Chapter 3 Flashcards
The bottom of a body of water, including the surface and shallow subsurface layers of sediment.
benthic zone
A large-scale terrestrial biological community shaped by the regional climate, soil, and disturbance patterns where it is found, usually classified by the growth form of the dominant plants.
biome
The highest level of biological organization, consisting of all living organisms on Earth plus the environments in which they live; located between the lithosphere and the troposphere.
biosphere
The evolution of similar growth forms among distantly related species in response to similar selection pressures.
convergence
Degradation of formerly productive land in arid regions resulting in loss of plant cover and acceleration of soil erosion
desertification
Freshly dead or partially decomposed remains of organisms
detritus
The portion of the substrate below and adjacent to a stream bed where water movement still occurs, either from the stream or from groundwater moving into the stream.
hyporheic zone
The alteration of terrestrial surface, including vegetation and landforms, by human activities such as agriculture, forestry, or mining.
land use change
Of or referring to still water.
lentic
The nearshore zone of a lake where the photic zone reaches to the bottom.
littoral zone
Of or relating to flowing water.
lotic
A rooted or floating aquatic vascular plant.
macrophyte
Swimming organisms capable of overcoming water currents.
nekton
The open water column of a lake or ocean.
pelagic zone
A subsurface soil layer that remains frozen year-round for at least 3 years.
permafrost
