Chapter 3.3, Problem 1NV

Summary Introduction

To fill:

Correct terms according to given definitions.

Introduction:

Oceans and water bodies are divided into different regions depending on the distribution of resources, living community, and depth. On the basis of light, a water body is divided into photic, aphotic zone, profundal, and abyssal zone. On the basis of distance from shore, freestanding water is divided into two regions, limnetic and littoral.

Answer to Problem 1NV

Given blanks can be filled as follows:

S. no.	Correct term
1	Profundal zone
2	Intertidal zone
3	Aphotic zone
4	Photic zone
5	Abyssal zone
6	Wetlands
7	Littoral zone
8	Estuary
9	Limnetic zone
10	Benthic zone
11	Sediment
12	Planktons

Explanation of Solution

Profundal zone: Profundal zone is the deepest zone of any freestandingwater body such as lakes or ponds. Water in this region is generally undisturbed and there is almost no penetration of light.

Intertidal zone: The region where the land and water meet are known as the intertidal zone. It is azone betweenlowest and highest tides. Sometimes it is also referred to as foreshore and seashore.

Aphotic zone: Aphotic means no light, so, an aphotic zone is a region, where sunlight is not able to penetrate. It is below a depth of 200meters (approximately) of an open waterbody.

Photic zone: Photic zone is a region, where sunlight is available. In general, a photic zone is around 200 meters from the surface of a water body. Below 200 meters, sunrays are not able to penetrate water.

Abyssal zone: The abyssal zone of an ocean is the deepest zone. This region is devoid of any light source and organisms living there are adapted to low lights.

Wetlands: Wetlands are areas, in which soil is covered with waterdue to the presence of nearby large bodies. These regions are saturated with water, which supports the growth of some aquatic organisms. Marshes and swamps are different types of wetlands.

Littoral zone: Littoral zone of a water body is a region, where water is present near land. These regions are shallow and support the growth of many aquatic plants.

Estuary: It is a water body where one or more rivers join the sea. An estuary is a partially coveredbody and here, freshwater from the river and salty water from the sea get mixed.

Limnetic zone: Limnetic zone of a water body is a region, which is open and away from the land. In this region, water is generally undisturbed and freestanding and supports the growth of planktons.

Benthic zone: Benthic zone is the lowest level of a water body, which is present near solid bottoms, such as shore, subsurface water, and ocean floor. It is an ecological region, in which sediments, sand, slit, and the dead remains of organisms are present in the sea.

Sediments: Sediments are solid materials that are present in the water body. These sediments in water may come with wind, glaciers, or solid pollutants.

Planktons: Planktons are microscopic free-floating autotrophs. They are one of the major sources of food for smaller aquatic organisms and one of the prime producers in an aquatic ecosystem.