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Watersheds (Science)
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Abiotic | The non-living part of an ecosystem |
| Biodiversity | An ecosystem that has many different species in that area |
| Biotic | The living part of an ecosystem |
| Delta | A land-form made of sediment and deposited where a river flows into an ocean or lake |
| Divide | A ridge of land that separates one drainage basin or watershed from another |
| Ecosystem | All the living population and the non-living parts of an environment |
| Estuary | A coastal inlet or bay where freshwater mixes with salty ocean water |
| Eutrophication | The process by which nutrients in a lake build up over time, causing an increase in the growth of algae |
| Groundwater | Water that fills the cracks and pores in underground soil and rock layers |
| Habitat | The place where an organism lives and that provides the things it needs to survive |
| Marsh | A grassy area covered by a shallow layer or stream of water |
| Meander | A looping curve formed in a river as it winds through its flood plain |
| Pollution | A change to the environment that has a negative effect on living things |
| River System | All of the streams and channels draining a river system |
| Runoff | Water that flows over the ground surface rather than soaking into the ground |
| Salinity | The total amount of dissolved salts in a water sample |
| Stream | A channel through which water is continually flowing downhill |
| Swamp | A flooded forest with trees and shrubs growing in the water |
| Turbidity | A cloudy condition in water due to suspended silt or organic matter |
| Watershed | The land area that supplies water to a river system |
| Wetland | An area of land that is covered with a shallow layer or water during some or all the year |