Results for “marine”

marine

Of, relating to, native to, inhabiting, or formed by the sea or ocean.

Used in 95 profiles

krill

Vernacular term for any small, shrimp-like, marine crustacean of the order Euphausiacea. Represent an important, sometimes principal, proportion of the diet of many marine fishes and mammals. Available as food for ornamental fishes, usually in frozen form.

Used in 14 profiles

live sand

Type of substrate mostly used in marine aquaria collected directly from natural marine habiats and packaged in such a way as to maintain the resident microorganisms. Significantly reduces the time required to mature a new aquarium.

algae crab

Loose term used to describe any type of crab useful in an aquarium because it eats algae and/or diatoms. In marine aquaria this would include Sally Lightfoot, Emerald and various species of hermit crab. In freshwater the micro-crab Limnopilos naiyanetri fills the same role.

amphidromy

A form of diadromy in which fishes migrate between fresh and marine water as part of their life cycle for some purpose other than spawning, e.g., newly-hatched, arvae may be swept downstream into the sea where they spend a period of time before migrating back into fresh water to mature and eventually reproduce.

Used in 15 profiles

anadromous

Migrating from marine to freshwater environments in order to spawn, as many salmonids do for example.

aquaculture

Commerical production of marine or freshwater food fish or shellfish under controlled conditions. Sometimes referred to as 'fish farming'.

Used in 34 profiles

aragonite

Naturally-occurring, crsytalline form of calcium carbonate with a notable buffering capacity. Popular as a substrate or substrate additive in marine and freshwater aquaria where pH and hardness must be maintained at high levels, and has a more rapid, effective effect than coral sand, for example.

automatic top off

Automated system for adding water to an aquarium or sump in order to maintain a constant water volume. Particularly important in marine aquaria where salinity increases if water is allowed to evaporate without being replaced.

Berlin method

Method of biological filtration used in marine aquaria utilising live rock rather than a traditional, mechanical filter unit.

biome

A major regional or global biotic community normally characterised by the dominant vegetation and local climatic conditions, e.g., deserts, tropical rainforests, tundra. The two major aquatic biomes are freshwater and marine but these are often broken down into less-generalised categories.

broadcast spawner

A fish which releases its gametes into open water for external fertilisation, with no subsequent parental care. The strategy is more commonly-seen in marine than freshwater species.

brown algae

Vernacular term commonly used in zoology when referring to the largely marine class Phaeophyceae which includes many seaweeds, and in the aquarium hobby to describe growths of brown, diatomic algae.

Used in 1 profile

cephalopod

Any marine mollusc of the class Cephalopoda which includes octopus, squid, cuttlefish, and nautilus. Characterised by possession of a large head and eyes, prehensile tentacles, and, in most species, a specialised sac containing a dark, inky fluid used in defensive behaviour.

copepod

Any member of the subclass Copepoda, a group of small marine and freshwater crustaceans of which the planktonic species are important to global ecology, forming the main constituent of oceanic zooplankton. Some species are parasites of fishes.

Used in 6 profiles

coral

Any marine animal of the class Anthozoa, these being characterised by possessing a horny or calcareous skeleton, aggregations of which form coral reefs and islands.

Used in 13 profiles

coral sand

Sand originating from marine environments via bioerosion of the calcareous skeletal structures possessed by some organisms. Coral is not the chief constituent, however, with the majority of material deriving from foraminifera, calcareous algae, molluscs, and crustaceans.

Used in 6 profiles

deep sand bed

Method of filtration, mostly used in marine aquaria, whereby the increased depth of the sand substrate facilitates formation of an anaerobic layer where nitrate can be converted into nitrogen gas. Also known as "Jaubert" or "plenum" system and often associated with live sand.

formanifera

Phylum of amoeboid microorganisms and a common constituent of marine plankton.

mangrove swamp

Tropical or subtropical, tidal marine swamp chaaracterised by an abundance of mangrove trees.

Used in 20 profiles