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 streammeanders

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