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