Aquatic Biomes

Flashcards for Aquatic Biomes

General Concepts

Q: What percentage of the Earth's surface is covered by aquatic biomes?
A: 75%.

Q: Name two critical roles aquatic biomes play in regulating the Earth’s environment.
A: Rainfall and global temperature regulation.

Ocean Zones

Q: What is the Photic Zone?
A: The upper region of the ocean with light penetration.

Q: What is the Aphotic Zone?
A: The lower region of the ocean where no light penetrates.

Q: What is the Benthic Zone?
A: The bottom of the ocean, home to detritus-feeding organisms.

Q: What is the Abyss?
A: The deepest parts of the Benthic Zone, such as deep-sea trenches.

Q: What is the Pelagic Zone?
A: The area of water from the surface to the bottom in the mid-region of a water body.

Q: What is the Thermocline?
A: A temperature gradient within a body of water.

Freshwater Zones

Q: What is the Littoral Zone?
A: The shallow region of freshwater bodies where light is present for plants.

Q: What is the Limnetic Zone?
A: The surface region of freshwater, home to phytoplankton and zooplankton.

Q: What is the Profundal Zone?
A: The deep middle region of freshwater bodies, often where fish group.

Types of Lakes

Q: What characterizes Oligotrophic lakes?
A: Nutrient-poor, very deep, cold, and clear with few plants and animals.

Q: What characterizes Eutrophic lakes?
A: Nutrient-rich, shallow, warm, and murky with abundant plants and animals.

Q: What are Mesotrophic lakes?
A: Lakes with moderate nutrients and biodiversity, often concentrated around edges.

Streams and Rivers

Q: What are Headwaters?
A: Cold, clear, nutrient-poor, fast-moving waters with high dissolved oxygen.

Q: What is the Midstream?
A: Warm, slow, nutrient-rich waters with moderate biodiversity.

Q: What is an Estuary?
A: The region where freshwater meets saltwater, rich in nutrients and biodiversity.

Q: What are Wetlands?
A: Areas with water and above-water plants, like swamps and marshes, that reduce flooding.

Marine Biomes

Q: What is the Intertidal Zone?
A: A harsh environment with crashing tides, rich in biodiversity due to sunlight.

Q: What is the Neritic Zone?
A: The region from the shore to the continental shelf, rich in biodiversity.

Q: What is the Oceanic Pelagic Zone?
A: The ocean region containing photic and aphotic zones, with limited biodiversity.

Q: What are Coral Reefs?
A: Biodiverse marine ecosystems found in warm waters, often referred to as the "rainforests of the ocean."

Q: What is the Benthic Zone in marine systems?
A: The ocean floor, moderate in biodiversity, especially near thermal vents.

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