Vocab
Ecological succession
change in the community over time as organisms compete and modify their environment
Photic zone
upper layer in which light can penetrate
Emergent plants
plants that are rooted underwater but lift their stems above the water (cattails, for example)
Littoral zone
shallow, shoreline area
Aphotic zone
layer in which light does not penetrate
Herbivore
eats plants (primary consumer)
Limnetic zone
open water zone with light penetration
Zooplankton
tiny consumers; “animal plankton”
Carnivore
eats animals
Ex: wolf
Profundal zone
deep water with little or no light
Phytoplankton
tiny organisms (algae) that are producers
Predator
feed on live animals
Thermocline
zone at which temperature changes rapidly
Detritus
any organic debris that sinks to the bottom (leaves, dead animals, etc.)