Jump: Q  - R - S - T


Q Top


R Top


Recruitment: The addition of new individuals to a population.

Remotely operated vehicle (ROV): An unmanned submersible connected to the research vessel by a cable, often used to carry imaging systems and sample collectors.


S Top


Salinity: The concentration of dissolved salts in water, usually measured in parts per thousand.

Scleractinians: Corals which have a hard limestone skeleton and belong to the order Scleractinia.

Seamount: Undersea mountains that are often caused by volcanic activity. 

Sediment: Particles of organic or inorganic matter that accumulate in loose form on the seabed.
 Soft coral: Referring to the Class Octocorallia.

Solitary corals: Corals composed of a single individual polyp.

Storm wave base: The plane or maximum depth at which surface driven waves may impact the sea bottom during severe storms.

Stylasterids: Referring to the Family Stylasteridae of the Class Hydrozoa.

Symbiosis: The close association between two organisms where there is substantial mutual benefit.


T Top


Temperate: Pertaining to the latitudinal belt between 23° 27’ and 66° 33’ north or south latitude.

Thermocline: A depth at which the temperature of the water changes significantly.

Trophic level: The level at which an organism exchanges energy: bacteria and plants constitute the lowest level, followed by herbivores and a series of carnivores at the higher levels.