Chapter 10 - Ocean Ecosystems Flashcards
bathymetry
the process of measuring the depth and topographic features beneath the surface of a body of water
continental shelves
the shallow, gently sloping areas of seafloor near continental margins
abyssal plains
large flat areas on the ocean floor at depths between 4,000 and 6,000 m (13,000 and 20,000 ft)
mid-ocean ranges
submarine mountain systems stretching the length of ocean basins from pole to pole; the world’s longest mountain ranges
seamounts
submarine mountains
deep-sea trenches
long, narrow valleys on the seafloor that are the deepest parts of the oceans, with some dropping more than 6 km (4 mi) vertically
thermocline
the transitional zone of temperature decline with change in depth
epipelagic zone
the topmost layer of the oceans, which is relatively warm and sunlit, extending down to 200 m (650 ft)
salinity
the concentration of dissolved minerals in water
gyres
large circular ocean currents caused by the coriolis effect
fringing reef
coral reef that forms near and parallel to a coastline
barrier reef
coral reef that runs parallel to a coastline and forms a deep-water lagoon behind it
atoll
a ring of coral reefs with an interior lagoon that forms around a sinking volcano
lagoon
fully or partly enclosed stretches of saltwater formed by a coral reef or sand pit
coral bleaching
the loss of coloration in corals that occurs when they have been stressed or have died
mangrove forests
ecosystems dominated by saltwater-tolerant coastal shrubs and trees
seagrass meadows
shallow coastal ecosystems dominated by flowering plants that resemble grasses
estuary
brackish-water ecosystem at the mouth of a river that is influenced by tides
kelp forests
marine ecosystems in temperate and polar waters where temperatures do not exceed 68 F
upwelling
the circulation of water from the seafloor to the ocean surface
pelagic
open-ocean
bioluminescence
the production of light through chemical means
hydrothermal vent communities
unique ecosystems found at volcanic hot springs that emit mineral-rich water
fishery
a regions where fish are caught for human consumption
drift net fishing
involves suspending large nets in the upper reaches of the ocean
trawling
involves dragging nets through the water column or along the seafloor
longline fishing
involves employing thousands of baited hooks on lines up to 80 km (50 mi) in length
seining
involves encircling fish and trapping them in a large net
bycatch
the phenomenon of invariably killing other marine species besides the intended ones
