Chapter 7

Question 1

wetland

Answer 1

areas where land is periodically under water

Question 2

plankton

Answer 2

organisms that cannot swim against currents

Question 3

nekton

Answer 3

free swimming organisms such as fish & whales

Question 4

benthos

Answer 4

bottom dwellers

Question 5

littoral zone

Answer 5

near the shore, aquatic life is diverse and abundant

Question 6

benthic zone

Answer 6

the bottom of a pond or lake, inhabited by decomposers, insect larvae, and clams

Question 7

eutrophication

Answer 7

an increase in the amount of nutritions

Question 8

estuary

Answer 8

area where fresh water from the river and salt water from the ocean mixes

Question 9

salt marsh

Answer 9

found in estuaries

Question 10

mangrove swamps

Answer 10

dense growths of mangrove trees in swampy areas, found in tropical and subtropical zones

Question 11

barrier islands

Answer 11

protect mainland and coastal wetlands from storms and ocean waves and often provide habitat for wildlife

Question 12

coral reef

Answer 12

limestone ridges built by tiny coral animals called coral polyps and the algae that live inside them