CHAP.7 Flashcards
wetland
an area of land that is periodically underwater or whose soil contains a great deal of moisture
plankton
the mass of mostly microscopic
nekton
all organism that swim actively in open water independent of currents
benthos
organisms that live at the bottom of oceans or bodies of fresh water
littoral zone
a shallow zone in a freshwater habitat where light reaches the bottom and nutures plants
benthic zone
a long ridge of sand or narrow island the lies parallel to the shore
eutrophication
an increase in the amount of nutrients such as nitrates in a marine or aquatic ecosystem
estuary
an area where fresh water from rivers mixes with salt water from the ocean the part of a river where the tides meet the river currents
salt marsh
a maritime habitat characterized by grasses sedges and other plants that have adapted to continual periodic flooding
mangrove swamp
a tropical or subtropical marine swamp that is characterized by the abundance of low to tall trees
barrier island
a long ridge of sand or narrow island the lies parallel to the shore
coral reef
a limestone ridge found in tropical climate and compose of coral fragment that are deposited around organic remains
