Coastal and Marine Ecology Overview

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts in coastal and marine ecology, including terms related to sea level changes, shoreline features, biological classifications, and ecological interactions.

Eustatic Sea Level Change

Global ocean-volume change.

Isostatic Sea Level Change

Land surface rising/sinking due to loading/unloading.

Erosional Shorelines

Characterized by cliffs, arches, and stacks.

Depositional Shorelines

Characterized by beaches, spits, barrier islands, and deltas.

Berm

A ridge of sand formed by wave swash on the upper beach.

Autotrophs

Organisms that make organic matter.

Heterotrophs

Organisms that consume organic matter.

Photic Zone

Depth of the ocean where photosynthesis occurs, typically 100-200 m.

Compensation Depth

Depth where photosynthesis equals respiration.

Plankton

Organisms that drift in water.

Nekton

Organisms that swim actively in water.

Infauna

Organisms that live within sediment.

Epifauna

Organisms that live on surfaces.

Holoplankton

Organisms that live their entire life as plankton.

Meroplankton

Organisms that are only plankton during their larval stage.

Countershading

Coloration that reduces visibility from above and below.

Camouflage

Blending with surroundings to avoid detection.

Ecosystem

Interactions between a community and its physical environment.

Kelp

A type of large brown algae that requires nutrient-rich, cold waters.

Korals

Marine structures found in tropical, clear, shallow waters, home to symbiotic relationships.

Coral Bleaching

The loss of coral's symbiotic algae due to stress.