Module 3 Aquatic Biomes

Vocabulary flashcards defining aquatic biomes, lake and ocean zones, and related biological processes based on Module 3 lecture notes.

Aquatic biomes

Biomes characterized by factors such as salinity, depth, and water flow, which fall under two categories: freshwater and marine.

Freshwater biomes

Biomes with low salinity that are categorized as streams and rivers, lakes and ponds, or freshwater wetlands.

Marine biomes

Biomes with high salinity that are categorized as estuaries/salt marshes, mangrove swamps, intertidal zones, coral reefs, and the open ocean.

Littoral zone

The shallow zone of soil and water in lakes and ponds near shore where algae and emergent plants grow.

Limnetic zone

A zone of open water in lakes and ponds as deep as the sunlight can penetrate.

Phytoplankton

Floating algae.

Profundal zone

Region of water where sunlight does not reach, located below the limnetic zone in very deep lakes.

Benthic zone

The muddy bottom of a lake, pond, or ocean beneath the limnetic zone in very deep lakes.

Oligotrophic

A lake with low level of phytoplankton due to low amounts of nutrients in the water.

Mesotrophic

A lake with a moderate level of fertility.

Eutrophic

A lake with a high level of fertility.

Estuary

Area along the coast where the fresh water of river mixes with salt water from the ocean.

Salt marsh

A marsh containing nonwoody emergent vegetation found along the coast in temperate climates.

Mangrove swamp

A swamp on tropical and subtropical coasts featuring salt-tolerant trees with roots submerged in water.

Intertidal zone

The narrow band of coastline that exists between the levels of high and low tide.

Coral reef

Earth's most diverse biome, found in warm, shallow waters beyond the shoreline in tropical regions.

Open ocean

Deep ocean water, located away from the shoreline where sunlight can no longer reach the ocean bottom.

Photic zone

Upper layer of ocean water that receives enough sunlight for photosynthesis.

Aphotic zone

Deeper layer of ocean water which lacks proper sunlight for photosynthesis.

Chemosynthesis

Process used by some bacteria to generate energy with methane and hydrogen sulfide.