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Introduction to Aquatic Biomes exam Flashcards

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Introduction to Aquatic Biomes exam
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  • Aquatic Biomes


    Biomes covered by a significant amount of water, characterized by their physical and chemical environments.

  • What are the two major categories of aquatic biomes?


    Freshwater and marine biomes.

  • Freshwater Biomes


    Biomes with less than 0.1% salt concentration, including lakes, rivers, and streams.

  • Marine Biomes


    Biomes with about 3% salt concentration, including the world's oceans.

  • What percentage of Earth's water is found in freshwater biomes?


    3%

  • What percentage of Earth's water is found in marine biomes?


    97%

  • Intertidal Zone


    The area between high tide and low tide marks, found only in marine biomes.

  • Littoral Zone


    The near shore shallow area in lakes.

  • What is the analogous zone to the intertidal zone in lakes?


    Lakes do not have an analogous zone to the intertidal zone.

  • Continental Shelf


    The shelf before a major drop-off in marine biomes.

  • Neuritic Zone


    The near shore shallow area between the low tide and the edge of the continental shelf in marine biomes.

  • Limnetic Zone


    The offshore deep water zone in lakes.

  • Oceanic Zone


    The offshore deep water extending beyond the continental shelf in marine biomes.

  • Pelagic Zone


    All the water in the open ocean, combining the neuritic and oceanic zones.

  • Benthic Zone


    The entire bottom of a lake or ocean.

  • Photic Zone


    The surface layer of water that receives enough light for photosynthesis.

  • Aphotic Zone


    The deeper layer of water that does not receive enough light for photosynthesis.

  • Seasonal Turnover


    The vertical mixing of water layers in lakes and oceans during spring and fall.

  • What drives seasonal turnover?


    Changes in water density due to seasonal temperature fluctuations.

  • Thermocline


    A drastic change in temperature over a short distance in water, creating a density gradient.

  • Ocean Upwelling


    The process where deep, cold, nutrient-rich water rises to replace surface waters moving along the coast.

  • What causes ocean upwelling?


    Prevailing winds pushing surface waters along the coast.

  • Why is ocean upwelling important?


    It replenishes surface waters with nutrients and brings oxygen to deeper waters.

  • What happens to nutrients in lakes and oceans over time?


    Nutrients tend to sink towards the bottom, leaving surface waters nutrient-depleted.

  • What happens to oxygen in lakes and oceans over time?


    Oxygen tends to become depleted at the bottom.

  • What is the maximum density of freshwater?


    The maximum density of freshwater occurs at approximately 4°C (39.2°F), where its density is around 1,000 kg/m³ (or 1 g/cm³).

  • What seasons are most effective for seasonal turnover?


    Spring and fall.

  • What is the primary characteristic that defines aquatic biomes?


    Their physical and chemical environments, such as salt concentration.

  • What is the analogous zone to the oceanic zone in lakes?


    The limnetic zone.