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Flashcards in Chapter 3 Deck (21)
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1
Q

The bottom of a body of water, including the surface and shallow subsurface layers of sediment.

A

benthic zone

2
Q

A large-scale terrestrial biological community shaped by the regional climate, soil, and disturbance patterns where it is found, usually classified by the growth form of the dominant plants.

A

biome

3
Q

The highest level of biological organization, consisting of all living organisms on Earth plus the environments in which they live; located between the lithosphere and the troposphere.

A

biosphere

4
Q

The evolution of similar growth forms among distantly related species in response to similar selection pressures.

A

convergence

5
Q

Degradation of formerly productive land in arid regions resulting in loss of plant cover and acceleration of soil erosion

A

desertification

6
Q

Freshly dead or partially decomposed remains of organisms

A

detritus

7
Q

The portion of the substrate below and adjacent to a stream bed where water movement still occurs, either from the stream or from groundwater moving into the stream.

A

hyporheic zone

8
Q

The alteration of terrestrial surface, including vegetation and landforms, by human activities such as agriculture, forestry, or mining.

A

land use change

9
Q

Of or referring to still water.

A

lentic

10
Q

The nearshore zone of a lake where the photic zone reaches to the bottom.

A

littoral zone

11
Q

Of or relating to flowing water.

A

lotic

12
Q

A rooted or floating aquatic vascular plant.

A

macrophyte

13
Q

Swimming organisms capable of overcoming water currents.

A

nekton

14
Q

The open water column of a lake or ocean.

A

pelagic zone

15
Q

A subsurface soil layer that remains frozen year-round for at least 3 years.

A

permafrost

16
Q

The surface layer of a lake or ocean where enough light penetrates to allow photosynthesis.

A

photic zone

17
Q

Photosynthetic plankton

A

phytoplankton

18
Q

Small, often microscopic organisms that live suspended in water; although many plankton are mobile, none can swim strongly enough to overcome water currents.

A

plankton

19
Q

A vegetation type dominated by grasses with intermixed trees and shrubs.

A

savanna

20
Q

Patterns of rising and falling of ocean water generated by the gravitational attraction between Earth and the moon and sun.

A

tides

21
Q

Nonphotosynthetic plankton.

A

zooplankton