AS Marine Science - Chapter 5: Examples of Marine Ecosystems Diagram | Quizlet

Bioluminescence

the biochemical release of light by living organisms

World Ocean

the combination of all major oceans into one large, interconnected body of water that encircles the world's continents

open ocean

deep ocean water, located away from the shoreline

TERM

epipelagic zone

DEFINITION

the zone of the ocean between 0 and 200m deep which receives enough light for photosynthesis

TERM

mesopelagic zone

DEFINITION

the zone of the ocean between 200 and 1000 m deep which receives very little light

TERM

bathypelagic zone

DEFINITION

the zone of the ocean between 1000 and 4000m deep which receives no sunlight

TERM

abyssopelagic zone

DEFINITION

The zone of the ocean between 4000 and 6000 m deep with near-freezing water temperatures and intense pressure

TERM

littoral zone

DEFINITION

intertidal zone

benthic zone

the lowest depth regions in any body of water including the surface of the substrate

benthos

the community of organisms found in the benthic zone

ecosystem services

benefits people obtain from ecosystems, including food, flood regulation, climate control and water purification

carbon sink

A natural environment that absorbs and stores more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than it releases, which offsets greenhouse gas emissions.

cnidarians

marine animals that capture food using stinging cells

cnidocytes

stinging cells that cover the tentacles of cnidarians

polyps

non-moving, cup-like life stage of cnidarians

nematocyst

the harpoon-like organelle within a cnidocyte with a pointed projectile and poison to stun and entangle prey

basal plate

lower part of the coral calyx that separates the polyp from the substrate

calyx

the stony cup in which a coral polyp lives its life

theca

the walls of the calyx

hard corals

stony corals capable of reef-building that have a relationship with zooxanthellae

soft corals

corals that do not build reefs and lack calcification

zooxanthellae

symbiotic, photosynthetic dinoflagellates living within the tissues of many invertebrates

fringing reefs

a reef close to and surrounding newer volcanic islands or that borders continental landmasses

barrier reef

A reef separated by a lagoon from the land mass with which it is associated

atoll

a coral reef somewhat circular in shape with a central lagoon

patch reef

small, isolated reef usually located within the lagoon of a barrier reef

lagoon

a shallow, sheltered body of water with a soft, sediment bottom

equation for percent change

(new - original / original) X 100

reef erosion

when a coral loses more of its calcium carbonate skeleton per year than it gains

bioerosion

reef erosion caused by living organisms

ocean acidification

a process where the pH of the ocean is reduced over an extended period of time; generally attributed to a rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide

climate change

changes in global or regional climate patterns since the late twentieth century

coral bleaching

Whitening of corals caused by expulsion of symbiotic zooxanthellae from coral tissues; often resulting from high water temperatures, pollution, or disease.

desiccation

the removal of moisture or drying out of an organism

artificial reef

an underwater structure built by humans to mimic the characteristics of natural reefs

zonation

the distribution of plants or animals into specific zones within an ecosystem based on a specific abiotic factor

intertidal zone

area known as the seashore which is exposed at low tides and under water at high tides

splash zone

area of rocky shore that is just above the highest high tide mark and receives water through the splashing of waves

porous

substrate with holes that allow for the passage of air and water

propagule

a reproductive structure that detaches from the parent plant and is able to grow into a new individual

lenticel

a raised pore in the roots of a mangrove that allows gas exchange between the atmosphere and the internal tissues

viviparous reproduction

(plants) a reproductive strategy where the seed develops into a young plant while still attached to the parent plant