2024-25 fall review aquatic science

Front

What are trophic levels?

Back

Trophic levels are the hierarchical levels in an ecosystem, comprising producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, and tertiary consumers, which represent the flow of energy and nutrients.

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What does hydrophilic mean?

Back

Hydrophilic refers to substances that have an affinity for water and can easily interact with it, such as plants that thrive in freshwater wetlands.

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What is the photic zone?

Back

The photic zone is the upper layer of a body of water that receives enough sunlight for photosynthesis to occur, typically extending to about 200 meters deep.

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What is the benthic zone?

Back

The benthic zone is the ecological region at the lowest level of a body of water, including the sediment surface and sub-surface layers.

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What is the aphotic zone?

Back

The aphotic zone is the layer of a body of water where there is little to no sunlight, making photosynthesis impossible.

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What is brackish water?

Back

Brackish water is a mixture of fresh and salt water, typically found in estuaries, with a salinity between 0 and 3.5 parts per thousand.

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What is lake turnover?

Back

Lake turnover is the process where water layers in a lake mix, occurring in fall and spring, which helps distribute nutrients and oxygen.

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What are halophytes?

Back

Halophytes are plants that thrive in saline environments, such as salt marshes and mangroves.

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What is the significance of the food web?

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A food web illustrates the complex interconnections between different organisms in an ecosystem, showing how energy and nutrients flow through various trophic levels.

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What is the role of producers in an ecosystem?

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Producers, such as plants and algae, convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis, forming the base of the food chain.