BIOL4660_Lecture 3

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms related to water as an environment, focusing on lake stratification, mixing patterns, and aquatic ecosystems.

Vertical Stratification

The layering of water in lakes based on temperature and density.

Epilimnion

The upper mixed layer of a lake that is warmer and less dense.

Thermocline

The layer in a body of water where the temperature changes rapidly, marking the transition between warmer and cooler layers.

Hypolimnion

The lowest layer of water in a stratified lake, which is cooler and more dense.

Mixolimnion

The top layer of a meromictic lake that behaves like a holomictic lake.

Chemocline

The layer in a meromictic lake where a chemical gradient is formed, often due to dissolved solutes.

Amictic Lake

A lake that remains permanently frozen and does not mix.

Holomictic Lake

A lake that mixes from top to bottom at least once a year.

Oligotrophic Lake

A lake characterized by low nutrients and high oxygen concentration, typically supporting low productivity.

Eutrophic Lake

A lake rich in nutrients, often leading to high productivity and lower oxygen levels due to increased decomposition.