Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Sources: SFEP, SFEI, USGS.
Acre-foot
The amount of water required to cover an acre of land to a depth of
one foot, or 43,560 cubic feet.
Anadromous
Fish that spend all or part of their adult life in salt water and re-
turn to freshwater streams and rivers to spawn.
Anoxia
The condition of lacking oxygen.
Assemblage
Collection of species typically found together in a given habitat.
Benthos
The community of plants and animals that live on or in the seabed
and at the bottom of the bay (nonplanktonic).
Biomagnification
The progressive increase in concentration of a contaminant
as it moves up the food chain, such that each animal has a higher concentra-
tion in its tissues than its food did.
Bryozoan
A type of filter-feeding aquatic invertebrate that generally lives in
colonies of interconnected individuals; they often grow on rocks, shells, and
algae, as well as on ship bottoms, pier pilings, and other surfaces.
Byssal thread
The threadlike fibers mussels secrete to attach themselves to
rocks and other hard substrates.
Climate forcing
A disruption in the amount of energy stored in earth's cli-
mate system, such as an increase in the amount of heat trapped in the atmo-
sphere, which causes shifts in ocean temperatures, rainfall patterns, and other
aspects of climate.
Cryptogenic
A species of uncertain origin, which may be either native or in-
troduced.
Cubic feet per second
A flow rate, typically used to describe the quantity and
speed of flow in rivers and streams.
Culvert
A pipelike drain that passes beneath a road, embankment, or path.
Dabble
A feeding behavior shown by certain species of ducks that use their
beaks to filter food particles from the water.
Demersal
Species that spend most of their lives on or near the seabed.
