Coral Reefs - Glossary
Adaptation - when behaviour, structural form or biology of an organism change over many generations.
Coral bleaching - when microscopic algae in coral tissues are expelled when there are changes in water chemistry including changes to temperature, salinity and pH.
Coral spawning - when clouds of coral eggs and sperm are released in large quantities and float around. Eventually the egg and sperm meet and larvae settle on the old reef to grow.
Ocean acidification - the ongoing decrease in pH of oceans caused by absorbing Co2.
Resilience - the ability to recover from a negative event.
Symbiosis - a very close relationship between two organisms
Upwelling - when cool nutrient-rich water is pushed to the ocean surface.
Zooplankton - very small animals that rely on water currents to move around
Coral bleaching - when microscopic algae in coral tissues are expelled when there are changes in water chemistry including changes to temperature, salinity and pH.
Coral spawning - when clouds of coral eggs and sperm are released in large quantities and float around. Eventually the egg and sperm meet and larvae settle on the old reef to grow.
Ocean acidification - the ongoing decrease in pH of oceans caused by absorbing Co2.
Resilience - the ability to recover from a negative event.
Symbiosis - a very close relationship between two organisms
Upwelling - when cool nutrient-rich water is pushed to the ocean surface.
Zooplankton - very small animals that rely on water currents to move around
