Terms Chapter 7

Behavioral or physiological traits that allow a plant or animal to thrive in a particular environment.

The area on or near the floor of a body of water.

Plants that shed their leaves seasonally to avoid adverse weather conditions such as cold or aridity.

Organisms that are attached to or move about the surface of the bottom of a water body.

The upper layer of a water body where sunlight may power high rates of net primary production.

The oceanic zone extending from the surface to about 200 meters, where enough light penetrates to allow photosynthesis.

The surface layer of the ocean that receives enough sunlight for photosynthesis.

Water bodies that have high net primary production.

Organisms that obtain food by separating it from passing water.

Changes in conditions from one region to the next.

The process by which a seed starts to grow and develop.

The number of consecutive days during which temperatures remain above 0°C.

Geographical locations and environmental conditions where a plant or animal lives.

The deepest layer of the ocean, below 6,000 meters.

The layer of water in a thermally stratified lake that lies below the thermocline, is noncirculating, remains perpetually cold, and is usually low in oxygen.

Aquatic animals that live in the substrate of a body of water, especially in a soft sea bottom.

Characterizing aquatic communities found in standing water.