In the zone
the portion of the photic zone that is farther from shore than the littoral zone; no rooted plants are found in this zone
Limnetic zone
a tree bearing cones that typically does not lose its leaves
Coniferous
a measurement of the amount of salts dissolved in water
Salinity
a grouping of ecosystems with similar abiotic and biotic conditions
Biome
the shallow near-shore portion of the photic zone
Littoral zone
the few tall trees that extend above the canopy in a rain forest
Emergent layer
the deep sleeplike state that an animal enters when conditions are dry
Estivation
the average conditions, including temperature and precipitation, over long periods in a given area
Climate
the layer below the photic zone in an aquatic ecosystem, where no sunlight penetrates so photosynthesis cannot occur
Aphotic zone
a tree that loses its leaves and stops photosynthesis during part of the year
Deciduous
the flow of cold, nutrient-rich water toward the surface of the ocean
Upwelling
an ecosystem located where a river flows into the ocean, mixing fresh water with salt water
Estuary
the uppermost layer of an aquatic ecosystem, where there is enough sunlight for photosynthesis to occur
Photic zone
the dense covering of trees, 50 to 80 meters above the ground, in a rain forest
Canopy
the deep sleeplike state that an animal enters for most of the winter
Hibernation
permanently frozen soil
Permafrost
the bottom layer of an aquatic ecosystem
Benthic zone
the shorter trees and plants found in a tropical rain forest
Understory
a plant that grows on other plants instead of in soil
Epiphyte
an area of land that is flooded with water at least sometime during the year
Wetland