FRESH WATER VOCAB

PLANKTON

• Microscopic plants and animals
• They are suspended in the water column
• Exp. Zooplankton

SUCCESION

• Aging process

BENTHOS

• Organisms living on or in the bottom of sediments
• Exp. Starfish

PERIPHYTON

• Organisms that cling to debri
• Exp. Benthic algae

NEUSTON

• Organism resting near surface
• Exp. Gerridae (water striders)

EUTROPHIC

• Productive water area
• Includes large populations of plants and animals
• High nutrients
• Chlorophylla

MESOTROPHIC

• Moderate amounts of nutrients
• Transition from oligotrophic to eutrophic

OLIGOTROPHIC

• Low in nutrients
• Supports little life
• Low in plant and plankton population
• Little organic material
• Low chlorophylla levels

NEKTON

• Free swimming organisms
• Exp. Fish

EMERGENT

• Rooted plants with lower portion submerged
• Grows near shore
• Exp. Cattails, bulrush, sedges

FLOATING LEAF

• Rooted plants with leaves floating on the surface
• Exp. Water lilies, duckweed

SUBMERGENT

• Rooted plants with nearly all leaves below surface
• Exp. Chara, naja, coontail, hydrilla