15 Questions
What is an estuary?
A semi-enclosed body of fresh water connected to the ocean
What does a watershed refer to?
An area of land that drains into a body of water
What are impervious surfaces?
Surfaces with lots of asphalt, concrete, and roofs
What is salinity?
The number of grams of dissolved salt in a liter or 100g of water
What is the function of pycnocline in coastal ecosystems?
Separates high-density saltwater from low-density saltwater
What is the Redfield Ratio used to sum up in the bay?
Essential nutrients for plant life, including carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus
What characterizes diatoms in coastal ecosystems?
Single-celled algae with glass-like walls
When do dinoflagellates predominate in coastal ecosystems?
Summer
What distinguishes intertidal ecosystems from subtidal ecosystems?
Above water at low tide and underwater at high tide vs. always submerged
What is the primary characteristic of epifauna in coastal ecosystems?
Travel over the flat to feed on plant debris and invertebrates on the mud surface
What is the primary characteristic of infauna in coastal ecosystems?
Live below the mud surface, providing a food source for other organisms
What does the term 'sessile' refer to in coastal ecosystems?
Fixed in one place and do not move
What does detritus refer to in coastal ecosystems?
Dead or decaying organic matter that accumulates in ecosystems
What are phytoplankton in coastal ecosystems?
Autotrophic components of the plankton community
What characterizes living shorelines in coastal ecosystems?
A natural approach to erosion control that preserves the coastal edge by planting vegetation and using other natural materials
Study Notes
Coastal Ecosystems and Environmental Factors
- Zones of maximum turbidity concentrate nutrients and suspended sediment, supporting rapid plankton growth and a rich biological community.
- Pycnocline is a layer that separates high-density saltwater from low-density saltwater.
- The Redfield Ratio sums up the essential nutrients for plant life in the bay, including carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus.
- Diatoms are single-celled algae with glass-like walls, providing essential food for primary consumers.
- Dinoflagellates, green-blue algae, predominate in the summer, while diatoms are more abundant in the winter.
- Intertidal ecosystems are above water at low tide and underwater at high tide, while subtidal ecosystems are always submerged.
- Epifauna, such as crabs and snails, travel over the flat to feed on plant debris and invertebrates on the mud surface.
- Infauna, including deposit-feeders and meiofauna, live below the mud surface, providing a food source for other organisms.
- Sessile organisms are fixed in one place and do not move.
- Detritus refers to dead or decaying organic matter that accumulates in ecosystems, such as dead plant material in the marsh ecosystem.
- Phytoplankton are autotrophic components of the plankton community, while zooplankton are a type of heterotrophic plankton.
- Living shorelines are a natural approach to erosion control that preserves the coastal edge by planting vegetation and using other natural materials.
Test your knowledge of coastal ecosystems and environmental factors with this quiz. Explore the unique characteristics of intertidal and subtidal ecosystems, learn about the role of phytoplankton and zooplankton, and discover the importance of living shorelines in preserving coastal environments.
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