Results for “pH”

ecosystem

A biological community comprising interacting organisms plus their physical environment.

Used in 23 profiles

epibranchial

Bone or cartilage forming the upper part of the gill arch, positioned between the ceratobranchial and pharyngobranchial.

Used in 90 profiles

epibranchial organ

Present in some microphagous fishes and comprises a paired dorsal diverticulum located towards the posterior of the pharynx. In the majority of species it's divided into two sections by additional gill rakers which trap small food particles.

formanifera

Phylum of amoeboid microorganisms and a common constituent of marine plankton.

gill arch

Bony or cartilaginous arch in the pharynx to which the gill filaments and rakers are attached.

Used in 162 profiles

green water

Term used to describe water with a green-coloured, soupy appearance caused by an excess of phytoplankton in suspension, often as a result of eutrophication. Also known as an algal bloom.

Used in 7 profiles

head and lateral line erosion

Severe physical condition relatively common to certain fishes in captivity and also known as hole-in-the-head. Sometimes attributed to protozoan parasites of the genus Hexamita or an autoimmune disorder though these theories remains unconfirmed. Certainly associated with and exacerbated by poor water quality and/or nutrition, however. Initially manifests itself as small lesions, normally on the head of an affected individual, but may also extend along the lateral line and into the unpaired fins. If left unchecked these lesions can develop into larger, whitish pits and the condition may prove fatal. Often abbreviated to HLLE and similar to, but not analagous with, neuromastic pitting. Does not appear to occur in nature.

Used in 35 profiles

homeostasis

The ability or tendency of an organism or cell to maintain internal equilibrium by adjusting its physiological processes.

hyoid arch

Either of the second pair of pharyngeal or gill arches. Supports part of the tongue and the branchiostegal rays.

infusoria

Collective term for certain members of the protozoan Phylum Ciliophora, of which it is considered a subclass in certain classification systems. Members naturally inhabit infusions of decomposing organic material and some are cultured by aquarists in order to feed very small fish fry. The name was formerly applied to a much larger group of aquatic microorganisms which also included some other protist groups and unicellular algae.

Used in 186 profiles

ingroup

In phylogenetics or cladistics, the particular group under scrutiny in a study. Opposite of outgroup.

mechanical filtration

Type of filtration that physically removes solid particles and objects from the water.

Used in 33 profiles

mollusc

Any member of the invertebrate phylum Mollusca.

Used in 27 profiles

Mollusca

Large, highly diverse invertebrate phylum. Members are difficult to define but generally possess a soft, unsegmented body, and often a shell or shell-like structure secreted by a mantle. Includes all bivalves, cephalopods, and gastropods.

neuromastic pitting

Severe physical condition of unconfirmed origin occurring in certain fishes which appears related to poor water quality and/or nutrition. The primary symptom is necrosis of the tissue surrounding neuromasts on both the head and body and if left unchecked the disorder can result in death. Similar to, but not analagous with, head and lateral line erosion, and does not appear to occur in nature.

Used in 1 profile

neutral water

Pure, ion-free water with a pH of or very close to 7.0.

Used in 20 profiles

osmotic shock

Rupture of cells in a solution as a result of a sudden reduction in osmotic pressure. Can cause severe issues in fishes when the chemical composition of the water changes rapidly, e.g., during or following a pH crash.

outgroup

In phylogenetics, a group of organisms serving as a reference and comparison to the groups being studied. Opposite of ingroup.

overstock

To add more fishes to an aquarium than it is capable of maintaining in a biological or physical sense.

peat swamp forest

Type of tropical moist forest lying over a thick bed of acidic peat, over 60% of which occur in Indonesia and Malaysia. Typically contain water with very low pH (<4.0) that is stained brown due to the release of various organic compounds from the decaying peat and thus often referred to as blackwater swamps. Usually contain some permanent water but also flood seasonally. Highly biodiverse when in pristine condition, with many species found nowhere else on earth, though increasingly subjected to intensive drainage, burning and subsequent conversion to agriculture in recent decades.

Used in 89 profiles