(al gǝ): Plural form: algae (al jē); Any plant or plantlike organism (like a seaweed) that includes forms mostly growing in water, lacking a system of vessels for carrying fluids, and often having chlorophyll masked by brown or red coloring matter.

(a nǝ līz): To study or find out the nature and relationship of the parts of something.

(kǝn sǝrv): To avoid wasteful or destructive use of something.

(di pen dǝnt): Relying on another for support.

(ē kō sis tǝm): A system made up of an ecological community of living things interacting with their environment especially under natural conditions.

(fish la dǝr): A series of pools arranged like steps by which fish can pass over a dam in going upstream.

(lär vǝl): Characteristic of or relating to the early form of an animal or insect that at birth or hatching is fundamentally unlike its parent and must metamorphose before growing into the adult form.

(līf sī kәl): A series of stages through which something (such as a plant or animal) passes during its lifetime.

(mǝ chu̇r ǝ tē): The quality or state of being fully grown or developed.

(mī grāt): To pass, usually periodically, from one region or climate to another for feeding or breeding.

(pä pyǝ lā shǝn): The total of individuals occupying an area.

(sim yǝ lāt): To make an imitation (or copy or model) by one system or process of the way in which another system or process works.

(spē sēz or spē shēz): A category of living things that ranks below a genus, is made up of related individuals able to produce fertile offspring, and is identified by a two-part scientific name.

(trä pi kǝl): Of, relating to, occurring in, or used in the tropics, which is the area between two parallels of the earth’s latitude that are approximately 23½ degrees north of the equator and approximately 23½ degrees south of the equator.