This week’s word is aufwuchs.
Pronounced – Ow-fuchs (The ‘ch’ is pronounced as in Scottish ‘loch’)
Meaning – a term used to cover the small animals and plants that cover wood and rock surfaces.
Origin – a German word – over + growth.
Example usage – mbuna cichlids in Lake Malawi have evolved to feed on aufwuchs.
Trivia – Aufwuchs is a term used by German aquarists (particularly cichlid enthusiasts) that has entered the English language. Similar English words would be biofilm and periphyton.
UK Aquarist 