Chapter 7 Flashcards
coral reefs
Formation produced by massive clones containing billions of tiny coral animals, that secret a stony substance (calcium carbonate) around themselves for protection. When the corals die, they empty outer skeletons form layers and cause the reef to grow. They are found in the coastal zones of warm tropical and subtropical oceans.
polyps
billions of tiny coral animals.
salinity
the amounts of various salts such as sodium chloride (NaCI) dissolved in a given volume of water.
phytoplankton
Small drifting plants, mostly algae and bacteria
zooplankton
Animal plankton. Small floating herbivores that feec on plant plankton (phytoplankton)
ultraplankton
Photosynthetic bacteria no more than 2 micrometers wide.
nekton
Strongly swimming organisms found in aquatic systems.
benthos
Bottom-dwelling organisms.
euphotic zone
Upper layer of a body of water through which sunlight can penetrate and support photosynthesis.
coastal zone
Warm, nutrient rich, shallow part of the ocean that extends from the high tide mark on land to the edge of a shelflike extension of continental land species to undergo various adaptations.
continental shelf
the submerged part of the continents
estuary
a partially enclosed area of coastal water where seawater mixes with freshwater and nutrients from rivers, streams, and runoff form land.
coastal wetlands
land areas covered with water all or part of the year.
mangrove forest
swamps found on the coastlines in warm tropical climates. are dominated by mangrove tress, and of about 55 species of trees and shrubs that can partly submerged in the salty environments of coastal swamps.
intertidal zone
The area of shoreline between low and high tides.
seasonal wetlands
usually are underwater or soggy for only a short period of time each year.
swamps
dominated by trees and shrubs
inland wetlands
lands covered with fresh water all or part of the time (excluding lakes, reservoirs, and streams) and located away from coastal areas.
marshes
dominated bu grasses and reeds with a few trees.
runoff
freshwater from precipitation and melting ice that flows onto the earth’s surface into nearby streams, lakes, wetland, and reservoirs.
floodplain zone
streams join into wider and deeper rivers that meander across broad, flat valleys.
watershed (drainage basin)
the land area that delivers runoff, sediment, and dissolved substances to a stream.
olitotrophic lakes
a newly formed lake generally has a small supply of plant nutrients. (poorly nourished)
eutrophic lakes
a lake with a large or excessive supply of nutrients (mostly nitrates and phosphates) needed by producers. (well-nourished)
surface water
precipitation that does not sink into the ground or evaporate.
limnetic zone
2nd lake layer, the open sunlit water surface layer away from the shore that extends to the depth penetrated by sunlight.
profundal zone
3rd lake layer, open water where it is too dark for photosynthesis.
benthic zone
4th lake layer, mostly decomposers and detritus feeders and fish that swim from one zone to the other inhabit it.
freshwater life zones
occur where water with a dissolved salt concentration of less than 1% by volume accumulates on or flows through the surfaces of terrestrial biomes.
lakes
are large natural bodies of standing fresh water formed when precipitation, runoff, or groundwater seepage fill depressions in the earth’s surface.
littoral zone
The top lake layer, consists of the shallow sunlight waters near the shore to the depth at which rooted plants stop growing, and it has a high biological diversity.
euphotic zone
is the lighted upper zone where floating drifting phytoplankton carry out photosynthesis.
bathyal zone
is the dimly lit middle zone that does not contain photosynthesizing producers because of lack of sunlight.
abyssal zone
is dark, and very cold and has little dissolved oxygen.
barrier islands
low, narrow, sandy islands that form offshore from a coastline.
open sea
the sharp increase in water depth at the edge of the continental shelf separates the coastal zone from the vast volume of the ocean.
