| A | B |
|---|
| wetland | areas where land is periodically underwater |
| plankton | organisms that float near the surface of the water |
| nekton | free-swimming organisms such as fish, turtles and whales |
| benthos | bottom-dwelling organisms, such as worms, mussels and barnacles |
| littoral zone | nutrient rich zone near theshore where aquatic life is diverse and abundant |
| benthic zone | the bottom of a pond or lake, which is inhabited by decomposers |
| eutrophication | an increase in the amount of nutrients in an aquatic ecosystem which can be accelerated by run off |
| estuary | an area in which fresh water from a river mixes with salt water from the ocean |
| salt marsh | areas that develop in estuaries where rivers deposit their load of mineral-rich mud |
| mangrove swamp | swamps located along coastal areas of tropical and subtropical zones dominated by mangrove trees |
| barrier islands | long, thin islands that run parallel to the shore |
| coral reefs | limestone ridges built by tiny coral animals called coral polyps |
