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Glossary
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glossary Acellular Containing no cells; not made of cells. Actinopterygians The subclass of vertebrates comprising the bony, ray-finned fishes. Allometric growth Growth of one part of the animal which is not in proportion to the overall growth of the animal. Allometry The study of the change in proportion of various parts of an organism as a consequence of growth. Allozyme A form of enzyme that differs in amino acid sequence, as shown by electrophoretic mobility or some other property, from other forms of the same enzyme. Anadromous Migrating from the sea to fresh water to spawn. Pertaining to animals that live their lives in the sea and migrate to fresh water to spawn. Apomorphic In cladistics, a character state that occurs only in later descendants is called an apomorphy (meaning “separate form,” also called the “derived” state) for that group. Aquaculture The science, art, and business of cultivating marine or freshwater food fish or shellfish under controlled conditions. Asynchronous Not consecutive, successive, or sequential. Atresia The degeneration and resorption of ovarian follicles before maturity has been reached. Autocorrelated Two or more time series that vary in the same way over time. Biogenetic law The theory that the stages in an organism’s embryonic development and differentiation correspond to the stages of evolutionary development characteristic of the species. 293 294 Glossary Bisexuality Having both male and female reproductive organs; hermaphroditic. Blastocoel The fluid-filled, central cavity of a blastula. Also called segmentation cavity. Blastodermal cap The cell mass of an embryo with meroblastic cleavage between the cleavage stage and the morula stage. Blastodisc The embryo-forming portion of an egg with discoidal cleavage usually appearing as a small disc on the upper surface of the yolk mass. Blastomeres Cells that result from cleavage of a fertilized ovum during early embryonic development. Blastopore The opening into the archenteron formed by the invagination of the blastula to form a gastrula. Breed To produce offspring by hatching (or gestation). Brood To protect, guard, and groom eggs until they hatch. Catadromous Living in fresh water but migrating to marine waters to reproduce. Chondrichthyans Cartilaginous fishes with well-developed jaws and including the sharks, skates, rays, and chimeras. Chorion The outer membrane enclosing the embryo in fishes, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Cladistics A system of classification based on the phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary history of groups of organisms. Cladogram A tree diagram used to illustrate phylogenetic relationships. Codend The rear end (often detachable) of a trawl or other funnel-shaped fishing net where the catch accumulates. Copepodite A series of developmental stages in copepods between the nauplius stage and the adult stage. Cryoprotectant A substance used to protect cells or tissues from damage during freezing. Cutaneous Of, relating to, or affecting the skin. Cytometry The study of cells. Demersal Dwelling on or near the bottom of the water column. Depensation The effect where a decrease in spawning stock leads to reduced survival or production of eggs. Diel “Daily” in the sense of a 24-hour period rather than the time between sunrise and sunset. Dip net A net or wire mesh bag attached to a handle, used especially to scoop fish from water. Direct development A life-history pattern without distinct intermediate stages between hatching or birth and attainment of the adult form. Disconcordant Time series that vary in opposite ways to each other. Echosign The acoustic record produced by echosounders. The return produced by echosounders indicating that organisms are present. Egg Animal reproductive body consisting of an ovum or embryo together with nutritive and protective envelopes. El Niño An invasion of warm water into the surface of the east Pacific Ocean every 4 to 7 years that causes dramatic changes in local and regional climate and oceanography. Electrophoresis A method of separating substances, especially proteins, and analyzing molecular structure based on the rate of movement of each component in a colloidal suspension while under the influence of an electric field. Embryonic shield A platelike mass of cells in the blastocyst from which an embryo develops. Also called embryonic disk. Endonuclease An enzyme that hydrolizes nucleic acids. Energetics The study of the flow and transformation of energy. Epiboly The growth of a rapidly dividing group of cells around a more slowly dividing group of cells, as in the formation of a gastrula. Epipelagic Of or relating to the part of the water column into which enough sunlight enters for photosynthesis to take place. Eutrophication Water so rich in mineral and...