Ch. 4 - Aquatic Biomes

chemosynthesis

A process used by some bacteria in the ocean to generate energy with methane and hydrogen sulfide.

profundal zone

A region of water where sunlight does not reach, below the limnetic zone in deep lakes.

littoral zone

A shallow zone in a freshwater habitat where light reaches the bottom and nurtures plants

freshwater wetlands

An aquatic biome that is submerged or saturated by water for at least part of each year, but shallow enough to support emergent vegetation

estuary

An area where fresh water from a river mixes with salt water from an ocean; productive ecosystems because they constantly recieve fresh nutrients from the river and the ocean (Surf Beach estuary)

benthic zone

Bottom of a lake; inhabited mostly be decomposers, detritus-feeding clams, wormlike insect larvae, and catfish

salt marshes

Coastal wetlands that are transitions between land and water; plants and animals are salt tolerant; important because they protect the shoreline; nursery grounds for fish and birds (Ocean Park in Lompoc)

phytoplankton

Microscopic, free-floating, autotrophic organisms that function as producers in aquatic ecosystems

coral bleaching

Occurs when a coral becomes stressed and expels most of its colorful algae, leaving an underlying ghostly white skeleton of calcium carbonate

photic zone

Portion of the marine biome that is shallow enough for sunlight to penetrate.

mangrove swamps

Swamps found on the coastlines in warm tropical climates. They are dominated by mangrove trees--trees and shrubs that can live partly submerged in the salty environment of coastal swamps.

coral reefs

The most diverse marine biomes on Earth, found in warm, shallow waters beyond the shoreline. Contain corals--tiny animals that secrete a layer of calcium carbonate (limestone) to form an external skeleton.

intertidal zone

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

aphotic zone

The part of the ocean beneath the photic zone, where light does not penetrate sufficiently for photosynthesis to occur.

limnetic zone

The well-lit, open surface waters of a lake; it is too far from shore to support rooted plants and is made up of phytoplankton, including cyanobacteria.