Wetlands
This is the term to describe an area of land that is periodically underwater.
What is a wetland?
This is the nutrient rich zone near a shore where life is very diverse.
What is the littoral zone (of a lake); Equivalent to the shallow zone of oceans
Most rivers originate from snow melt at the top of these geological formations
What are mountains ? (site of the source or spring of the river)
This is an area in where fresh water and salt water mix.
What is an estuary?
The shallow ocean has the most diversity for these reasons:
What is adequate sunlight, warmer temperatures, mixing with air to oxygenate the water
This is the name of the microscopic plant-like organisms that are found in most aquatic ecosystems.
What is algae or phytoplankton ? (actually protists, not plants, but they are producers)
This zone is found at the bottom of a lake or pond and is inhabited by decomposers.
What is benthic zone; (known as the deep zone of the oceans)
As rivers flow downhill they pick up speed and begin to collect this material.
What is sediment or minerals?
This is the place where rivers end
What is the delta (at the ocean)
The deep ocean is one of the most difficult places to live for these reasons:
What are no light, very cold temperatures, very high pressure, and probably lower oxygen levels
There are two primary types of wetlands. Name both.
What are swamps (where trees dominate) and marshes (where grasses dominate) ?
This is the name of the microscopic animals that are found in most aquatic ecosystems.
What is zooplankton?
Name a threat to river systems.
What is pollution or dams?
These trees dominate saltwater swamps
What are mangrove trees ?
Name two threats to our oceans?
What is pollution (many types) and overfishing and climate change
This is the largest freshwater wetland in the United States. (Hint: It is in Florida)
What is the Everglades.
These are free swimming organisms such as fish, whales, turtles, etc- creatures that are large and strong enough to swim against the current
What is nekton?
This is the largest river in the world by volume. (Hint: it is in Brazil)
What is the Amazon?
For organisms to survive in an estuary, they must have a tolerance to changing levels of this substance.
What is salt?
These special areas are known as the "rain forests" of the oceans
What are coral reefs
Wetlands are beneficial in many ways. Name two of the six ways wetlands are beneficial.
What are filter/purify water OR habitat of endangered species OR habitat of food sources for people (fish, crustaceans) OR recreational areas OR help prevent flooding OR help reduce erosion on shorelines
These are bottom dwelling organisms such as mussels, crabs, barnacles, worms- typically decomposers or scavengers
What is benthos?
This is commercially the most important river in the United States.
What is the Mississppi River?
This is the term used to describe a protective island. (Hint: they are common in North Carolina and Texas)
What is a barrier island.
Of rocky shorelines and sandy shorelines, which have more biodiversity and why ?
Rocky Shorelines- they have more habitats/niches for organisms to live in