Ch. 7 Key Terms Flashcards
Wetland
periodically underwater
Plankton
are the organisms that float near the surface of the water.
Nekton
free-swimming organisms
Benthos
are bottom-dwelling organisms.
Littoral zone
near the shore and is nutrient-rich, aquatic life is diverse and abundant.
Benthic zone
the bottom of a pond or lake, which is inhabited by decomposers, insect larvae, and clams
Eutrophication
an increase in the amount of nutrients in an aquatic ecosystem.
Estuary
an area in which fresh water from a river mixes with saltwater from the ocean.
Salt marshes
develop in estuaries where rivers deposit their load of mineral-rich mud.
swamps located along coastal areas of tropical and subtropical zones are called mangrove swamps.
Barrier islands
typically run parallel to the shore.
Coral reefs
are limestone ridges built by tiny coral animals called coral polyps.
