Ecology - Aquatic Ecosystems Ch 7

The two main threats to our oceans are

The amount of dissolved salts that water contains is it's salinity.

Organisms that cannot swim (drifters) are known as __

Freshwater wetlands improve water quality, control flooding, provide spawning areas for fish and habitat for wildlife.

___are drifiting algae and make up the food base of the open ocean.

__are dense groves of mangrove trees in swampy areas.

In the open ocean, __grows only where there is enough sunlight and nutrients.

__ occur in low, flat lands that have few, if any, woody plants or trees.

__are deep areas near the bottom of ponds or lakes inhabited by decomposers, insect larvae, clams and cool water fish.

__ are limestone ridges built by tiny coral animals and the algae that live inside them.

The area where freshwater from rivers mix with saltwater from the ocean is a(n) _____

Swamps occur in flat, poorly-drained woodlands, often near streams.

__ are drifting animals.

At the __of a river, the water is cold, full of oxygen and runs swiftly through shallow beds.

Organisms that break down dead organisms are __

__ are nutrient-rich zones near shore where aquatic life is diverse and abundant.

Aquatic organisms are divided into two main catoegories

Rivers change with the land and the climate through which they flow.

The types of organisms in an aquatic ecosystem are mostly determined by the amount of __ the water contains.

Aquatic organisms are divided into three groups (plankton, nekton, and benthos) based on location and adaptations.

__are areas of land with special soils and plants that are covered with freshwater for at least part of the year.

Coastal wetlands provide habitat and nesting areas for many fish and wildlife.

__form wher rivers deposit mineral-rich mud and serve as nurseries for shrimp, crabs, fish and birds.

Much of marine life is concentrated in the shallow, coastal waters.

The open ocean is one of the most productive of all ecosystems.

If algae in coral reefs die it turns___

Estuaries tend to be very productive because they recieve nutrients from rivers and the shallow water recieves sunlight.

Benthos are bottom-dwelling organisms such as mussels, worms and barnacles.

The Florida Everglades is the smallest freshwater wetland in the US.

Eutrophication is a decrease in the amount of nutrients in the water resulting in bacteria using up oxygen and fish kill

Coastal wetlands filter out __ and __, protect shorlines from erosion and absorb excess__.

__ are free-swimming organisms (fishes, whales).

Further downstream, rivers become ___, ___, and ___ containing more vegetation and less oxygen.