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ahenrique-Endocrine
"Endocrine" Terms and Definitions
Term | Definition |
---|---|
photic zone | regions of a body of water where light penetrates, enabling photosynthesis |
phytoplankton | microscopic algae and cyanobacteria that carry out photosynthesis |
aphotic zone | deep areas of a body of water where light levels are too low to support photosynthesis |
benthic zone | bottom of an aquatic ecosystem; consists of sand and sediment and supports its own community of organism |
estuary | area where fresh water from streams and rivers merges with salty ocean water; productive ecosystem |
pelagic zone | open water above the ocean floor |
intertidal zone | area of shore between the high-tide and low-tide lines |
neritic zone | area of ocean that extends from the low-tide line out to the edge of the continental shelf |
oceanic zone | vast open ocean from the edge of the continental shelf outward |
zooplankton | microscopic animals that swim or drift near the surface of aquatic environments |
hydrothermal vent | opening in the ocean floor where hot gases and minerals escape from Earth's interior |