APES CH8 Aquatic Ecology

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