Watershed
land area that delivers water, sediment, and dissolved substances via small streams to a major stream (river)
Zooplankton
animal plankton. herbivores that eat phytoplankton
Thermocline
zone of gradual temperature decrease between warm surface and colder deep water in a lake, reservior, or ocean
Phytoplankton
small plants (algae and bacteria) found in water. producers/autotrophs
Plankton
small plant organisms and animal organisms that float in aquatic ecosystems
Mesotrophic Lake
lake with moderate supply of plant nutrients
Nekton
strong swimming consumers (fish, turtles, and whales)
Oligotrophic Lake
lake with low supply of plant nutrients
Eutrophic Lake
lake with large/excessive plant nutrients, mostly nitrates and phosphates
Floodplain
low area that has the potential for flooding, including coastal areas
Freshwater Life Zones
aquatic system where water with a dissolved salt concentration of >1% by volume accumulates on or flows through the surfaces of terrestrial biomes.
EXAMPLES: 1) standing (lentic)-lakes, ponds, inland wetlands
2) flowing (lotic)-streams and rivers
Inland Wetland
land away from the coast (swamp, marsh, bog) that is covered all or most of the time with fresh water
Intertidal Zone
area of shoreline between low and high tides
Coral Reef
formation produced by massive colonies containing billions of tiny coral animals called polyps
Cultural Eutrophication
overnourishment of aquatic ecosystems with plant nutrients
Estuary
partially enclosed coastal area at the mouth of a river where its fresh water, carrying fertile silt and runoff from the land, mixes with salty seawater
Euphotic Zone
upper layer of water through which sunlight can penetrate and support photosynthesis
Aquatic Life Zone
saltwater/marine and freshwater portions of the biosphere
Benthos
bottem-dwelling organisms
Coastal Wetland
land along the coastline that is covered with salt water all or part of the year
Coastal Zone
warm, rich nutrient, shallow part of the ocean that extends from the high-tide mark on land to the edge of the continental shelf