Ecology and Environmental Science Key Vocabulary

A set of 31 vocabulary flashcards reviewing key ecological, aquatic, and biome terms from the lecture study guide.

Salinity

The concentration of dissolved inorganic salts in a body of water.

Phytoplankton

Microscopic, photosynthetic organisms that float near the surface of aquatic environments and serve as primary producers.

Littoral

The shallow area of an aquatic ecosystem near the shore where light reaches the bottom, allowing rooted plants to grow.

Limnetic

The open, well-lit surface water layer of a lake or pond away from the shore, dominated by plankton.

Profundal

The deep, dark zone of an aquatic ecosystem located below the range of effective light penetration.

Benthic

The bottom substrate layer of an aquatic body, inhabited by organisms known as benthos.

Intertidal zone

The coastal zone located between the high tide mark and the low tide mark, exposed to air during low tide.

Hydrologic Cycle

The continuous movement and circulation of water among the atmosphere, land, and oceans through evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.

Surface Water

Freshwater located on the Earth's surface, such as in streams, rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands.

Oligotrophic

Describing a body of water with low nutrient levels, low primary biological productivity, and high oxygen content.

Mesotrophic

Describing a body of water with moderate levels of nutrients and intermediate biological productivity.

Eutrophic

Describing a body of water rich in nutrients, supporting high biological productivity and frequent algal growth.

Eutrophication

The process by which a body of water becomes enriched with nutrients, leading to excessive plant and algal growth and potential oxygen depletion.

Thermal Stratification

The division of a lake or water body into distinct horizontal layers based on temperature and density differences.

Fall turnover

The seasonal process in autumn when surface water cools, increases in density, and sinks, mixing the entire water column.

Wetland

An area of land that is inundated or saturated with water for at least part of the year, supporting adapted aquatic plants.

Swamp

A type of wetland dominated by woody plants and trees.

Marsh

A type of wetland dominated by non-woody, herbaceous plants such as grasses, cattails, and sedges.

Estuary

A partially enclosed coastal body of water where freshwater from rivers mixes with saltwater from the ocean.

Climate

The long-term average pattern of weather conditions, including temperature and precipitation, in a particular region over an extended period.

Temperature

A key abiotic climate factor measuring thermal energy that influences species distribution, metabolism, and biome locations.

Precipitation

Any form of liquid or frozen water, such as rain, snow, or sleet, that falls from the atmosphere to the Earth's surface.

Latitude

The geographic distance measured in degrees north or south of the equator, affecting solar radiation and regional climate.

Biome

A large, naturally occurring regional ecological community defined by its climate, dominant vegetation, and adapted wildlife.

Tropical Rain Forest

A biome located near the equator characterized by consistently high temperatures, abundant rainfall, and dense, highly diverse vegetation.

Temperate Deciduous

A forest biome in temperate regions characterized by moderate precipitation, distinct seasons, and trees that shed their leaves annually in autumn.

Temperate Rainforest

A coastal biome characterized by mild temperatures, heavy precipitation, dense fog, and large evergreen coniferous trees.

Grasslands

A biome dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants rather than large trees, typically receiving low to moderate rainfall.

Desert

A biome characterized by extremely low annual precipitation, extreme temperature ranges, and drought-adapted organisms.

Tundra

A cold, treeless biome found at high latitudes or altitudes characterized by extremely low temperatures, short growing seasons, and permafrost.

Permafrost

A permanently frozen layer of soil beneath the surface layer in polar and subpolar regions.