Glossary

abdomen Body of marine animal between head and tail. Abdominal flap offemale identifies that it cannot be collected.

abiotic Non-living (physical and chemical parts) that affect a marineorganism's life. For example salinity, temperature, oxygen or pressure.

aboard On board a vessel at sea.

abyss The deep sea environment between 4000 & 6000 m.

abyssal plain The very large, flat floor of the deep sea.

acclimatisation The process of gradually introducing a newly acquiredfish or invertebrate to its aquarium. Process where anemone fish graduallygets used to nematocysts of anemone.

acid Compounds which have a pH value below 7. Compounds that dissociatein water to form H+ ions.

acrylic Very hard form of plastic used in boat parts and aquariums.

adaptation A characteristic that helps an organism survive.

adult stage The mature stage of an organism which is capable of reproduction.

aeration A process of maintaining the oxygen level of the water by pushingair bubbles up through it.

aft Toward the stern or rear part of a boat.

aggressors Animals which attack other animals for food or for the defenceof their territory.

ahead In a forward direction or in the front of the boat.

airway Refers to the tube that connects the mouth to the lungs - thepharynx and bronchi.

algal blooms An increase in the concentration of phytoplankton. Sometimescaused by excess nutrients.

alkaline Substance with pH between 8–14.

alternation of generations A life cycle in which the generation alternatesfrom sexual to asexual (occurs for example, in sea lettuce).

amateurs Refers to people who fish for recreation and who do not selltheir fish.

anaesthetic Substance used to reduce pain in an area by controlling nerveendings.

ANARE Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition.

anemometer An instrument used to measure wind speed.

anglers Fishing term for amateur fishers who fish with rod and line.

Antarctic convergence Distinct region where the warmer, northern waterssink below cold Antarctic currents.

anti-fouling chemicals Chemicals which slow down the process of attachmentof marine animals, e.g. paints which stop barnacles growing on the hullof a ship.

antibiotics Chemicals that stop the growth of bacteria.

antivenene Drug used to combat specific marine venom, e.g. stonefishantivenene.

appendages Attached part of a limb of an animal, e.g. the leg of crayfishis an appendage.

AQIS Australian Quarantine Inspection Service.

aquaculture Cultivation of fish, molluscs and other aquatic organismsin fresh or salt water for sale for food for humans.

aquarium Pond or tank in which living plants and animals are kept awayfrom their natural habitat.

armour Outer covering of organism used for protection

artifacts Items found on shipwrecks.

astern In a backward direction; behind the boat.

atmosphere Gaseous fluid surrounding the Earth.

bachelor's degree First (undergraduate) degree from a tertiary institution.

bacteria Single-celled organisms that have a very simple cell structureand no distinct nucleus.

bag limit A restriction in the number of fish that an angler may retainover a certain time (e.g. a daily bag limit).

bailer A bucket or other container used to remove water from a boat.

ballast Weight used to give a boat proper stability and trim.

barotrauma Injuries caused to humans by water pressure. Occurs to diversand snorkellers.

base size The size of a base sheet of glass when making an aquarium.

beach erosion Natural process where sand moves off a beach during storms.

beacon A navigation aid such as a light or lighthouse. Can be an EPIRB(emergency positioning indicating radio beacon).

beam reach Sailing with the wind.

Beaufort scale Scale of wind force. See Figure 79.2.

bilateral symmetry Has left and right sides that are approximately mirrorimages.

bioballs Plastic balls used to grow aerobic bacteria, worms and othermicro-organisms to act as a biological filter in aquariums.

bioluminescence Bacteria and phytoplankton that produce light by a chemicalreaction. The production of visible white light by organisms.

biomass The total amount of living matter per unit of surface or volume,expressed as a weight.

blade The broad, flattened leaf-like part of a seaweed thallus.

blubber Thick layer of fat under the skin of marine animals that keepsthem warm in winter.

bommies Rocky reefs found under the water.

boom A spar that secures and extends the foot of a sail.

booms Arms used to trap oil after an oil spill.

bow The forward part or front of a boat.

brackish Water of less than normal ocean salinity, usually ranging between0.5–17 per cent.

breaking strain Fishing term used to indicate when a fishing line willbreak under a load. Measured by loading a line against a set of weightsuntil it breaks.

breathing When air can be seen or heard to come out of the mouth or nose.Associated with rise and fall of chest. Needs to be established for CPRand EAR (see Chapter 3).

buoyancy The ability or tendency of a marine organism to float.

buoyancy vest A lifejacket used for sheltered waters. Termed PFD 3.

buoys Marine instruments used to measure ocean currents. A floating,anchored marker used as a navigational aid or to mark a danger spot.

calibrate To check the accuracy of an instrument.

capsize To turn over.

carapace In crustaceans, the 'shield' covering the upper surface of partof the body of various species e.g. the broad shield forming the upper bodycover of crabs.

cardiopulmonary resuscitation Form of resuscitation used to keep a heartbeating and sending oxygen to vital organs. Also called CPR.

carnivore A flesh eater.

cartilage Material that covers the ends of bones and stops them rubbingon each other.

catamarans Twin-hulled sailing vessel.

catchment Describes the area of land which contributes runoff to a particularcreek, river lake or ocean.

catering Business of organising food and drinks for functions.

cellulose A complex carbohydrate present in the cell walls of plant cells.

Celsius Measurement of temperature.

centripetal force An outwardly pushing force. Think of a bucket swungaround your head; the water in the bucket stays there because of the centripetalforce.

certificate level Level of competency-based learning (AUS).

charter boats Ships with paying passengers.

chitin Specialised protein found in hard skin.

chlorofluorocarbons Synthetic chemical gases used in aerosols, packagingand refrigeration.

chlorophyll The green substance in plants which is able to absorb theenergy of sunlight.

chloroplast Cellular part of plants responsible for photosynthesis andcontaining photosynthetic pigments and enzymes.

cholera Infectious disease spread by specific micro-organisms in contaminatedwater.

ciguatera Disease of humans caused by eating tropical fish containingtoxins. These toxins are thought to come from blue-green algae.

cilia Small hair-like structures covering the body of animals.

circulation The movement of blood round the body which causes a pulseyou can feel either in the neck or the wrist.

cirri Small, flexible appendages present on some invertebrates, includingbarnacles and annelids.

coastlines Part of the mainland near the sea made from rock, sand orcoral. Mostly vegetated. Under great threat from humans.

coelenteron Hollow gut of animals belonging to phylum Coelenterata.

cold fronts When a cold air mass moves into or under a warm arm mass.Sometimes associated with strong winds but always with cold weather.

colonies Refers to bacterial colonies that grow on a plate which, whencounted, give an indication of sewage pollution. In birds, refers to placeswhere they breed.

commensalism A form of symbiosis in which only one of the animals benefitsfrom the relationship.

commerce General term referring to the business side of the marine industry.

commercial fishers Fishers who sell their fish.

common property resource Resource such as the sea that we all use.

compass An instrument for determining directions relative to magneticnorth.

competent Vocational education term. Refers to when you can actuallyperform a skill (usually unsupervised).

compress To push the chest down so as to stimulate the heart to contractand maintain a blood circulation to the brain.

conserve To keep in safe or sound state. Refers to seas, reefs, offshoreislands, national parks and the animal and plants that live there.

consumers Those who use a commodity or service. Animals which eat othersin the food chain.

contaminated Polluted - refers to water.

continental ice Ice composed of fresh water.

continental shelf Seabed from the shore to the edge of the continentalslope.

core Term used in marine vocational education to mean compulsory partof certificate course.

corrosion Process by which metals are eaten away by salt water and air.

corrosive Forces that cause the eating away of materials in sea water.Sea water is corrosive because it combines with air to eat away metals.

countercurrent A current flowing in a direction opposite to that of anothercurrent.

countercurrent system An arrangement where two fluids or gases flow inopposite directions.

CPR Cardiopulmonary resuscitation to maintain both oxygen and heart functionsduring resuscitation.

crest (surfing) The top of the wave.

culling Selective removal of animals for conservation purposes so otherspecies can have food. Scientifically debatable process.

cunjevoi Animal found on rocky shores at low tide in sub-littoral zone.Has a notochord and feeds with a siphon action. Also called a sea squirt.Good bait.

curator Person in charge of a museum or exhibition.

cutlets Fish pieces cut into steaks.

cyanobacteria Blue-green algae. One species causes a red tide.

cyclone Tropical revolving storm.

delaminate Process by which layers of material come apart by action ofsalt water and air.

deck The covered part of the top of a boat.

decomposer Organism that breaks down dead tissues, releasing simple chemicalsubstances (minerals) into the environment

defend To protect - refers to a territory.

degrease Remove grease from engines.

density The mass per unit volume of a substance or the number of individualsper unit area.

desiccation The loss of water from an organism due to drying in the airor the osmotic stress of a high-salinity environment.

diaphragm A vibrating membrane or disc used in an aquarium pump to sendair in one direction.

diatoms Microscopic single-celled algae which have two ornate interfittingouter 'shells' containing silica.

digital display Display of numbers on an instrument.

dinghy A small boat used as a tender for a larger boat.

disintegrate To break up into smaller pieces.

dissolved oxygen bottle Small bottle used in determining oxygen concentrationof a water sample.

distribution The range over which a species lives.

diving bell Vessel with compressed air used in deep sea diving to holdone or more people.

diving suit Diving suit consisting of helmet with glass plates and heavyboots.

drain spraying To paint a sign with a stencil on a drain to increasepublic awareness about stormwater pollution.

Dreamtime Time in Aboriginal spiritual culture during which the Earthreceived its present form and in which the patterns and cycles of life andnature were initiated.

drop in To catch a wave in front of another surfer who is already onthe wave. Dangerous practice often leading to surfing injuries.

duck diving To push your board under a broken wave so as to avoid thebreak.

E.coli Bacteria that indicates water may be polluted.

EAR Expired air resuscitation. A term used for the technique of fillinga patient's lungs with air to supply blood to the brain in resuscitation.

ebb The horizontal outflow of tidal water to the sea.

ebb tide Out-flowing tide from high tide to low tide; compare with floodtide.

Echinodermata Phylum of benthic animals having bilateral symmetry inlarval forms and usually a five-sided radial symmetry as adults; phylumincludes sea stars and brittle stars.

ecologically sustainable development (ESD) Development which meets theneeds of the present without compromising the ability of future generationsto meet their needs.

ecoports Ports that can help ships discharge wastes in an ecologicallysustainable manner.

ecotourism Nature-based tourism that involves education and interpretationof the natural environment and is managed to be ecologically sustainable.

eddies Large circular moving bodies of water associated with ocean currents.

El Niño A southerly flowing warm current that generally developsoff the coast of Ecuador shortly after Christmas. Associated with droughtconditions in Australia.

elder One of the older and more influential members of an Aboriginaltribe. Can be male or female.

elective Refers to a module or learning competency that you can chooseto do as part of a course.

emergency position indicating radio beacon Abbreviated to EPIRB.

emulsion A mixture of liquids of different types.

energy The ability to do work; there are many different forms of energy.

environmentally friendly Term used to describe any item or practice thatwill not harm the environment.

EPIRB Emergency position indicating radio beacon.

equalise In snorkelling, to make your ears comfortable when you diveunderwater by compensating for changes in pressure.

erosion Process by which weathered material is carried away by water,wind or glaciers.

estuaries The areas of inlets or mouths of rivers which are influencedby the tides and where salt and fresh water mixes.

ethnic backgrounds Origin of a culture.

evaluate Consider the results of a set of measurements.

evaporation In which water molecules are captured by warmer air, causingthem to become water vapour. This leads to the actual amount of water constantlydecreasing.

exclusive economic zone (EEZ) Concept proposed at the UN Law of the SeaConference whereby coastal states assume jurisdiction over the explorationand exploitation of marine resources.

extinction Process where no more of a species live on our planet, e.g.dinosaurs are extinct. Many species are threatened with extinction.

families Classification grouping. Lower than an order but higher thana genus. See Figure 181.2.

fecundity Number of eggs an animal produces each reproductive cycle;the potential capacity of an organism or population.

fertilisation The process in which the nuclei of a sperm and ovum jointo make a new living thing.

fertilisers Chemical used to make plants grow faster.

fetch The distance over the water's surface that the wind blows to generatewaves.

fillet To cut a slice off the side of a fish.

filtration Separation out of wastes and turbid water (in aquariums).

fins In snorkelling or diving, footwear used to propel body forward.Sometimes called flippers.

fiord An estuary that occurs in a deep, narrow, drowned valley, originallyformed by glaciers.

first aid Immediate help given to a person who has been injured beforethey go to hospital.

first order consumer Animal that eats a producer.

fish pens Large tough plastic holding tanks for fish grown in aquaculture.

flares Safety devices that are used to attract attention at sea. Canuse smoke or parachute.

floating platforms Structures used by tour operators to moor chartervessels on a reef.

food chain A chain of organisms in which each organism is eaten by thenext highest in the chain.

food web Interconnected food chains in a community; an abstract representationof the various pathways of energy flow through populations in a community.

forward The front section of a boat. To move ahead.

fouling organisms An assortment of benthic organism (such as barnacles,sponges and algae) that settle on boats, clog underwater pipes, and generallycause problems to marine vessels.

freeboard The vertical distance from the gunwale of a boat to the waterlinemeasured amidships.

galvanising Process by which iron is coated with zinc.

gear limits Management term used to limit the type of fishing gear usedby fishers.

gender limits Fish protected by sex, e.g. female mudcrabs are protectedby law from being taken by fishers.

genera A collective term used to incorporate like-species into one group.The first part of the Latin name of any creature refers to the genus.

gill A thin-walled projection from some part of the external body orthe digestive tract used for respiration in a water environment.

gill openings Openings at the sides of gills.

Gondwanaland A hypothetical protocontinent of the Southern Hemisphere,named for the Gondwana region of India, which included the present continentalmasses Africa, Antarctica, Australia, India and South America.

goofy foot (surfing) Refers to stand up surfers who put their right footforward when surfing.

gorges Fish hooks without curves, made from bone.

gravitational attraction Force of attraction between two objects.

gravity A force of attraction towards the centre of objects.

greases Thick oily substances used to lubricate marine parts.

greenhouse effect A build-up of carbon dioxide, methane and other gasesin the atmosphere preventing heat from escaping from Earth.

grow-out farms Places where adult aquaculture animals are raised untilthey are harvested.

groynes Boulders placed by humans that jut out to sea to capture sandand form a beach. Found to be ineffective because they only cause erosionon the opposite side of the rock wall.

gulfs Portion of sea partly enclosed by land.

gunwale The upper edge of the side of a boat.

gutting Removing intestines and other internal organs of a fish.

gyres Currents moving in large circles in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

harems Large numbers of females that mate with one male.

hatcheries Places where eggs and sperm are fertilised and immature stagesare matured. Used in aquaculture.

hectopascals Unit of measure for high or low pressure systems.

herbivore A plant eater.

hermaphrodite An animal that has both male and female reproductive organs.

holdfast The root-like base of marine algae that anchors or attachesthe plant to the substrate. The root-like part of the thallus.

holding pens Large tough plastic holding tanks for fish grown in aquaculture.

hookah Air pumps in a boat pumping air to divers below through a tube.Used by abalone divers.

hull Frame or body of a ship.

hydrological cycle See water cycle.

hydrometer A calibrated instrument for measuring the specific gravityof a liquid.

hypothermia Subnormal body temperature.

iceberg A massive piece of glacier ice that has broken (calved) fromthe front of the glacier into a body of water.

indicator paper Paper that changes colour to indicate pH of a water sample.

industry partners Vocational education term. Refers to marine businesseswhich help schools with their vocational education program.

infiltration Process by which water seeps into sewerage pipes.

initiation ceremony Religious ceremony in a tribe or clan used to signifythe coming of age of its members, usually young men.

insulates Protects from the cold. Refers in this book to materials inAntarctica.

international law of the sea A series of agreements made between nations.

Internet System of global communication between linked computers.

interpretative Used in tourism industry: telling stories to the publicin general terms about marine education issues.

inter-tidal zone The region between the high and low tides along theshore, alternately covered by water and exposed to the air (also calledlittoral zone).

invertebrates Animals without backbones.

jibing To shift the sail from one side to another while sailing withthe wind.

juvenile Immature stage of an animal's life cycle.

keel Longitudinal plates or timbers extending along the bottom of a vesselfrom front to back.

kingdoms The major groups used in animal and plant classification. Thefive kingdoms contain all the living things on Earth.

krill Planktonic crustaceans that are an important food of baleen whalesand other marine animals.

larva An independent embryo stage some animals go through before assumingthe characteristics of the adult of the species.

lateral line A sensory canal running along the sides of a fish.

latitude Distance north or south of the equator of a given position,measured in degrees. The equator has a latitude of 0 degrees, the SouthPole is 90 degrees South.

leg ropes Rubber cord that attaches the user to a surfboard or body board.

littoral The benthic zone between the highest and lowest spring tidemarks; the inter-tidal zone.

logbook Record book used by mariners to record events on a ship's voyage.Also used by students in Marine Vocational Educational programs to recordcompetencies.

longitude A measurement of distance given in degrees east (to 180 degreesEast) or west (to 180 degrees West) from the Greenwich Meridian (0 degrees).

longline A fishing line with many hooks or lures which may be bottomset or drifting.

longshore current Current located in the surf zone and running parallelto the shore as a result of waves breaking at an angle on the shore.

luau Hawaiian feast.

lures Make-believe prey used as bait to catch fish.

lycra Stretchy material made into shirts which keep ultraviolet raysfrom entering skin.

mainsail Main or biggest sail on a sailing vessel.

management Process by which conservation is made possible.

managerial Managing a group of people (vocational education term).

marine education The process that teaches people about the cultural,recreational, environmental, commercial and management issues associatedwith the sea.

marine pest Increase in population numbers of a animal or plant thatattracts media attention.

Marine Studies A study of the cultural, environmental, commercial andrecreational aspects of the sea and its management.

marine threat Potential to carry pest organisms into our country.

maritime archaeology Science of preserving ships and shipwrecks.

maritime museums Places where marine culture is preserved for publicadmission.

MARPOL International convention that deals with marine pollution fromships.

mask In snorkelling, a covering for the face that helps you to see betterunderwater.

mast An upright spar that supports sails and associated rigging.

membrane filter Filter used to catch bacteria to check faecal coliformlevels when determining water quality.

mercury Liquid used in thermometers. Expands or contracts with changingtemperature.

meteorologist Person who studies and forecasts the weather.

microridge Line of sand that is deposited as wave stops washing up thebeach.

microscope Instrument used to see very small animals, plants and bacteria.

migration The periodic movement of animals from one place to another,often between feeding and spawning areas.

Minamata disease Crippling disorder of humans caused by mercury poisoningfrom contaminated seafood.

Mirdawarr Aboriginal term for the end of the wet season.

module Part of a certificate course, also referred to as a course element.

moulting In crustaceans, the process whereby outer skin is shed.

mouthpiece Forms part of the snorkel placed in the mouth.

multiskilled Ability to do many tasks on a ship, e.g. drive a tenderboat, perform first aid, launch a life raft, roll napkins.

multi-use areas Areas in a marine park that can be used for differentpurposes.

multiculturalism Term used to describe many cultures and learning toget on with one another with mutual respect.

mutualism A form of symbiosis where both species involved benefit fromthe partnership.

mysids Group of small, shrimp-like crustaceans characterised by possessinga ventral brood pouch.

nationally recognised modules Course elements that are recognised inevery state.

natural selection The process whereby some organisms in a species havecertain inherited variations that give them an advantage over others.

nauplius The first planktonic larval stage of barnacles and some othercrustaceans. The nauplius larva metamorphoses into the cypris larva.

neap tide Small or moderate tide, occurring every two weeks when theMoon is in its quarter phase.

nematocyst A stinging capsule found on the tentacles of cnidarians.

neoprene Oil-resistant synthetic rubber.

neutral buoyancy Snorkelling term referring to maintaining a positionin water where you go neither up or down.

newton Unit of force.

nitrogen Chemical dissolved in blood and found in air. Also found infertilisers.

notochord Grisly backbone of animals belonging to the phylum Chordata.

nutrients Elements or compounds essential as raw material for organicgrowth and development such as carbon, oxygen, nitrogen and phosphorus.

oar Instrument for propelling a rowing boat forward.

observations Information about objects and events, collected by usingone or more of your senses.

occupational health and safety Safety issues related to the workplace,e.g. wearing a helmet.

ocean currents Movements of sea water caused by many factors includingwind and the Earth's movement.

oceanic To do with the open ocean waters beyond the edge of the continentalshelf.

oceanography The scientific study and exploration of the oceans and seasin all their aspects, including all processes in the oceans and interactionsand relations with Earth.

omnivore A plant and flesh eater.

on the plane When a speed boat accelerates then levels out while travellingat speed.

ooze Fine-grained deep-sea sediments of biological origin, composed (inpart) of the remains of small marine organisms.

operculum Bony covering over the gill slits of fish; or, in gastropodmolluscs, the calcareous plate over the shell opening that protects thebody when the animal withdraws into the shell.

order Classification grouping. Lower than phylum but higher than family.

organophosphates Chemicals used to fertilise plants.

otoliths Ear stones in fish.

ovary The female reproductive organ that makes eggs.

overflow current Rough rapid-like water caused by tides running oversubmerged rocks.

ovules small rounded bodies in the ovary of a flower, each ovule containsan ovum (egg cell).

oxidation Process by which oxygen is added to metals. Causes corrosion.

oxygen Vital chemical needed to sustain life in blood.

ozone hole Area where the thinning of the upper atmosphere each springover Antarctica lets harmful ultraviolet rays through. Can have devastatingeffects on life on Earth.

pack ice Ice made from sea water.

paddles Instrument used to propel a canoe forward.

parameters Variable qualities of the environment, e.g. light, temperature,dissolved oxygen.

parasite An organism which lives off other organisms.

parasitism A symbiotic association in which one organism (the parasite)derives nourishment as it eats the blood or tissue of another (the host),usually without killing the host.

parts per million (ppm) Measure of concentration of levels of oxygenor nutrients in water samples.

pebbles In environmental education, non-confrontational, simple sayingsthat draw attention to controversial issues.

pectoral To do with the shoulder; in fish, the pectoral fins are thoseat the sides behind the operculum.

peeling Removing shell of prawn.

pelagic Open ocean, as in pelagic plants and animals that live away fromthe ocean floor. Pelagic sediments are those that fall to the seabed fromthe waters above.

penis The male reproductive organ used to pass sperm into the female.

perishable materials Materials that deteoriate quickly in air or water,e.g. eggs, apples.

pesticides Chemicals used to kill pests on plant crops.

petrochemicals A chemical made from petroleum.

phosphorous Chemical used in cleaning products which, released into theenvironment, stimulates algae to grow.

photic zone The zone of the ocean into which light penetrates.

photosynthesis The complex process by which plants use sunlight energyto manufacture organic materials from carbon dioxide and water.

phyla Plural of phylum, the basic subdivision of the animal kingdom.There are 25 of these groups.

plankton Organisms that drift in the ocean because they either do notswim or are too small to resist ocean currents (also called ocean wanderers).

Plimsoll line A line placed on the hull of ships showing the maximumdepth to which they can submerge when they are loaded.

pneumatophores Breathing roots of mangroves.

pollution The introduction of substances by humans into the marine environmentwhich results or is likely to result in deleterious effects that harm livingresources and marine life.

polyculture Multiple cropping of aquacultured animals.

pop-rivet Small metal plug used with pop-rivet gun to secure two sheetsof metal together.

port The left side of a boat, as seen from aboard facing the bow.

precipitation The depositing of water onto the Earth's surface as a solid(snow and hail) or liquid (rain and dew).

predator An animal which hunts to catch food.

preen Oil secreted from the tail of a bird.

pressure Term used to describe the speed at which air particles affectthe walls of a container. Increase the speed and you increase the pressure.

pressure air cells Moving air cells above the Earth's surface which createwind.

primary dune First dune to be found as you walk up the beach towardsthe dune system.

primer bulb Rubber bulb used to move fuel from tank to engine when starting.

producer An organism that makes its own food using the energy of sunlight.

propeller Part of powered vessel used to propel a ship forward or inreverse. Device with a revolving hub and a radiating blade.

pulse Regular throbbing of the arteries caused by the beating of theheart. Can be felt in throat or wrist.

quarantine The isolation of organisms to prevent the spread of disease.

racks Timber painted with tar on which oysters are grown.

radial symmetry Having a body structure arranged like spokes radiatingout from the centre of a wheel.

radiation Sun's rays that are reflected (radiated). Also radiation fromnuclear activity

radioactive Material that gives out harmful radiation.

radula A rasping, file-like feeding organ found in some molluscs.

rapids Rough water caused by moving water over rocks.

recreational Used here to describe fishers who do not sell their catch.

recycle To use discarded material for another purpose.

reef Hard marine structure containing a variety of marine life. Coralreefs can form around islands or the mainland.

regulator In scuba diving, the device used to regulate the amount ofair coming from an air tank.

regurgitated In birds, to bring back food from the crop to feed youngchicks.

relative density The ratio of a substance to the density of water.

reproductive cells Cells that make sperm and eggs.

residual In aquariums, material left behind in the filter.

resorts Places where entertainment, accommodation, meals and marine activitiestake place.

restoration Repair and display of maritime artifacts.

resuscitate To revive.

retaliators Animals that will only attack if accidentally or deliberatelydisturbed.

rhizome An underground horizontal stem, found in seagrass, that functionsas a reproductive structure. New shoots develop as the rhizome grows.

rip Fast-moving water in surf zone caused by moving sandbanks.

riparian Pertaining to the river bank. Riparian vegetation is vegetationalong the river.

rookery Place where seabirds nest in groups.

rostrum Central, forward-projecting and occasionally long spine betweenthe eyes of crustaceans.

rowlock A device on the gunwale of a vessel on which an oar rests orswings.

Rrarranhdarr Dhuludur Aboriginal term for summer and spring.

rules (boating) Governmental regulations for preventing collisions onthe water.

rural land use Land used for farming.

sacrificial anode Process whereby zinc covers an iron part on a boatto reduce corrosion. Usually placed on a outboard motor on base plate.

salinity The total amount of dissolved material (mostly salt) in water.

sand dunes Mounds of sand, usually on the beach facing the surf. Containingspecific types of vegetation. The faster the winds, the bigger the dunes.

scales Thin, flat, hard plates that cover a fish.

scavenger An animal that feeds on dead organisms.

schooling Behavioural grouping together of fish, which then usually movetogether as a group.

scope The ratio between the length of an anchor rope and the depth ofthe water in which a vessel is anchored.

scuba Acronym of self-contained underwater breathing apparatus or aqualungequipment which provides air to a diver without the need for an airtubeto the surface.

sea A subdivision of an ocean.

sea time Logged time spent at sea.

seafood Food from the sea.

seamount An individual peak extending over 1000 m above the ocean floor.

seawater quality Term used to indicate health of sea water. Good waterquality is essential for fish farming, swimming, surfing etc.

secchi disc Device used to measure turbidity.

second order consumer Animal which eats a first order consumer.

secondary wastewater treatment After primary treatment of sewage, theremoval of biodegradable organic matter from sewage using bacteria and othermicro-organisms, inactivated sludge or trickle filters.

sediment Soil particles, sand and other minerals or organic matter erodedfrom land and carried in surface waters.

sedimentary rock A rock formed from the consolidation of loose sedimentor from chemical precipitation, such as sandstone and limestone.

seining To run a net around a school of fish.

semi-submersible submarine Submarine that carries passengers. Passengerstravel in an underwater viewing chamber but the skipper drives from a wheelhouseabove sea-level.

sessile Not able to move from place to place. Benthic organisms thatare attached to hard surfaces or the seabed.

sewage Wastewater produced from household and industry.

sewerage pipes The pipes that contain the sewage wastewater.

shackle A U-shaped metal fitting with a cross pin or clevis pin thatfits across the opening of the U as a closure.

sheets Ropes used to adjust sails.

shellfish Aquatic animals with shells, e.g. crustaceans (prawns, lobsters)and molluscs (e.g. oysters, scallops, clams).

shipmaster Person in charge of a ship.

shipwreck A ship that has sunk to the bottom of the sea or run agroundso that it cannot move off where it has became stuck.

shipwright A person employed in the construction or repair of ships.

silica Strong transparent case of diatoms.

silt Soil that runs off the land and accumulates where water slows down.

sinkers Weighted objects used to take hooks and bait down into the waterwhen fishing.

skinned To remove the skin when cooking fish.

skipper Person in charge of a ship.

slack water Water at the top or bottom of the tides. Usually associatedwith no currents.

slick Oil lying on the top of water.

snap Surfing term used to describe quick turning on the wave.

snorkel Tube enabling a person to breathe underwater.

sodium thiosulphate Chemical used in dissolved oxygen test. Number ofdrops used in the test equals the parts per million.

solute A substance dissolved in a solution. Salts are the solute in saltwater.

solution A liquid (or solid) containing one or more solutes dissolvedin a solvent; e.g. salt water.

solvent A substance that can dissolve other substances.

sonar The use of sound waves to detect underwater objects, such as schoolsof fish.

sounding Measuring the depth of water beneath a ship.

Southern Oscillation Index An index calculated from the pressure differencebetween Darwin and Tahiti. Abbreviates to SOI.

spark plugs Device inserted into internal combustion engine, containingtwo terminals between which passes an electric spark.

spat The spawn of an oyster or shellfish.

spawn To reproduce.

species A group of actually or potentially interbreeding populationsthat are reproductively isolated from all other kinds of organisms.

sperm Male reproductive cells.

spicules Structures found in sponges.

spores A reproductive body produced asexually and capable of growinginto an adult. Part of cycle in alternation of generations.

sporophyte generation Asexual generation in plants.

spriggots Small projections on the mouthpiece of a snorkel.

spring tide The tide that occurs at new or full Moon when the gravitationalinfluence of the Sun is working primarily in line with the Moon, so thatthe tidal range is high.

stainless Hard steel alloyed with high percentage of chromium. Resistsrusting in sea water.

starboard The right side of a boat, as seen from aboard facing the bow.

starter cord Cord attached to an outboard motor. Pulled to start theengine.

sternum Long bone in the centre line of humans connecting ribs. Oftencalled the breastbone.

stevedoring A firm or individual engaged in the loading and unloadingof ships.

stipe The stem-like part of a seaweed thallus.

stormwater Water off the roads and roof of houses. Must not be connectedto sewerage system. Often gets polluted by human urban activities.

stormwater taskforce Group of individuals set up by the Surfrider Foundationto clean up stormwater drains.

straits Narrow body of water bordered on either side by land.

structural characteristic A characteristic of an organism that sets speciesapart from another, e.g. segments in the body are a structural characteristic.

sub-littoral zone Zone on a rocky or reef zone below low water mark.

submergence Process by which coastlines become covered with water fromrising sea-levels.

succession Replacement of populations in a habitat through a regularprogression to a climax (mature) community; brought about by organisms thatchange the environment.

sunburn Inflamed state of the skin caused by being out in the sun toolong. Very dangerous and causes skin cancer.

supra-littoral zone Zone on a rocky or reef zone above high water mark.

supra-tidal zone The seashore zone below the inter-tidal zone exposedto the air at high tide.

Surfrider Foundation Group of surfers who care about the sea and wantto see the end to ocean outfalls of sewage. Anyone can join. Write to POBox 1441, Dee Why NSW 2009.

swell A wave, or succession of waves (originally generated by winds),that have left their area of generation and have moved into areas of weakerwind.

swim bladder A gas-filled structure in bony fish that is used to regulatebuoyancy.

symbiosis A mutual relationship between two species in which both benefit.

symmetry Body form of animals. Can be bilateral or radial.

synthetic Materials formed by chemical process usually involving rubberand resins.

tacking Sailing into the wind using a zig-zag motion to maintain a forwardcourse.

tackle box Box used by fishers to keep tackle: hooks, sinkers, line,lures, etc.

tailings Second grade or waste rock fragments derived from screeningor processing or raw ores. Contaminate water quality of streams and rivers.

temperature A measurement of the degree of heat or cold of a body orplace.

tentacles Appendages on sea organisms that contain suckers or stingingcells. Used to grasp food and move around.

territory Place where an animal lives that it defends.

test An outer covering, usually hard, secreted by some organisms

testis Male reproductive organs that make sperm.

thallus The body of a seaweed.

theme park Fun park based on a theme, e.g.. Sea World is a marine themepark.

thermoclines Layers of water in the sea where the water temperature onone side is different to the other. You can feel a thermocline if you divedown into a pool.

thermometer Instrument used to measure temperature.

threatened species Plant, animal or micro-organism which may be commonin parts of its range but is severely depleted in others.

throat Part of a fishing hook.

throttle Accelerator handle on an outboard.

thwarts Seats of a boat.

tidal Between the tides.

tidal current Circulation of water within coastal embayments caused bychanging tides.

tidal range The amount of change in an area's water level from low tohigh tide.

tidal zone The area in which the water moves in a tide.

tide Periodic rise and fall of the surface of the ocean and connectedbodies of water resulting from the gravitational attraction of the Moonand Sun.

totem An object or thing in nature, often an animal, assumed as a tokenor emblem of a clan, tribe, family or related group.

tourism Occupation of providing local services such as entertainment,accommodation and catering for tourists.

tours Activity involving taking tourists on a trip.

toxic A poison.

trade winds The air masses moving from subtropical high-pressure beltstoward the equator; south-easterly in the Southern Hemisphere.

training logbook Book in which competencies are recorded.

transom The transverse board or planking that forms the stern of a square-endedboat. May have a cut-out or recess.

trawl A sturdy bag or net that can be dragged along the bottom to catchfish or towed at various depths above the bottom for the same purpose.

trepang Sea cucumber. Asian delicacy.

trichodesmium Algae responsible for red tides.

trickle filter Homemade filtration unit made from plastic scraps andcarry boxes.

trolled Dragging fishing tackle over or just below the water.

trophic Relating to processes of energy and nutrient transfer from oneor more organisms to others in an ecosystem.

trophic level Position in the food chain; determined by the number ofenergy-transfer steps.

trough (wave) Bottom part of wave.

tsunami Large seismic waves produced by earthquakes, volcanic eruptionsor underwater landslides (also called tidal waves).

tube feet The small projections underneath such animals as starfish whichprovide them with locomotion.

turbidity The cloudy conditions caused by the suspended solids in liquid.

under-gravel filter system Filter system at base of aquarium that containsmicro-organisms that clean the water.

uplift tube Tube through which air is pumped to draw water from the under-gravelfilter.

upthrust A thrust in an upward direction. Used to indicate buoyancy.Weight of water displaced.

upwelling Currents that bring nutrient-rich bottom water up to the surfacelayers of water.

uric acid White paste-like waste produced by seabirds.

venom Poisonous chemical excreted by animals or plants.

venomous Characteristic of an animal that produces venom.

ventral The lower or under surface of animals.

vertical migration Movement up and down in the water column often witha daily cycle.

viscosity The ability of a liquid to resist the movement of an object(internal resistance of the liquid), caused by molecular attraction withinthe liquid.

volcanoes Places where magma from deep in the Earth breaks to surface.Steep-sided volcanoes occur at places where ocean plates collide. Flat volcanoesare found on plates that move slowly over hot spots.

Walker circulation Wind pattern over the Pacific Ocean that pushes warmwater in a westerly direction.

waste disposal Removal of garbage from urban areas.

wastewater Water that carries wastes from homes, businesses, and industries;a mixture of water and dissolved or suspended solids.

wastewater treatment plant System that removes harmful substances fromwastewater.

water conditioning Leaving water for a few weeks to allow bacterial levelsto stabilise.

water cycle The cycling of water on Earth as it evaporates from the oceans,condenses into clouds, falls as rain and returns to the oceans.

water vapour Water that has evaporated into the air.

wavelength Distance between wave crests.

weather lore Sayings that have become part of weather forecasting.

weather vane An instrument used to measure wind direction.

weight The force that is exerted on an object by gravity. It is measuredin newtons.

wetsuit Neoprene suit used to keep divers and surfers warm.

work placement Working in a workplace for experience but no pay. Observingand performing simple tasks under supervision.

workplace assessor Person in the workplace who has been trained to testyour skills and has substantial experience in the industry.

zoea Early larval stage of lobsters and crabs.

zonation Distinct plant and animal associations; recognisable as horizontalbands along the seashore that divide the habitats.

zones Places on a rocky shore, reef flat, mangrove swamp, sand dune,etc. that have distinct vegetation or animal inhabitants.

zoning Refers to places in marine parks that are managed for specificpurposes.

zooplankton Planktonic animals, such as copepods and jellyfish.

zooxanthellae Symbiotic, brownish algae that live in the tissues of variousmarine organisms (dinoflagellates).

zygote A fertilised egg.