Chapter 3.3, Problem 3MI

Summary Introduction

To fill:

The correct term according to the given definitions.

Introduction:

The oceans and the water bodies are divided into different region depending on the distribution of the resources, the living community and the depth. On the basis of the distance for land, the oceans are divided into littoral zone and limnetic zone. On the basis of light, the water body is divided into photic, aphotic zone, profundal, and abyssal zone.

Answer to Problem 3MI

The 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: The profundal zone is referred to the deep zone of the water body such as lake or pond. The water here is generally freestanding and there is almost no penetration of the light.

Intertidal zone: The region where the land and water meet is known as intertidal zone. It is the region between the lowest tides and the highest tides. Sometimes it is also called foreshore and seashore.

Aphotic zone: Aphotic means no light, so, the aphotic zone is the region, where the sunlight is not able to penetrate. It is found below 200 meters of an open waterbody.

Photic zone: the photic zone is the region, where the sunlight is available. In general, the photic zone is around 200 meters. Below 200 meters, the sunrays cannot penetrate in the water.

Abyssal zone: The abyssal zone of the ocean is deepest. This region is devoid of any kind of light and the organism living here are adapted to low lights.

Wetlands: The wetlands are the area, in which the soil is covered with the water, due to the presence of nearby large bodies. These regions are saturated with water, which supports the growth of the aquatic plants.

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

Estuary: It is a water body where one or more river joins the sea. The estuary is a partially covered body and here, the fresh water from the river and the salty water from the sea gets mixed.

Limnetic zone: The limnetic zone is referred to the zone of a water body, which is open and away from the land, here the water is generally undisturbed and this supports the growth of the planktons.

Benthic zone: the benthic zone is the region, which is present near the solid masses. It includes the shore and the ocean floor. It consists of sediments, sand, slit and all the dead remains of the organism present in the sea.

Sediments: The sediments are the solid material that are present in the deposited form in the water body. These sediments in the water may come with the wind, glaciers, pollutants, etc.

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