macrobenthos	Benthic organisms which are retained on a 0.5 mm or 1mm sieve.
mammal	A warm blooded animal. Common characteristics found in these organisms include: milk secretion, live young, diaphram for respiration, lower jaw composed of a single pair of bones, middle ear containing three bones, and presence of only a left systemic arch.
marine	Of, found in, or relating to the sea.
Marine Ecology	The systematic study of how marine organisms interact with one another and with their environment.
MARPOL	Convention on Marine Pollution.
mate	The sexual partner of an animal, pairing with another mate for reproduction.
maturation	Maturing, or bringing to maturity.
megabenthos	Very large benthic organisms, e.g., large crustaceans, molluscs etc.
meiobenthos	Benthic organisms whose size is greater than 0.1 mm but less than 0.5 mm.
meroplankton	Organisms having a planktonic stage in their life history and a benthic stage (usually adults) as well.
mesopelagic zone	The zone where almost no seasonal variation exists. Very low light levels and fairly constant temperature.
metabolic rate	The amount of oxygen used for total metabolism, per unit of time, per unit body weight.
metabolism	The sum total of the chemical processes that occur in living organisms resulting in growth, production of energy, elimination of waste material etc.
microbenthos	Benthic organisms (mainly bacteria and protists) whose size is less than 0.1 mm.
microscopic	Not large enough to be seen with the naked eye but visible under a microcope.
migration	A change of habitat, from one location to another.
Minamata disease	Widespread and serious human illness in Minamata Bay, Japan, caused by consumption of fish and seafood contaminated with methyl mercury.
mineral	Inorganic salts required by aquatic organisms in moderate or trace quantities, for the correct functioning of an organism's physiological activities.
mineralization	Decomposition of organic matter into its inorganic elemental components.
model	1. Generalisation of reality 2. System describing how a phenomena functions 3. Mathematical representation of a system from which predictions or inferences can be made.
molecule	The simplest unit of a chemical compound that can exist, consisting of two or more atoms held together by chemical bonds.
monitoring	1.The regular collection, generally under a regulatory mandate, of biological, chemical and physical data, using predetermined procedures and sample locations, such that any ecological changes attributable to a development activity can be quantified.
moon	1. The natural satellite of the Earth 2. Any natural satellite of a planet.
mortality	Frequency or number of deaths in a population.
mucous	The slimy protection of the secretion of the mucous membranes.
mutagen	A factor causing mutations or accelerating mutation rate.
mutation	1. the act or process of mutating; change; alteration 2. a change in the chromosomes or genes of a cell which affect the structure and development of the resulting offspring.
mutagen	A factor causing mutations or accelerating mutation rate.
mutation	1. The act or process of mutating; change; alteration 2. A change in the chromosomes or genes of a cell which affect the structure and development of the resulting offspring.