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ahenrique-Endocrine
"Endocrine" Terms and Definitions
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| photic zone | regions of a body of water where light penetrates, enabling photosynthesis |
| phytoplankton | microscopic algae and cyanobacteria that carry out photosynthesis |
| aphotic zone | deep areas of a body of water where light levels are too low to support photosynthesis |
| benthic zone | bottom of an aquatic ecosystem; consists of sand and sediment and supports its own community of organism |
| estuary | area where fresh water from streams and rivers merges with salty ocean water; productive ecosystem |
| pelagic zone | open water above the ocean floor |
| intertidal zone | area of shore between the high-tide and low-tide lines |
| neritic zone | area of ocean that extends from the low-tide line out to the edge of the continental shelf |
| oceanic zone | vast open ocean from the edge of the continental shelf outward |
| zooplankton | microscopic animals that swim or drift near the surface of aquatic environments |
| hydrothermal vent | opening in the ocean floor where hot gases and minerals escape from Earth's interior |