Aquatic Ecosystems

areas of land that are periodically under water or whose soil contains a great deal of moisture.

• ponds

• wetlands

• lakes

• swamps

the mass of mostly microscopic organisms that float or drift freely in the water, and can be microscopic animals called zooplankton or microscopic plants called phytoplankton.

• plankton

• nekton

• benthos

all organisms that swim actively in open water, independent of currents.

• plankton

• nekton

• benthos

bottom-dwelling organisms of the sea or ocean and are often attached to hard surfaces.

• plankton

• nekton

• benthos

Humans intentionally create artificial lakes by damming for

• power

• irrigation

• recreational use

• all of these

a shallow zone in a freshwater habitat where light reaches the bottom and nurtures plants and aquatic life is diverse and abundant.

• Benthic zone

• Profundal

• photic zone

• littoral zone

the region near the bottom of a pond, lake or ocean which is inhabited by decomposers, insect larvae, and clams.

• Littoral zone

• Benthic zone

• Photic zone

• Limnetic zone

Eutrophication is

• an decrease in the amount of nutrients, such as nitrates, in an aquatic ecosystem.

• an increase in the amount of pollutants in an aquatic ecosystem.

• an increase in the amount of nutrients, such as nitrates, in an aquatic ecosystem.

• an decrease in the amount of pollutants in an aquatic ecosystem.

Wetlands perform which of the following important functions

• act as filters and absorb pollutants

• help control flooding

• provide homes for native and migratory species

• feed and spawning areas for freshwater game fish

Occurs on low, flat lands and have little water movement. Benthic zones are nutrient rich, contain plants usually cattails. A lot of water fowl and attract migratory birds.

• marsh

• swamp

• bog

• river