Aquatic Science

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Aquatic Science Noun

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[uh-kwat-ik sy-ens]

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Aquatic Science

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The scientific study of all water environments, including their physical, chemical, and biological aspects and the organisms within them.

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Example: This image shows how aquatic life is classified by where it lives and how it moves: plankton drift, nekton swim freely, and benthos live on the bottom.

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Oceanography Noun

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[oh-shuh-nog-ruh-fee]

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Oceanography

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The branch of science that deals with the physical and biological properties and phenomena of the world's oceans.

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Example: Oceanography is the scientific study of the oceans, which involves using research ships and specialized equipment like buoys to collect data about the water.

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Marine Biology Noun

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[muh-reen by-ol-uh-jee]

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Marine Biology

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The scientific study of organisms living in the ocean or other marine or brackish bodies of water.

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Example: Marine biology is the scientific study of life in the ocean. This image shows marine biologists collecting data on a coral reef.

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Aquaculture Noun

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[ak-wuh-kuhl-cher]

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Aquaculture

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The farming or management of aquatic organisms such as fish, shellfish, and aquatic plants in controlled environments.

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Example: This diagram shows aquaculture, the farming of aquatic life, by illustrating how fish, mussels, and algae are grown together in a controlled environment.

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Salinity Noun

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[suh-lin-i-tee]

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Salinity

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The measure of all the salts dissolved in a body of water, often expressed in parts per thousand.

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Example: This diagram shows that seawater is mostly water (96.5%) with a small amount of dissolved salts, which create its salinity. The salts are mainly chloride and sodium.

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Estuary Noun

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[es-choo-er-ee]

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Estuary

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A coastal area where freshwater from rivers and streams mixes with saltwater from the ocean, creating a unique habitat.

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Example: This diagram shows an estuary, a coastal area where freshwater from a river mixes with saltwater from the ocean, influenced by tides.

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Brackish Water Noun

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[brak-ish waw-ter]

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Brackish Water

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Water with a salinity level between freshwater and seawater, which is commonly found in estuaries and coastal wetlands.

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Example: This diagram shows a freshwater river flowing into a saltwater ocean. The area where these two types of water mix, creating a mixture less salty than the ocean, is known as brackish water.

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Benthic Zone Noun

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[ben-thik zohn]

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Benthic Zone

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

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Example: This diagram shows the layers of the open ocean from the sunlit surface to the deep trenches, but it does not label the benthic zone, which is the seafloor.

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Pelagic Zone Noun

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[puh-laj-ik zohn]

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Pelagic Zone

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The ecological realm of open water in a sea or lake, not including the bottom or near-shore areas.

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Example: This diagram shows the Pelagic Zone (or realm) is the entire column of open water in the ocean, from the surface down to the seafloor.

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Photic Zone Noun

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[foh-tik zohn]

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Photic Zone

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The upper layer of a body of water that receives sufficient sunlight to allow for photosynthesis by aquatic plants.

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Example: This diagram shows the Photic Zone (Sunlit Zone) is the top ocean layer that receives sunlight, allowing photosynthesis and supporting abundant marine life.