Polar Regions - Biol 3711 Lecture Notes

Vocabulary flashcards based on the lecture notes for the Biol 3711 course covering the polar regions.

Arctic Ocean

An isolated sea surrounded by landmasses with restricted deep water circulation.

Beaufort Gyre

An anticyclonic current in the Arctic Ocean.

Transpolar Drift

A major current that flows across the Arctic Ocean.

Nutrient-rich water

Water that has a high concentration of nutrients essential for marine life, often found in Antarctic waters.

Pack ice

Ice that persists for several years and is typically thicker and harder in the Arctic compared to Antarctica.

Antarctic convergence

A boundary where cold polar water meets warmer waters, causing a front.

Ice scour

The grinding action of ice that can destroy bottom-dwelling organisms.

Anchor ice

Ice platelets that form on the bottom of Antarctic seas, capable of trapping benthic invertebrates.

Notothenioid fish

A group of fish predominantly found in Antarctic waters, known for having low or no red blood cells.

Krill

Small aquatic invertebrates that dominate the herbivore population in the Southern Ocean and are a crucial part of the food web.

Obligate associates of sea ice

Marine birds and mammals that depend on sea ice for reproduction, feeding, and habitat.

Arctic amplification

The phenomenon where the Arctic region is warming at a faster rate than the rest of the world, contributing to ice loss.

Biological endemism

The occurrence of species that are native to and restricted to a specific geographical area, as seen in Antarctic seas.

Euphotic zone

The upper layer of the ocean where there is enough light for photosynthesis, which is nutrient-depleted during Arctic summer.

Sediment input

Material that is introduced into a water body, influencing water chemistry and nutrient availability.

Marine mammals

Warm-blooded vertebrates that are fully adapted to life in the ocean, such as whales, seals, and polar bears.