Water and Aquatic Biomes

Question 1

Aquatic Biomes

Answer 1

Cover roughly 75% of the Earth’s surface; responsible for rainfall and global temperature regulation by absorption of solar energy

Question 2

What is the photic zone?

Answer 2

The upper region with light penetration

Question 3

What is the aphotic zone?

Answer 3

The lower region without light penetration

Question 4

What is the benthic zone?

Answer 4

The bottom of the ocean

Question 5

What is the abyss?

Answer 5

The deepest part of the Benthic Zone

Question 6

What is the Pelagic Zone?

Answer 6

The surface to bottom in the “mid-region” for the body of water

Question 7

What is thermocline?

Answer 7

Temperature gradients, like incline or decline, occur within a body of water as the water heats or cools

Question 8

What is the littoral?

Answer 8

The shallows; light is present for plants

Question 9

What is the Limnetic Zone?

Answer 9

“Middle” surface region; phytoplankton and zooplankton live here floating on top

Question 10

What is the profundal zone?

Answer 10

The deep “middle” region (usually where the fish group is)

Question 11

What is the benthic zone?

Answer 11

The bottom area (may or may not have plants; depends on the light penetration)

Question 12

What is the Pelagic Zone?

Answer 12

Ranges from surface to bottom in the “mid-region”

Question 13

What is oligotrophic?

Answer 13

Are nutrient-poor lakes due to tending to be tending to be very deep and very cold

Question 14

What is Eutrophic?

Answer 14

Are nutrient-rich lakes that are fairly shallow and warm

Question 15

What is mesotrophic?

Answer 15

Lakes between conditions; Moderate plant and animals present; mostly around the edge areas

Question 16

What are headwaters?

Answer 16

These are located in the mountains; cold, clear, fast, narrow, nutrient-poor, high dissolved O2 traits.

Question 17

What is a midstream?

Answer 17

Located in between mountains and the coast; moderate oxygen demands.

Question 18

What is an estuary?

Answer 18

Where fresh water meets salt water; very rich in biodiversity

Question 19

What are wetlands?

Answer 19

Lands possessing water and above-water plants; two types exist Swamp and marsh; Rich in biodiversity

Question 20

What is a swamp?

Answer 20

Defined by having trees; an area of water with trees and plants; usually muddy because of soil richness and shallow waters

Question 21

What is a marsh?

Answer 21

Shallow body of water; defined by having reed grasses only

Question 22

What is the intertidal zone?

Answer 22

Very harsh environment due to tides crashing and receding; rich in biodiversity due to the presence of light for photosynthesis

Question 23

What is the Neritic Zone?

Answer 23

Runs from shore to the continental shelf drop off; very rich in biodiversity due to light

Question 24

What is the Oceanic pelagic?

Answer 24

Contains the photic and aphotic; lacks biodiversity; mostly contains big fish, plankton, and mammals on the surface

Question 25

What is the coral reef?

Answer 25

Very rich in biodiversity; called the rainforest of the oceans; are endangered and protected by law; found in warm water climates

Question 26

What is the benthic?

Answer 26

Moderate in biodiversity; mostly around deep-sea thermal vents and mid-ocean rift valleys