Chapter 7 Flashcards
wetland
land consisting of marshes or swamps
plankton
small and microscopic organisms drifting or floating in the sea or fresh water
benthos
the flora and fauna found on the bottom of a sea, lake, or other body of water.
littoral zone
the part of a sea, lake, or river that is close to the shore.
benthic zone
The benthic zone is the ecological region at the lowest level of a body of water
eutrophication
excessive richness of nutrients in a lake or other body of water,
estuary
the tidal mouth of a large river, where the tide meets the stream
salt marsh
an area of coastal grassland that is regularly flooded by seawater
mangrove swamp
a tree or shrub that grows in chiefly tropical coastal swamps that are flooded at high tide
barrier island
other obstacle that prevents movement or access
coral reef
a ridge of rock in the sea formed by the growth and deposit of coral
nekton
aquatic animals that are able to swim and move independently of water currents
