Marine Biology Unit 1 Vocab

Vertebrate

an organism that has bones

Invertebrate

an organism that doesn’t have bones

Abiotic Factors

the nonliving part of an ecosystem such as sunlight, salinity, and depth

Biotic Factors

interactions between living things in an ecosystem

Epipelagic Zone

the sunlight zone, uppermost layer of the ocean extending from the surface to 200 meters

Mesopelagic Zone

Extends from 200-1000 meters, minimal sunlight but not enough for photosynthesis

Bathypelagic Zone

This zone is the beginning of the aphotic zone, it is cold, dark, and ranges from 1,000-4,000 meters deep

Abyssopelagic Zone

Extending from 4,000-6,000 meters deep, this zone is dark and cold but surprisingly hosts a lot of organisms

Hadalpelagic Zone

Diving from 6,000 meters to the bottom of the deepest ocean trench, this zone is cold and has a lot of pressure

Photic Zone

The depth zone in the ocean extending from the surface to that depth permitting photosynthesis

Aphotic Zone

The depth of the ocean where light cannot penetrate

Oceanic Zone

the water beyond the continental shelf

Neritic Zone

the shallow water over the continental shelf; most productive zone due to sunlight and photosynthesis

Tides

patterns of the rise and fall of the ocean’s surface; caused by gravitational pull; moon determines tides

Tidal Range

the vertical difference in water levels between high and low tides; ranges from 0-40ft

Spring Tide

occurs during new and full moon; moon and sun are aligned and pull in opposite directions; lowest low tides and the highest high tides

Neap Tide

occurs during the 1st and 3rd quarter moons; moon and sun at a 90 degree angle; smallest tidal range of the month

Flood Tide

inflow of the tide

Ebb Tide

outflow of the tide

Slack Tide

no tidal movement

Mixed Tides

two unequal high and low tides in a day

Diurnal Tides

one high and one low each day

Semidiurnal Tides

two high and two low tides a day that are relatively equal in height