, 69, 533, 548, 549 Thermal pollution, 554–555
Solar energy, 416, 466 Stromatolites, 100 Thermocline, 446–447, 471
Solar radiation, 418 Strontium-90, 554 Thermometer, 50–51
Solar still, 580 Stylonychia, 149 Thermophilic bacteria, 404
Sole, 293 Subduction, 392 Threatened species, 588
Solute, 367 Submarine canyons, 397–398 Thyroxin, 145
Solution, 367 Submersibles, 16–18, 403 Tidal bore, 497
Solvent, water as, 366–371 Subtidal zone, 62–64, 69, 73–74, Tidal bulge, 488
Sonar (sound navigation ranging), 125, 131, 238 Tidal currents, 506
13, 19, 395–396, 479–480 Succession Tidal flats, 486
Sosus (Sound Surveillance System), biological, 531 Tidal pools, 73, 360, 517, 531
477 ecological, 531–532, 534 Tidal range, 486
Sound in the sea, 475–480 on islands, 534 Tidal waves, 496–497
Sound waves, 475–476 Suction disks, 226 Tide(s), 486–491
South American plate, 392 Sugars, 142, 143 currents induced by, 505–506
South Equatorial Current, 500 Sulfates, 98, 521 gravity and, 488–490
Southern hemisphere, 362, 418, Sulfur, 520–521 high, 61, 72, 73, 80, 486–487
501 Sulfur cycle, 520–521 life cycles and, 490–491
South Pole, 362, 445 Sun star, 260 low, 61, 80, 486–487

Index 621
Tide(s) (continued)
mixed, 488
neap, 489
semidiurnal, 488
spring, 489
time and, 487–488
Tiger shark, 287
Time, tides and, 487–488
Tin, 551
R.M.S.Titanic, 4–5, 6, 446
finding, 18–20, 27, 29, 395
Toads, 309
Toothed whales, 333
TOPEX/Poseidon satellite, 28
Topography, 396
Toxic chemicals, 546–548,
550–555
Tracheophyta, 129
Transmitted light, 467–468
Transport
in bony fishes, 295–296
in protozoa, 152
Trawling net, 572
Trematodes, 196, 530
Trenches, 392, 399
Trial, 37
Trophic level, 523
Trough, 476
True seals, 342
Trumpetfish, 84
Trumpet worm, 202
Tsunamis, 497–499
Tube feet, 262, 271
Tuna, 293, 294, 551, 572
Tunicates, 281–282
Turbidity current, 504, 556–557
Turtle grass, 131–132
Tusk shells, 229
U oxygen in, 372–373
Undersea earthquake, 498
Undersea trenches, 16
Undertow, 505
Underwater pressure, 451–457
Underwater turbulence, 62
Unicellular marine organisms,
94–111
Unifying theory, 394
U.S. Coast and Geodetic Service,
499
Universal solvent, 366–367
Upper beach, 127
adaptations to, 128–129
Upper intertidal zone, 70–71, 123
Upwelling, 504–505
Uric acid, 318
V of light, 467, 469–470
Vacuole, 103, 179
Valid hypothesis, 39
Vaporization, 444
Variable, 35
dependent, 38
independent, 38
Vascular plants, 121, 129
Vase sponge, 160–161
Veliger larvae, 222, 582
Ventral mouth, 285
Venus’s flower basket, 160
Vertebrates, 97, 281, 291, 308
Vertical migration, 471
Vertical ocean currents, 502–503
Vespucci, Amerigo, 8
Vibration, 475
Vikings, 7–8
Viperfish, 299, 472
Vitamins, 145
Volcanic action, 386, 390, 393,
394, 444
Volcanic islands, 399, 401, 409
Volcanic rock, 404
Volume, 46–47
Vorticella, 149, 150–151, 152,
153–154
Vortices, 294
W Institution, 30
Wake Island, 409
Walrus, 342, 343, 344
Wandering albatross, 322
Water, 145
light and, 467–470
as a solvent, 366–371
states of, 444
turbidity of, 556–557
Water balance in protozoa,
152–153
Water budget, 364–366
Water column, 194, 198, 204
Water cycle, 365–366
Water density, effects of
temperature and salinity on,
461–462
Water molecule, 368–369
Watershed, 365
Water vapor, 422
Water vascular system, 263
Wave frequency, 494
Wave-induced currents, 505–506
Wavelength
of sound, 476, 478
Wave train, 493–494
Weather, 415
stormy, 424–425
Wegener, Alfred, 387–388
Weight, 47–48, 451
West Coast sea star, 260
Wetlands, 75–77, 546
Whales, 331, 350, 480, 525, 529
baleen, 331–333, 335, 336
breathing in, 334–335
communication and
echolocation in, 340–341
keeping warm in cold waters,
339–340
migrations of, 338–339
movements in, 336–337
reproduction in, 334
swimming in, 335–336
toothed, 333
Whale shark, 286–287, 330
Whelk, 221
Whirlpool, 506
Whitecap, 496
White mangrove trees, 132
Wildlife Preservation Act (1969),
588
Winds, ocean, 419–421
Woods Hole Oceanographic
Worms, 61, 64
X
Xanthophyll, 123
Y
Yellow-bellied sea snake, 311
Z
Zinc, 551
Zonation, 67
Zoomastigina, 149
Zooplankton, 146–148, 149, 523,
526
diversity in, 146–148, 165
Zooxanthellae, 182, 183, 528
Zygote, 120, 162, 175

622 Index
 Photo Credits
Photographs are provided courtesy of the following:
Animals, Animals/Earth Scenes: 308
Peter Arnold, Inc.: 66, Patricia Jordan; 122,
Yvette Tavernier
Joseph Campanella: 549
CORBIS: 12, © AFP; 32 (middle), Bettman;
32 (bottom), Roger Ressmeyer; 315, Lynda
Richardson; 330, Japack Company; 400, Galen
Rowell; 442, Rick Price; 495, Rick Doyle;
514–515, Stephen Frink
Carol Davidson Hagarty: 31
The French Government Tourist Office: 487
(left); 487 (right), Camille
Getty Images: Cover photo, Georgette Douwma;
569, Scott Peterson/Liaison
Susan Giniger: 547
Thomas F. Greene: 13; 63; 68; 69; 70; 73; 75;
77; 79; 81; 83 (left); 84 (top); 84 (bottom);
85 (top); 85 (bottom); 86; 128; 133; 174; 181;
184; 246; 260; 280; 298; 321; 347; 358–359; 405;
407 (bottom); 440–441; 486; 491; 492; 497; 528;
532; 543; 544; 545; 560; 590
Institute of Biological Sciences: 158, Professor
Matthias Obst, Department of Zoology, Denmark
Kent SeaFarms Corporation: 585
National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA): 28; 376; 407 (top), 427;
485; 503 (top)
N. Y. Public Library/The Picture Collection:
224 (left); 498; 587
Photo Researchers, Inc.: 2–3, Jeff Rotman; 27,
Jeff Greenberg; 32 (top), Porterfield-Chickering;
60, G. Carleton Ray; 83 (right), David Hall;
92–93, David Hall; 94, Gorgon F. Leedale/
Biophoto Associates; 107, Biophoto Associates;
117, Andrew J. Martinez; 118, Andrew J.
Martinez; 141, G. Carleton Ray; 170–171,
Gregory Ochocki; 172, Jim Zipp; 177, Jeff
Rotman; 193, Mary Beth Angelo; 199, Sinclair
Stammers/Science Photo Library; 213, Lawrence
E. Naylor; 225, Labat-Lanceau/Jacana; 236,
Andrew J. Martinez; 248, Robert L. Dunne; 259,
David Hall; 269, Fred McConnaughey; 278–
279, Tim Davis; 360, E. R. Degginger; 363,
ChromoSohm/Sohm; 384, Ragnar Larusson; 415,
Sam Ogden/Science Photo Library; 431, Simon
Fraser/Science Photo Library; 445, Gregory
Dimijian; 449, Tom & Pat Leeson; 466, Douglas
Faulkner; 477, François Gohier; 516, Mary Beth
Angelo; 533, Michael P. Gadomski; 541, Jeff
Greenberg; 575, Jean-Paul Ferrero/Jacana.
Scripps Institution of Oceanography: 30 (left
& right), SIO Archives/UCSD
The Titanic Historical Society: 4
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS): 398 (bottom),
R. M. Pratt; 403, W. R. Normark; 579, K. O.
Emery
Visuals Unlimited, Inc.: 288, Brandon Cole;
408, Gerald & Buff Corsi
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
(WHOI): 17 (left & right); 19
623