Aquatic

From Encyclopedia Jr, free information reference for Kids

The term aquatic refers to water and can be either a noun or an adjective. Dictionary definitions do not specify what kind of water, although in both general use and in the sciences, the implication is often that of fresh water. The term marine (ocean) is typically substituted where reference to salt water is intended, and estuarine for brackish water (i.e., a mix of fresh and salt water). On occasion, aquatic may refer to any or all of these three.

• Oceans, estuaries, lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands, and ponds are examples of aquatic environments.
• An aquatic is also shorthand for an aquatic plant.
• Aquatic ecology is a discipline that uses the principles and methods of ecology to study natural aquatic environments. However, the term limnology is more often used in this context.
• The term aquatics is another name for watersports.

[edit] See also

• Marine biology
• Freshwater biology
• Aquatic animal
• Limnology – study of inland waters
• Oceanography – study of marine environments

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