MarLIN Glossary

Glossary items

macrobenthos

The larger organisms of the benthos, exceeding 1 mm in length (from Lincoln & Boxshall, 1987); often applied to organisms >0.5mm. Cf. 'meiobenthos', 'microbenthos'.

macrofauna

Animals exceeding 1 mm in length (Lincoln & Boxshall, 1987) or retained on a 1 mm or 0.5mm sieve; often applied to organisms >0.5mm. Cf. 'meiofauna', 'microfauna'.

macroscopic

Large enough to be visible to the naked eye, typically exceeding 1mm in length.

maerl

Twig-like unattached (free-living) calcareous red algae, often a mixture of species and including species which form a spiky cover on loose small stones - 'hedgehog stones'.

mantle

1) In invertebrates: a dense fold of skin which secretes the shell and encloses the major organs (OED, 2005). 2) In vertebrates: referring to the dorsal surface of the shoulders.

manubria

Plural of 'manubrium'.

manubrium

1) Tube-like extension, bearing the mouth, that hangs down from the centre of the subumbrella of cnidarian medusae. 2) Hypostome of hydroid polyps (from Ruppert & Barnes, 1994).

mariculture

The cultivation, under appropriate environmental conditions, of marine organisms in seawater by human effort for commercial purposes (based on Baretta-Bekker et al., 1992 and Charton & Tietjen, 1989). (See also 'aquaculture') .

marine

Pertaining to the sea.

marine inlet

1) As used by the MNCR, this term covers all forms of inlet, including estuaries, enclosed bays and the sounds, straits and narrows between land masses. 2) As defined for the Habitats Directive, 'large shallow inlets and bays' are: "Large indentations of the coast where, in contrast to estuaries, the influence of freshwater is generally limited. These shallow indentations are generally sheltered from wave action and contain a great diversity of sediments and substrates with a well developed zonation of benthic communities" (European Commission 1995). 'Shallow' may be defined by the depth limit of the photic zone in open coastal waters adjoining the inlet or bay. In the UK this is interpreted for the Habitats Directive as a depth of 30 m below chart datum or shallower across at least 75% of the site."

Marine Nature Reserve

A statutory marine protected area declared in Great Britain by the Nature Conservancy Council and its successor agencies under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 for the purpose of conserving marine flora or fauna or geological or physiographical features in the area and providing opportunities for study and research (from Anon., 1994). Voluntary MNRs are non-statutory protected areas agreed by local sea-users and other interested parties.

marine protected area

"Any area of intertidal or subtidal terrain, including geological and geomorphological features, together with its overlying water and associated flora, fauna, historical and cultural features, which has been reserved by law or other effective means to protect part or all of the enclosed environment." (IUCN definition, as modified by the Marine Protected Area Group, a working group of Wildlife Link's Joint Marine Group).

maritime

1) Of or related to navigation, shipping. 2) Situated, living or found close to, and having a special affinity with, the sea (based on Makins, 1991). Cf. 'marine'.

massive

Bulky (Homes, 1979).

mat

The dense mass that blankets the substratum.

Mean High Water Springs

The average of the heights of two successive high waters during those periods of 24 hours when the range of the tide is greatest (from Ministry of Defence, 1987).

Mean Low Water Springs

The average of the heights of two successive low waters during those periods of 24 hours when the range of the tide is greatest (from Ministry of Defence, 1987).

medially

Towards the middle or centre (OED, 2005).

Mediterranean

An extension of the Atlantic Ocean between Europe and Africa (Charton & Tietjen, 1989) often used to describe a biogeographic region but which, according to Ekman (1953), is not a distinct faunal unit but enters into a greater one which includes the neighbouring parts of the Atlantic.

medusiform

Disk, bell or umbrella shaped and often gelatinous (Barnes et al., 1993).

medusoid

Disk, bell or umbrella shaped and often gelatinous (Barnes et al., 1993).

megalopa

Post-larval stage of crabs that has a large or flexed abdomen and full complement of appendages (Ruppert & Barnes, 1994).

megalopae

Plural of 'megalopa'.

megalops

See 'megalopa'.

meiobenthos

Small benthic organisms which pass through a 1 mm mesh sieve, but are retained by a 0.1mm mesh (from Lincoln & Boxshall, 1987). Typically, they inhabit interstitial space in sediments. Cf. 'macrobenthos', 'microbenthos'.

meiofauna

Small interstitial animals which pass through a 1 mm mesh sieve but are retained by a 0.1mm mesh (from Lincoln & Boxshall, 1987). Cf. 'macrofauna', 'microfauna'.

meroplankton

Temporary plankton consisting of pelagic stages of organisms which also have benthic stages. Mainly the larvae of sedentary organisms. (From Baretta-Bekker et al.,  1992). Cf. holoplankton.

mesohaline

Pertaining to brackish water between 5 ‰ and 18 ‰ salinity (from McLusky, 1993).

metagamic

Pertaining to reproductive cycles that alternate between sexual and asexual phases (Lincoln et al., 1998).

MHWS

Mean High Water Springs

microbenthos

Microscopic benthic organisms less than 0.1 mm in length (Lincoln & Boxshall, 1987). Cf. 'macrobenthos', 'meiobenthos'.

microfauna

Small animals less than 0.1 mm length, not visible to the naked eye (cf. 'macrofauna', 'meiofauna').

microhabitat

A small part of the habitat which has distinct physical conditions, e.g. rock crevice.

microscopic

Any organism which cannot be observed without the use of a microscope.

mid-littoral

General physical terms for the area of the shore midway between the high water and low water marks.

mid-shore

See 'mid-littoral'.

middle shore

See 'mid-littoral'.

migration

Movement from one region or habitat according to the seasons (OED, 2005).

migrations

Plural of 'migration'.

migratory

Of organisms that move from one habitat or location to another; typically periodically or seasonally and of relatively long distance (from Lincoln et al., 1998) .

MLWS

Mean Low Water Springs

MNR

Marine Nature Reserve.

mobile

Capable of spontaneous movement, able to move freely.

moderately exposed

Of wave exposure - generally coasts facing away from prevailing winds and without a long fetch, but where strong winds can be frequent (from Hiscock, 1990).

modifier

A physical or biological feature or occurrence affecting a site which changes the characteristics of a habitat, e.g. sand-scour, wave surge, substratum mobility, freshwater run-off, grazing, or pollution.

monitoring

The process of repetitive observation, for defined purposes, of one or more elements of the environment, according to prearranged schedules in space and time and using comparable methods for environmental sensing and data collection. Monitoring provides factual information concerning the present state and past trends in environmental behaviour (Based on UNEP definition). The term is also applied to compliance monitoring against accepted standards to ensure that agreed or required measures are followed. (Cf. 'surveillance').

mucronate

Terminating in a point.

mud

1) Fine particles of silt and/or clay, < 0.0625 mm diameter (from Hiscock, 1990, after Wentworth, 1922). 2) Sediment consisting of inorganic and/or organic debris with particles in this category.

mudflat

An expanse of mud or muddy sediment in the intertidal zone. The 1991 CORINE biotopes manual (Commission of the European Communities, 1991) defines 'Mud flats and sand flats' as "Sands and muds, submerged for part of the tide, devoid of vascular plants, but usually coated by blue algae and diatoms." The EC Habitats Directive 'mudflats and sandflats not covered by seawater at low tide' uses the same definition (European Commission 1995).

mutualism

A symbiosis in which both organisms benefit, frequently a relationship of complete dependence. (Lincoln et al., 1998) (cf. symbiosis, commensalism, parasite).

mysid

A member of the Order Mysida (Phylum Arthropoda, Subphylum Crustacea). Cf opossum shrimp.

Mysida

The Order Mysida (Phylum Arthropoda, Subphylum Crustacea) are slender, shrimp-like crustaceans with translucent bodies, feathery appendages, a broad tail fan and obvious eyes (adapted from Hayward et al., 1996).

mysids

Plural of 'mysid'.