Aquatic science test 2

Dissolved Oxygen

The amount of oxygen that is present in water, essential for the survival of aquatic animals.

Eutrophication

A process caused by excess nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus that leads to excessive plant growth and decay, resulting in oxygen depletion in water bodies.

Phytoplankton

Microscopic marine organisms that perform photosynthesis and produce a significant portion of the Earth's oxygen.

Carbon Sink

Natural systems, such as oceans, that absorb more carbon dioxide than they release, helping to mitigate climate change.

Carbon Sequestration

The process by which carbon dioxide is captured and stored away from the atmosphere, often through biological or geological means.

Marine Snow

Sinking carbon-containing particles produced from the biological processes of marine organisms, essential for nutrient cycling in the ocean.

Calcium Carbonate

A chemical compound used by shell-building organisms to create their shells, significant for marine ecosystems.

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants convert sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water into glucose and oxygen; crucial for plant growth and oxygen production.

Phosphorus Cycle

The biogeochemical cycle that describes the movement of phosphorus through the environment, including its slow transformation and availability as a nutrient.

Phosphate (PO₄³⁻)

The form of phosphorus found in water, critical for biological processes and often a limiting nutrient in ecosystems.

Uplift

The geological process that moves sedimentary rock from the ocean to land, influencing the landscape and nutrient distribution.

Nitrification

A two-step biochemical process in the nitrogen cycle where ammonia is converted into nitrite and then into nitrate by specific bacteria.

Nitrite (NO₂⁻)

The intermediate product formed during the first step of nitrification when ammonia is oxidized.

Nitrate (NO₃⁻)

The final product of nitrification that is readily available for plant uptake, completing the nitrogen transformation process.

Nitrogen Cycle

The cycle that describes the conversion of nitrogen into various chemical forms, including nitrogen fixation, nitrification, assimilation, ammonification, and denitrification.

Cellular Respiration

The process by which plants and animals break down glucose in the presence of oxygen to produce energy, releasing carbon dioxide and water.

Sublimation

The process of a substance transitioning directly from a solid to a gas without passing through a liquid state, relevant in atmospheric sciences.

Transpiration

The process by which plants absorb water from the soil through their roots and release water vapor into the atmosphere, playing a key role in the water cycle.

Dead Zones

Areas in aquatic environments with extremely low oxygen levels, often resulting from eutrophication and leading to fish kills.

Oxygen Depletion

A critical reduction in the oxygen levels in water bodies, endangering aquatic life and disrupting ecosystems.

Toxic Release

The emission of harmful substances, often occurring during algal blooms, which can adversely affect aquatic organisms and human health.

Oxygen

An essential element for respiration in most living organisms, particularly in aquatic environments where it is found in dissolved form.

Energy Released

The energy emitted during processes such as condensation, essential to understanding thermodynamics and energy transfer in natural systems.

Precipitation

A process in the hydrologic cycle where water condenses in the atmosphere and falls to the ground as rain, snow, or other forms.

Runoff

Water that flows over the land surface, contributing to rivers and streams, and part of the hydrologic cycle.

Infiltration

The process by which water penetrates the soil surface and moves downward, recharging groundwater supplies.

Organisms

Living entities that play various roles in ecosystems, including producers, consumers, and decomposers, contributing to nutrient cycling.

Nutrient Cycle

The movement and transformation of essential nutrients through living organisms and the environment, crucial for ecosystem health.

Glucose

A simple sugar produced by plants during photosynthesis, serving as a primary energy source for growth and metabolis