Week 12 Vocab

Question 1

An area of land that is periodically under water or whose soil contains a great deal of moisture.

Answer 1

Wetland

Question 2

The mass of mostly microscopic organisms that float or drift freely in the waters of aquatic (freshwater and marine) environments.

Answer 2

Plankton

Question 3

All organisms that swim actively in open water, independent of currents.

Answer 3

Nekton

Question 4

Organisms that live at the bottom of oceans or bodies of fresh water.

Answer 4

Benthos

Question 5

A shallow zone in a freshwater habitat where light reaches the bottom and nurtures plants.

Answer 5

Littoral Zone

Question 6

The bottom region of oceans and bodies of fresh water.

Answer 6

Benthic Zone

Question 7

An increase in the amount of nutrients, such as nitrates, in a marine or aquatic ecosystem.

Answer 7

Euthophication

Question 8

An area where fresh water from rivers mixes with salt water from the ocean; the part of a river where the tides meet the river current.

Answer 8

Estuary

Question 9

A maritime habitat characterized by grasses, sedges, and other plants that have adapted to continual, periodic flooding; salt marshes are found primarily throughout the temperate and subarctic regions.

Answer 9

Salt Marsh

Question 10

A tropical or subtropical marine swamp that is characterized by the abundance of low to tall trees, especially mangrove trees.

Answer 10

Mangrove Swamp

Question 11

A long ridge of sand or narrow island that lies parallel to the shore.

Answer 11

Barrier Island

Question 12

A limestone ridge found in tropical climates and composed of coral fragments that are deposited around organic remains.

Answer 12

Coral Reef