Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Limnology > Glossary of terms > Flashcards

Glossary of terms Flashcards

1
Q

Adsorbed

A

Attached to the outside of a mineral particle (as opposed to absorbed, going into the particle).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Albedo

A

The light that is bounced off the surface of the lake; a surface (such as snow) with higher albedo reflects more light from the lake surface.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Alkaline phosphatases

A

Enzymes put outside an algal cell to chemically separate limiting PO4 from organic molecules in a lake

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Alkalinity

A

The capacity of the water to neutralize acid, using the anions of carbonates, bicarbonates and occasionally hydroxides

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Allochthonous

A

Sources of nutrients and food produced outside the system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Amictic

A

A lake that is permanently frozen, and therefore never mixes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Ammonification

A

The various bacterial processes that convert dead organisms (detritus) into ammonium

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Anion

A

A negatively charged ion (e.g. HCO3-)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Anoxic

A

Lacking oxygen

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Aphotic zone

A

The part of a lake below the compensation depth; plant growth is not possible here due to low light levels

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Aquifer

A

An underground geologic formation that contains water

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Aufwuchs

A

A slimy layer of bacteria, fungi and algae found on the surface of rocks and wood in streams and lakes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Autochthonous

A

Sources of nutrients and food produced inside the system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Autotroph

A

An organism whose course of carbon (“food”) is inorganic carbon dioxide (e.g. a plant)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Bathymetric map

A

A map of a lake showing depth contours

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Benthic

A

Pertaining to the bottom of lakes and streams. Usually used to describe algae, invertebrates and fish living there.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Blooms

A

Explosive increases in numbers of phtoplankton (algae). During an algal bloom population growth is from asexual reproduction

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Cation

A

A positively charged ion (e.g. Na+)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Chemocline

A

The zone of sudden change in concentration of a chemical (e.g., oxygen or nitrate) with depth (usually corresponds to the thermocline depth).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Chemotrophs

A

Organisms that get their energy from chemicals

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Clinograde oxygen curve

A

an oxygen curve in which oxygen levels are depleted below the thermocline. This curve is typical of eutrophic lakes.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Cold monomictic

A

Lakes in which ice melts on the lake, but the water never gets warmer than 4 degrees C

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Compensation depth

A

The depth at which the rate of food production by plants (photosynthesis) equals the rate of food consumption (respiration)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Conductivity

A

A measure of the flow of electrons through water (units are microsiemens per centimeter (uS/cm)).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Coriolis force

A

A force, caused by rotation of the earth, which causes currents to move at a 45degree angle to the wind direction.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Covalent bond

A

A strong chemical bond formed by the sharing of electrons by the atoms in a molecule. E.g. a covalent bond holds together the oxygen and hydrogen atoms in the water molecules.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Crater lake

A

A lake formed by water filling the crater left from a past volcanic eruption

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Currents

A

The net unidirectional flow of water in a water body

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Dendritic

A

Any highly branched pattern (e.g. the highly branched shape of a reservoir)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

Denitrification

A

The process of converting nitrate (NO3-) to nitrogen gas (N2). The conversions are made by bacteria under anaerobic (or at least very low oxygen) conditions.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

Density currents

A

Currents produced when cold river water (e.g. from snow melt) enters a lake; the cold water, being denser than the warmer lake water, sinks to the depth in the lake where it encounters water of equal density.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

Diel

A

Following a 24hr cycle. Activity during the day is diurnal, while activity at night is nocturnal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

Dimictic

A

A lake with both spring and fall mixing period

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

Discharge

A

The volume of water which passes a point in a river. Discharge is the product of velocity and stream cross-sectional area.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

Ekman spirals

A

Water movement in lakes in which water moves at an increasing angle to the wind as you go deeper in the lake; responsible for horizontal, not vertical mixing of water.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

Electronegative

A

Refers to an atom in a molecule that has a very strong attraction for electrons e.g. O2 atoms in H2O molecle take an uneven share of the electrons compared to the H atoms in the molecule

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

Ephemeral ponds

A

Temporary ponds that only fill during large rain events

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

Epilimnion

A

The upper, warm layer of a lake above the thermocline

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

Eukaryotic

A

Organisms having their genetic material enclosed in a nucleus in their cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

Eutrophic lake

A

Lake having very high levels of nutrients, typically shallow, and are depleted of O2 at their bottom

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
41
Q

Evapo-transpiration

A

The process of water loss to the atmosphere from trees and other vegetation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
42
Q

Fluviatile forces

A

The forces of moving water in rivers, which form lakes. E.g. oxbow lakes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
43
Q

Frustules

A

The silica-based cell walls of diatoms, which fit together like a petrie dish

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
44
Q

Fungi

A

A group of organisms that include molds and mushrooms, responsible for the decomposition of dead plant and animal matter

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
45
Q

Graben lake

A

A lake formed in the depression formed between two raised blocks on either side of fault lines

46
Q

hardness

A

Water hardness is caused by calcium and magnesium cations in the water; hard water makes it difficlt to generate lather when washing

47
Q

heterotroph

A

an organism whose source of C (“food”) is a preformed organic carbon compound (e.g. the body of a plant or animal)

48
Q

Holomictic

A

Lakes in which the entire water column is mixed- top to bottom

49
Q

humic acids

A

major components of natural organic matter, most commonly found in acidic bogs. Humic acids often turn the water a tea colour

50
Q

Hydraulic residence time

A

the amount of time to fill a lake; calculated by dividing the volume of a lake by the inflow or outflow rate

51
Q

hydrogen bond

A

A weak chemical bond formed when the positive and negative charges on atoms of adjacent molecules are attracted to each other. E.g. H bonds hold together the molecules making up water

52
Q

Hydrograph

A

A plot of discharge over time for a river

53
Q

Hyetograph

A

A graph plotting discharge at one point on a river on the X-axis against precipitation (rain or snow) per hour on the Y-axis.

54
Q

Hypolimnion

A

The cold bottom layer of a lake below the thermocline

55
Q

Intensity

A

The number of photons ( or quanta) per unit area of light (the “brightness” of light)

56
Q

Internal loading

A

The recycling of a nutrient (eg phosphorous) from the large sediment pool of a water body; comes from both organic and inorganic sources

57
Q

internal seiches

A

Long-wavelength standing waves that form at the thermocline of a lake; responsible for Kelvin-Helmholtz mixing which brings hypolimnetic water up into the epilimnion.

58
Q

Langmuir spirals

A

A series of clockwise and counterclockwise rotating cells of water which cause areas of vertical upwelling and downwelling in lakes

59
Q

Lentic

A

Water bodies such as lakes and ponds that lack unidirectional flow (contrast with lotic water bodies).

60
Q

Littoral zones

A

The shallow margins of lake bottom extending from the shore at the top of the wave spray zone to that depth where light is barely sufficient to grow rooted plants

61
Q

Lotic

A

Water bodies such as rivers and streams that have unidirectional flow (contrast with lentic water bodies)

62
Q

Luxury consumption

A

Algal storage of phosphorous in granules in the spring for later use in summer

63
Q

Meromictic

A

Lakes that only partially mix, as the hypolimnion is too dense, due to salt water or some other chemical stratification

64
Q

Mesotrophic lake

A

A lake having an intermediate levels of nutrients, plants and animals (probably the most common type).

65
Q

Metalimnion

A

The middle later of a lake that contains a zone of rapid temperature change (the actual temperature gradient in called the thermocline)

66
Q

Morphometry

A

Measurements of the size and shape of a lake. examples include lake surface area and maximum length.

67
Q

Negative heterograde oxygen curve

A

An oxygen curve in which oxygen levels are lowered at the thermocline

68
Q

Nephelometric turbidity units (NTU)

A

The units of turbidity, which reflects how much a beam of light is scattered y particles in the water sample

69
Q

Nitrification

A

The process of converting ammonium (NH4+) to nitrate (NO3-). The conversions are made by bacteria under aerobic conditions.

70
Q

Nitrogen fixation

A

The process of converting nitrogen gas (N2) to ammonium (NH4+). The conversion is made by a few Cyanobacteria (“Blue Green Algae”) and bacteria. The process requires anaerobic conditions.

71
Q

Nutrient spiraling

A

The cycling of nutrients in a stream from the dissolved, inorganic form through organisms and back to the inorganic form

72
Q

Oligotrophic

A

Lakes that are low in nutrients, and hence also contain low numbers of animals and plants

73
Q

Orthograde

A

An oxygen curve in which oxygen levels are relatively constant from top to bottom of the lake. this curve is typical of oligotrophic lakes.

74
Q

Oxbow lake

A

A lake formed when a large meander loop of a river is cut off from the main channel by silt deposition

75
Q

Pelagic zone

A

That part of a lake past the littoral zone towards the middle of the lake, but in open water, not associated with the bottom of the lake

76
Q

Percent saturation (of oxygen)

A

The actual amount of oxygen in water divided by the potential amount of oxygen water can hold at that temperature

77
Q

Permanent hardness

A

Permanent hardness is the concentration of cations of calcium and magnesium combined with non-carbonates (eg SO42-, Cl-). The hardness is permanent because it cannot be removed by boiling.

78
Q

Photic zone

A

The upper part of a lake extending from the surface to that depth where light is 1% of light levels at the lake’s surface

79
Q

Photoautotroph

A

An organism that uses light energy and carbon dioxide to make food

80
Q

Photosynthesis

A

The production of food (eg the sugar glucose) by plants, using light

81
Q

photosynthetically active radiation PAR

A

The range of wavelengths of light useful to plants for photosynthesis

82
Q

Phototrophs

A

Organisms that get their energy from sunlight in photosynthesis e.g. algae

83
Q

Phytoplankton

A

Tiny plants (algae) that float in the water column of lakes and large rivers

84
Q

Polymictic

A

A lake that mixes frequently (every few days, or daily)

85
Q

Pools

A

Slow, deep sections of streams having fine substrates, and where the water surface is not broken by rocks

86
Q

Positive heterograde oxygen curve

A

An oxygen curve, in which oxygen levels are elevated at the thermocline

87
Q

Profundal zone

A

The deeper areas of a lake below the littoral zone (no light is present here)

88
Q

RAHOD, (Relative Areal Hypolimnial Oxygen Deficit)

A

The amount of oxygen used up in the hypolimnion of a lake due to decomposition. The higher the RAHOD the more productive the lake.

89
Q

Recycle

A

The passing of nutrients through a system again for further use

90
Q

Redox potential

A

The REDuction/OXidation potential of a metal or other chemical, determined by the oxygen level in the lake water or sediments

91
Q

Respiration

A

Cellular respiration is the process by which plants and animals burn up food (eg. glucose) to produce energy. Oxygen is consumed in the process.

92
Q

Retention time

A

The amount of time a chemical, such as the nutrient phosphorous, spends in a lake. Compare this to hydraulic residence time

93
Q

Riffles

A

The fast, shallow sections of streams having coarse substrates and rocks that break the surface of the water.

94
Q

Rift lake

A

a lake formed in a single, tilted fault line

95
Q

Riparian

A

The area of land along the edge of a river or lake. The term is usually used to refer to the vegetation growing there.

96
Q

Secchi depth

A

A relative measure of light penetration in a lake, determined by lowering a secchi disc (a disc 20cm in diameter that is marked into black and white quadrants) until it is no longer visible

97
Q

Sinuosity

A

The “curviness” of a river, defined as the distance water travels in the river divided by the straight-line distance down the river’s valley

98
Q

Specific heat

A

The capacity of water to store heat

99
Q

Stream order

A

Stream classification based on the pattern of branching. E.g. a 3rd order stream is one formed by the joining of two 2nd order streams

100
Q

Substrate

A

The mineral particles on the bottom of a stream or lake. Particles range from fine silt to boulders

101
Q

Surface tension

A

A measure of the strength of the surface film of a liquid

102
Q

Surfactants

A

Chemicals, often naturally produced, that reduce surface tension

103
Q

Tectonic forces

A

Lake-forming forces caused by the folding, thrusting and buckling of the earth’s crust. E.g. graben and rift lakes

104
Q

Temporary hardness

A

Temporary hardness in the concentration of Ca2+ and Mg2+ that have combined with carbonates and bicarbonates. It is referred to as temporary hardness because it can be removed by boiling the water

105
Q

Thermocline

A

A layer of water in a lake containing a rapid temperature change from the warmer, upper water to the colder, deeper water. Often used interchangeably with metalimnion

106
Q

Total dissolved solids (TDS)

A

Total concentration of cations and anions dissolved in water

107
Q

Total suspended solids (TSS)

A

Total concentration of suspended (ie particulate) solids in water

108
Q

Travertine

A

Deposits of CaCO3 (“marl”) found on rocks in hardwater streams

109
Q

Trophic status

A

The amount of nutrients, plants and animals produced in a lake. Oligotrophic lakes have low nutrients, while eutrophic lakes have high nutrients

110
Q

Turbidity

A

The decrease in transparency of water due primarily to suspended particles, but also to dissolved substances, which cause light to be scattered, reflected, or absorbed (as opposing to passing through the water)

Limnology (2 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions