Biodiversity key terms

The number of individuals of a species present in a particular area.

Referring to the depths of the ocean, usually over 2,000 meters deep.

A rock layer that holds water and allows the flow of groundwater.

The proportion of the ground covered by the lowest layer of vegetation.

The ecological region at the bottom of a body of water, including the sediment surface and subsurface layers.

The variety of life forms at different levels of biological organization.

Water that is slightly salty, often found in estuaries where freshwater meets seawater.

The portion of an area covered by the branches, leaves, and stems of trees or vegetation when viewed from above.

An organism that obtains energy by consuming other organisms in a food chain or food web.

The geographic area where a particular species is found.