Scientific Glossary

Glossary of terms and abbreviations relevant to the International Seabed Authority and the documents it produces

Please note that this is a constantly evolving document.

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Title
Family	An intermediate level of taxonomic classification containing one or more Genera forming a subgroup of an Order.
Fauna	Animals, especially those found in a specific region. Compare to flora.
Faunal	Pertaining to the fauna.
Ferromanganese Nodule	Synonymous with polymetallic nodule.
FFG	Free-Fall Grab.
Filter Feeder	An organism that feeds by filtering particulate organic matter from the surrounding water. Synonymous with suspension feeder.
Filter Feeding	The action of feeding by filtering particulate organic matter from the surrounding water. Synonymous with suspension feeding.
Flora	Plants, especially those found in a specific region. Compare to fauna.
Floral	Pertaining to the flora.
Food Chain	Linear sequence of organisms where each trophic level is the energy source for the next by being a source of food. Consists of oneprimary producer, one primary consumer and one or more secondary consumers.
Food Web	A schematic diagram of interconnecting food chains.
Foram	Synonymous with foraminifera.
Foraminifera	Planktonic or benthic protozoa which usually secrete a calcareous exoskeleton containing pores through which slender filaments (pseudopodia) project. Scientific name for foram.