Aquatic Environment Flashcards
Aquatic environment
It is the study of microorganisms and microbial community in water environments.
Planktonic Environments
Microbial communities suspended in the water column.
Phytoplankton
Photoautotrophic organisms within a community include Eukaryotes (algae) Prokaryotes (Cyanobacteria). These are the small plants which start food chain. If too many – make lake turbid.
Primary producers in food web using photosynthesis to fix CO2 into organic mater.
Bacterioplankton
Suspended heterotrophic bacterial
population.
Microbial loop
Pathway in which dissolved organic products are efficiently utilized.
Zooplankton
Protozoan population. - small animals
- Predator of phytoplankton
- Prey for fish
Benthos
Transition zone between the water column and the mineral subsurface. A diffuse and non compacted mixture of org. matter, mineral particulate material and water.
Microbial mats
Interfacial aquatic habitat in which microbial groups are laterally compressed into a thin mat of biologically activity.
PSB
Purple sulfur bacteria, Phosphate solubilizing bacteria.
Biofilms
Layer of OM and microorganisms formed by attachment and proliferation of bacteria on the surface of an object.
Limnology
Study of fresh water habitat is “limnology”.
Micro limnology
Study of fresh water microorganisms is “micro-limnology”.
Lotic environment
Plenty oxygen -Strong water current.
Lentic environment
Low oxygen -Weak water current
Springs
Springs form wherever subterranean water reaches the earth surface.
River and streams
Spring flow away from their subsurface source merge with other water sources to form river & streams.
Hyporheic
Hyporheos- an interface where the subsurface water table meets & interact with the stream bed.
Littoral zone
Edge of the lake where sunlight can
penetrate to the bottom.
Neuston zone
Air–water interface including the upper few millimeter of the water column. This layer is known to accumulate nutrients. Bacteria attach to this organic layer in a firm but reversible manner.
Limnetic zone
Surface layer of open water away from
the littoral zone where light readily penetrates.
Profundal zone
The area below the limnetic zone
where light intensity is less than 1% of the sunlight.
Benthic zone
Consists of the lake bottom and
associated sediments.
Epilimnion
Upper zone, warm, oxygen rich & low nutrient.
Hypolimnion
Lower zone, low temp., low oxygen & nutrient rich.
Thermocline
Middle zone, rapid change in temp. stratification occur which make lake static.
Brackish water
A broad term used to describe water that is more saline than fresh water but less saline than true marine environments.
Estuaries
Part of a river that meets the sea.
Neuston layer
Surface of sea, air–water interface.
Pelagic layer
Water column or planktonic habita.
Epibiotic
Surfaces on which attached communities occur.
Endobiotic
Organisms within the tissues of other larger organisms.
