Glossary of Terms

AEROBIC – requiring oxygen

ALGA – a plant that is photosynthetic and reproduces by releasing spores.

ALKALINITY – the buffering ability of seawater

ANAEROBIC – needing no oxygen to survive

AQUACULTURE – the farming of freshwater and saltwater organisms

ARAGONITE – a mineral made of mostly calcium carbonate

AQUASCAPING – the artful arranging of plants, substrate and rocks in an aquarium

BARRIER REEF – a reef that is separated from land in a shallow area

BIOMASS – total amount of material in a single organism

BLADE – the leaf like structure on macro algae.

BLADDER – the float on species such as Sargassum and Botryocladia that allow algae to stand upright.

BRANCH LETS – small projections from the main branch

CALCIFIED – having calcium carbonate deposits within or on the plant

CLASS – a group of related organisms

COLONY – an organism made up of connected individuals

CORALLINE ALGAE – a calcareous algae that encrusts

CYSTOCARP – a reproductive formation on female Rhodophyta

DENITRIFICATION – the process of converting nitrate to nitrogen gas

DETRITUS – the build up of sediment and organic material

DIATOMS – a micro algae, rich in silica, that grows as a film

DOSING – adding chemicals or elements in small quantities

ECOSYSTEM – the combined physical and biological components of an environment

ENVIRONMENT – the combined physical, chemical and biological surroundings

EPIPHYTE – an organism that lives on plant material but does not prey on it

FAMILY – a group of related organisms

FILAMENTS – a slender row of plant cells

FROND – the blade or leaf of macro algae

GENUS – a group of multiple related organisms

HABITAT – the environment where an organism grows

HOLDFAST – a root like structure that algae posses to attach themselves

KELVIN – a measurement of the color temperature of light

LAGOON – a protected area behind the reef

LIVE ROCK – harvested or cultured rock from the ocean that contains organisms and bacteria

MACRO ALGAE – large multi-celled algae

MICRO ALGAE – small single celled algae

NUTRIENT – a chemical or element required for growth

OOLITIC – a very fine form of aragonite sand

PHOTOSYNTHESIS – the ability to convert sunlight into food

PROLIFERATE – the formation of new frond on an older part of the plant

REFUGIUM – a separate appendage to an aquarium that provides sanctuary for organisms

RHIZOID – the root like structure of macro algae

RHIZOME – the horizontal runner or stem of macro algae

SPECTRUM – the colors in visible light when separated using a prism

SPORE – a reproductive structure that forms new organisms.

SPORULATION – the release of reproductive spores into the water to form new organisms

STOLON – the stem connecting individual fronds

UPRIGHT – the vertical structural branch of macro algae