Ch. 2 Major Aquatic Systems flash cards

Set: Ch. 2 Major Aquatic Systems

Term	Definition
Lakes and Ponds	Bodies of standing freshwater. Found in physical depressions where precipitation and groundwater accumulate.
Streams and Rivers	Flowing freshwater. Found where precipitation and groundwater flow by gravity toward oceans or lakes.
Inland Wetlands	Standing freshwater. Seasonally dry, high in nutrients. Found in shallow depressions, often occupy filled in lakes or ponds.
Estuaries	Variable salinity, tides create two way currents, often rich in nutrients. Found in coastal regions where rivers meet the ocean. May form may form bays behind sandy barrier islands.
Coastal Ocean	Saltwater from the coastline outward over the continental shelf.
Open Ocean	Saltwater of great depths (up to 11,000 M) and poor in nutrients. Covers 70% of Earth, from edge of continental shelf outward.