Transcript Review Vocab

Review Vocab:
Aquatic Environments
4-1
a slow-moving body of water where the water
seems to stand still; lakes, ponds; and
wetlands
lentic
the area of an aquatic ecosystem where the
rooted plants do not reach the surface of the
water.
open water
rocks with a diameter greater that 10 inches
(25cm)
boulders
the regions of the stream with the greatest
slope
upper reaches
curves in a stream
meanders
the ecosystem along a stream or river that is
strongly affected by water
riparian zone
The sections of a river system with a gentle,
steady flow
lower reaches
The beginning of a stream
headwaters
The place where the water meets the land, the
best place for critters it hide and “make-out”
water’s edge
the line along the highest elevation that divides
two watersheds
watershed boundary
the low flat land along a stream or river that is
periodically flooded
floodplain
a lentic body of water that is usually larger than
a pond and has areas that are too deep for
rooted plants to grow
lake
a lotic body of water much larger and deeper
that a stream; fed by smaller streams and
sometimes called tributaries
river
freshwater ecosystems with relatively fast
moving water
lotic
smaller feeder streams or rivers that empty into
a larger stream or river
tributary
the place where the river enters a lake or a
ocean
mouth
the place where the water meets the air
surface film
areas of a stream with slower moving water
(where you might find a phosphate
accumulation)
pools
the land area that is drained when drops of rain
join other to flow to a particular stream, river,
lake or wetland
watershed
the place where two streams meet
confluence
lentic body of water so shallow that rooted
plants grow across the entire bottom
pond
rocks with a diameter greater than 2 inches
(5cm) but less than 10 inches (25 cm)
cobbles
shallow areas in a stream where the water
appears white because its surface is broken as
it flows over rocks
rapids
the area of the aquatic environment that is
covered with rocks, sand or mud and is the
habitat for a variety of small organisms
(benthic)
bottom
sections of a river system of moderate slope
with third or fourth order streams
middle reaches
straight box-like ditch dug to move water more
efficiently
human-made channel
microscopic plants and animals that float in
open water
plantkon
the land area that is drained when drops of rain
join other to flow to a particular stream, river,
lake or wetland and sometimes called a
watershed
drainage basin
shallow areas of swiftly flowing water
riffles