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ES Ch.7
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Wetland | an area of land that is periodically underwater or whose soil contains a great deal of moisture |
| Plankton | the mass of mostly microscopic organisms that float or drift freely in the waters of aquatic (freshwater and marine) environments |
| Nekton | all organisms that swim actively in open water, independent of currents |
| Benthos | organisms that live at the bottom of oceans and bodies of fresh water |
| Littoral Zone | a shallow zone in a freshwater habitat where light reaches the bottom and nurtures plants |
| Benthic Zone | the bottom region of oceans and bodies of fresh water |
| Eutrophication | an increase in the amount of nutrients, such as nitrates, in a marine or aquatic ecosystems |
| Estuary | an area where fresh water from rivers mixes with salt water from the ocean; the part of a river where the tides meet the river current |
| Salt Marsh | a maritime habitat characterized by grasses, sedges, and other plants that have adapted to continual, periodic flooding; salt marshes are found primarily throughout the temperate and subarctic regions |
| Mangrove Swamp | a tropical or subtropical marine swamp that is characterized by the abundance of low to tall trees, especially mangrove trees |
| Barrier Island | a long ridge of sand or narrow island that lies parallel to the shore |
| Coral Reef | a limestone ridge found in tropical climates and composed of coral fragments that are deposited around organic remains |