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Glossary
microlayer: (water microlayer) pertaining to the region of the surface water
extending from the air-water interface to a depth of approximately 100 tJ.m.
MUFA: monounsaturated fatty acids; those fatty acids containing a single double
bond.
myctophids: sometimes called lantemfish; small (5-20 cm in length) marine fish
usually found between 100 m at night and 500 m in daylight hours. Their lipids
often include wax esters; this and their small size make them unattractive for
food use.
narcosis: nonspecific tOXICIty of a contaminant that is generally expressed
through membrane disruption.
nectobenthic: animals that swim in the water column at deep depths in the
hypolimnion where light is limited (e.g., some amphipods found in deep zones
of Lake Baikal).
neritic: region of shallow water adjoining the sea coast and extending from the
low-tide mark to a depth of about 200 m.
octanol-water partition coefficient: equilibrium distribution constant for partitioning between n-octanol and water. This is generally designated Kow and
describes the hydrophobicity or lipophilicity of a contaminant.
osmotic fragility: condition of the cell relative to changes in membrane permeability and electrolyte imbalance that can result in the cell acquiring a hypoor hyperosmotic state.
petrogenic: relative to rocks and by extension, also used as relative to petroleum.
plasmalogens: almost invariably phospholipids similar to the ether phospholipids
except that the ether oxygen is attached directly to an ethylenic bond of the
alkyl chain. They are found in most animal membranes and may be called
alkenylacylphospholipids.
plateau border: connection of the lamellae within the foam structure, forming an
angle of 120°.
profundal: in deep lakes where stratification occurs, it is the region of sediments
below the thermocline, where temperature is nearly uniform throughout the
year, currents are minimal, and light penetration is much reduced.
PUFA: polyunsaturated fatty acids; those fatty acids containing two or more
double bonds.
Glossary
microlayer: (water microlayer) pertaining to the region of the surface water
extending from the air-water interface to a depth of approximately 100 tJ.m.
MUFA: monounsaturated fatty acids; those fatty acids containing a single double
bond.
myctophids: sometimes called lantemfish; small (5-20 cm in length) marine fish
usually found between 100 m at night and 500 m in daylight hours. Their lipids
often include wax esters; this and their small size make them unattractive for
food use.
narcosis: nonspecific tOXICIty of a contaminant that is generally expressed
through membrane disruption.
nectobenthic: animals that swim in the water column at deep depths in the
hypolimnion where light is limited (e.g., some amphipods found in deep zones
of Lake Baikal).
neritic: region of shallow water adjoining the sea coast and extending from the
low-tide mark to a depth of about 200 m.
octanol-water partition coefficient: equilibrium distribution constant for partitioning between n-octanol and water. This is generally designated Kow and
describes the hydrophobicity or lipophilicity of a contaminant.
osmotic fragility: condition of the cell relative to changes in membrane permeability and electrolyte imbalance that can result in the cell acquiring a hypoor hyperosmotic state.
petrogenic: relative to rocks and by extension, also used as relative to petroleum.
plasmalogens: almost invariably phospholipids similar to the ether phospholipids
except that the ether oxygen is attached directly to an ethylenic bond of the
alkyl chain. They are found in most animal membranes and may be called
alkenylacylphospholipids.
plateau border: connection of the lamellae within the foam structure, forming an
angle of 120°.
profundal: in deep lakes where stratification occurs, it is the region of sediments
below the thermocline, where temperature is nearly uniform throughout the
year, currents are minimal, and light penetration is much reduced.
PUFA: polyunsaturated fatty acids; those fatty acids containing two or more
double bonds.