Transcript Aquatic Biomes - Cobb Learning

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Categorized by
depth, salinity,
temperature,
dissolved oxygen
Freshwater :
streams, rivers,
lakes and wetlands
Marine: estuaries,
intertidal zones,
coral reefs and
open oceans
Aquatic Biomes
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Originate from
underground
springs or as runoff
from rain or melting
snow.
Few plants or algae
to act as PP. Inputs
of organic matter
are from terrestial
biomes (falling
leaves)
Rivers & Streams
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Standing water. Divided into several zones
Littoral Zone: Shallow area near shore where
emergent plants and algae grow. Photosynthesis
occurs
Limnetic Zone: Open water. Rooted plants can no
loner survive. Phytoplankton are the only
photosynthetic organisms. Extends as deep as
sunlight penetrates
Profundal Zone: No sunlight. Producers cannot
survive. Bacteria decompose detritus, consuming
oxygen in the process. DO levels not sufficient to
support large organisms.
Benthic Zone: Muddy bottom of the lake or pond.
Lakes and Ponds
Lake Zones
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Swamps: emergent trees
Marshes : nonwoody vegetation
Bogs: acidic wetlands – sphagnum moss
and spruce trees
◦ Take in large amounts of rainwater and release
slowly into groundwater or streams. Therefore,
reducing flooding
◦ Filter pollutants
◦ Recharge groundwater
◦ Migration and breeding ground for birds and
fish
 ½ of US wetlands have been drained for
agriculture or urbanization
Freshwater Wetland
SWAMP
MARSH
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Many found in
estuaries:
◦ Where freshwater of
a river meets
saltwater of the
ocean
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Very productive
areas
2/3 of marine fish
and shellfish spend
larval stages in an
estuary
Salt Marshes
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Found in warm
shallow waters
Large diversity of
organisms
Great Barrier Reef:
◦ 400 sp. Of coral
◦ 1500 sp of fish
◦ 200 sp of birds
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Coral Bleeching:
Algae inside the coral
dies. w/o the algae
the coral die, turning
the reef white.
Coral Reefs
Coral Bleeching
Coastline between
high tide and low tide
 Lowtide:Organisms
have a high tolerance
for exposure to direct
sunlight, high
temperatures and
desiccation.
 Hightide:
Organisms must
anchor themselves
against the force of
wave motion
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Intertidal Zone
Open Ocean
Euphotic Zone: Upper layer of the ocean with
available sunlight. Phytoplankton found here.
Rich in DO. Many large predatory fish. Low in
nutrients (unless ‘upwelling’ area)
 Bathyl Zone: Mid-layer, twilight, no
photosynthetic organisms, Low DO. Small fish
and zooplankton.
 Abyssal Zone: No sunlight, Plenty of nutrients.
“Marine Snow”
 The deeper the water : less sunlight, DO and
temperature falls
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Open Ocean
phytoplankton
Ocean food chain