Aquatic Biomes Flashcards

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms related to aquatic biomes, including definitions and explanations of essential concepts discussed in the lecture.

Ocean Currents

Continuous, directed movements of seawater generated by various forces acting upon this flow, greatly affecting climate and primary productivity.

Primary Productivity

The rate at which energy is converted by photosynthetic and chemosynthetic autotrophs to organic substances.

Upwelling

The upward movement of ocean water toward the surface due to diverging currents, bringing nutrients from the ocean depths.

Gyre

Large-scale patterns of water circulation that rotate clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.

El Niño

A climate pattern characterized by the warming of ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific, affecting global weather.

La Niña

A climate pattern that represents cooler-than-average ocean temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.

Thermohaline Circulation

Part of the large-scale ocean circulation that is driven by global density gradients created by surface heat and freshwater fluxes.

Marshes

Wetlands that are frequently flooded and support herbaceous plants and diverse wildlife.

Swamps

Wetlands that are forested and always contain water, characterized by slow-moving water and rich biodiversity.

Mangrove Swamp

Coastal ecosystems found in tropical and subtropical regions, characterized by salt-tolerant trees that trap sediments and provide habitats.

Coral Bleaching

A phenomenon where corals lose their color and die due to stressors such as increased temperatures and pollution.

Intertidal Zone

The coastal area that is exposed to air at low tide and submerged at high tide, with organisms adapted to withstand these changes.

Photic Zone

The layer of the ocean where sunlight penetrates, allowing for photosynthesis by phytoplankton.

Benthic Zone

The ecological region at the lowest level of a body of water, including the sediment surface and sub-surface layers.

Littoral Zone

The nearshore area of a body of water where sunlight penetrates and allows for the growth of rooted aquatic plants.

Profundal Zone

The deep, open water zone of a lake where sunlight does not reach, leading to lower levels of oxygen and life.