THE STEINHART AQUARIUM - Gulf of Guinea Science ...

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A Docent Field Guide to the Species of the Steinhart Aquarium
primitive character state present in the common ancestor
of a clade; a primitive character state is inferred
to be the original condition of that character within
the clade under consideration
producers in an ecosystem, organisms, such as plants,
that are able to produce their own food from inorganic
substances
protandrous referring to a sequential hermaphrodite
in which the fish functions first as a male and then
changes to a female
protogynous refers to animals that are sequential hermaphrodites,
where the animal functions first biologically
as a female, having only female sexual organs,
then changes to be biologically male
radial symmetry a type of symmetry in which an organism
can be divided into equal halves by passing a
plane through the central axis in any direction
radula rasping tongue found in most mollusks
recessive refers to an allele that causes a phenotype
(visible or detectable characteristic) that is only seen
in an organism that has two copies of the same allele
scavenger an organism that obtains nutrients from
dead animals or other dead organic material
selection pressure in a population, the force for genetic
change resulting from natural selection
sessile permanently attached or stationary
sexual reproduction reproduction that involves male
and female gametes, usually produced by different
parents. The central event is fertilization (the joining
of egg and sperm)
species (1) a group of organisms that have a unique
set of characteristics (like body shape and behavior)
that distinguishes them from other organisms. If they
reproduce, individuals within the same species can
produce fertile offspring. (2) the basic unit of biological
classification
spore a reproductive cell, usually unicellular, capable
of developing into an adult without fusion with another
cell
sporophyte the spore-producing, diploid (2n) stage in
the life cycle of a plant having alternation of generations
symbiosis the living together of two dissimilar organisms
in close association; includes parasitism, commensalism,
and mutualism
synchronous hermaphrodite organism that possesses
both active male and active female reproductive organs
at the same time
syngamy the union of a sperm cell and an egg cell to
form a zygote; fertilization
taxon (pl. taxa) a named group of organisms, not necessarily
a clade; a group of organisms of any taxonomic
rank, such as a given phylum, order, family,
genus, species
terminal phase male the dominant breeding male of
certain fish families, such as wrasses and parrotfishes.
Usually has a distinctive color phase and may be
transformed initial phase males or transformed females.
thallus a plant body without true stems or roots or
leaves or vascular system; the body of a seaweed
tissue a group of cells organized into a structural or
functional unit
trochophore the larval form characteristic of marine
annelids and most groups of mollusks as well as several
other phyla
variation the differences that occur in the offspring of
a particular population or species
veliger the larval form common to most bivalves and
gastropods; develops from the trochophore larva
ventral pertaining to the undersurface
viviparous producing live young from within the
body of the female
zoochlorellae symbiotic unicellular green algae
zoospore a motile flagellated asexual spore, as of certain
algae and fungi; typically produces a gametophyte
zooxanthellae symbiotic dinoflagellate algae
zygote the cell formed by the union of a sperm cell and
an egg cell