Aquatic Biome Vocabulary Flashcard

Front

What is the intertidal zone?

Back

An area between the high and low tide marks where the land and sea meet.

Front

What is nutrient pollution?

Back

The process where a small amount of nutrients, mainly nitrogen and phosphorus, are added to bodies of water, causing excessive growth of algae.

Front

What is a dead zone in aquatic environments?

Back

An area of water where oxygen levels are too low for aquatic life to survive.

Front

What is a continental shelf?

Back

A submerged part of a continent that extends from the shoreline into relatively shallow water called a shelf sea.

Front

What is an estuary?

Back

A partially enclosed coastal water where freshwater from rivers and streams mixes with salt water from the ocean.

Front

What is the neritic zone?

Back

The part of the ocean that is near the shore and is relatively shallow, rich in nutrients and biodiversity.

Front

What is the photic zone?

Back

The upper layer of a body of water that receives enough sunlight for photosynthesis to occur.

Front

What is the benthic zone?

Back

The ecological region at the lowest level of a body of water, including the sediment surface and sub-surface layers.

Front

What is salinity?

Back

The concentration of salts in water, which affects the types of organisms that can live in aquatic environments.

Front

What is a freshwater biome?

Back

A biome characterized by low salt concentration, including lakes, rivers, and wetlands.