All Flashcards
How do buffer zones help protect coastal wetlands?
Reduce nutrient runoff from agricultural fields.
How do cover crops help protect coastal wetlands?
Reduce nutrient runoff from agricultural fields.
Why are aquatic biomes important?
Vital for biodiversity, water cycle, habitats, and human activities like food and recreation.
Why do rivers have high oxygen?
Fast-moving water increases oxygen levels, benefiting aquatic life.
What is the importance of wetlands?
Prevent floods, filter pollutants, and provide habitat for migrating birds.
Why are salt marshes productive?
Rivers bring nutrients, supporting plant growth and coastal protection.
What role do mangrove roots play?
Protect coastline from storms and provide habitat.
Why are coral reefs biodiverse?
Provide complex three-dimensional habitats supporting many species.
Why do corals need sunlight?
They rely on photosynthetic algae for food.
What is the significance of the photic zone?
Sunlight allows photosynthesis, supporting primary production.
Why are intertidal zones challenging?
Organisms must adapt to changing conditions like alternating submersion and exposure.
What are ecosystem services?
Benefits biomes provide, such as water filtration, flood control, and habitat.
What factors influence productivity?
Nutrient availability, sunlight, and temperature.
Define aquatic biome.
Biome characterized by the presence of water, either freshwater or saltwater.
What is a freshwater biome?
Aquatic biome with low salinity, including lakes, rivers, and wetlands.
What is a marine biome?
Aquatic biome with high salinity, including oceans, coral reefs, and estuaries.
Define a eutrophic lake.
A lake with high productivity due to abundant nutrients.
Define a mesotrophic lake.
A lake with moderate productivity.
Define an oligotrophic lake.
A lake with low productivity due to low nutrient levels.
Define the littoral zone.
Shallow area near the shore of a lake or pond with high photosynthesis.
Define the limnetic zone.
Open water area of a lake or pond where sunlight can reach.
Define the profundal zone.
Deep area of a lake or pond where sunlight cannot reach.
Define the benthic zone.
The muddy bottom of a lake, ocean, or other body of water.
Define salt marsh.
Coastal wetland with non-woody plants, often found in estuaries.
Define mangrove swamp.
Coastal wetland with salt-tolerant trees with submerged roots.
Define intertidal zone.
Area of coastline between high and low tide marks.
Define coral bleaching.
The expulsion of algae from coral, often due to rising temperatures or ocean acidification.
Define photic zone.
The upper layer of the ocean where sunlight penetrates, allowing photosynthesis.
Define aphotic zone.
The deep layer of the ocean where sunlight does not penetrate.