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Aquatic Biomes Science 1206 Video: aquatic biome http://videos.howstuffworks.com/discovery/28105assignment-discovery-aquatic-biomes-video.htm Marine biomes Marine biomes are divided into two zones. These marine communities are classified based upon depth: 1)Coastal zones: • Intertidal (Littoral zone) • Neritic zone 2) Open ocean • Pelagic zone Ocean Life Zones photic zone Supports photosynthesis aphotic zone Supports chemosynthesis only Marine Biomes Marine biomes are oceans on the Earth that are interconnected, which contain a salt water environment. They cover more than 70% of the Earth’s surface. Temperatures remain fairly constant in the marine biome, with a variation with latitude. Ocean temperatures vary from 0 degrees in the polar regions to 32 degrees near the equator. The life in the oceans is divided into two main groups: Benthic (bottom dwelling). Pelagic (free floating) Aquatic Biomes of Canada Marine environments, also considered biomes by some ecologists, comprise the: • Open ocean -Littoral (shallow water) regions -Benthic (bottom) regions • Sandy shores • Estuaries (coastal marches) • Tidal marshes Intertidal zone (Littoral) • Regulated by the tides caused by gravitational force of the moon. • Home to many small species of fish and plant life. • This area is covered by water during high tide and uncovered at low tide. • Many types of seaweeds live here, along with clams, crabs, mussels, and star fish. Neritic Zone • Includes the shallow waters above the continental shelf, which extends out about 300 km. • This zone contains the nutrients carried into oceans and rivers. • This zone is shallow so therefore light reaches all the way to the ocean floor. • Organisms such as algae, fish, mussels, crabs, barnacles, oysters, worms, and sea cucumbers live here. Open Ocean (Pelagic zone) • Filled with many large animals like sharks and whales. • Because the water is deep in the ocean, light cannot reach the bottom so photosynthesis cannot occur. Interesting facts... • The evaporation of the marine biome provides most of the Earth’s rainfall, and the ocean’s temperature has a major effect on the world climate and wind patterns. • Marine algae supply a substantial portion of the world’s oxygen. Video: freshwater biome http://videos.howstuffworks.com/hsw/23700-theworlds-biomes-freshwater-video.htm http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tU2F36Y3AdU&feature=r elated Freshwater Biomes • The freshwater biome is comprised of rivers, lakes, ponds, swamps, bogs, etc. • The volume of water in this biome is much smaller than that of the marine biome. • The temperature variations are larger. • Organisms living in fresh water must be able to adapt to a greater seasonal variation than those living in the ocean. Freshwater Biomes Composed of three zones: • Littoral Zone • Limnetic Zone • Profundal Zone Littoral Zone • lots of light, warm/cold, oxygen • close to shore • organisms include waterlillies and sedges Limnetic Zone • • • • area of open lake sufficient light and oxygen heat will decrease with depth organisms include plankton and fish Profundal Zone • • • • deep area of lake no light, very little oxygen cold water organisms include bacteria and bottom dwelling invertebrates Importance of plankton Plankton are generally slow moving organisms that cannot swim strongly enough to avoid being carried about by water currents. Most plankton are microscopic. There are two types of plankton: •Phytoplankton •Zooplankton Phytoplankton • Plant plankton, called phytoplankton, usually consist of one-celled plants, such as diatoms and dinoflagellates. • Phytoplankton forms the base of the aquatic food webs. • They grow using only the sunlight and the minerals in the water (photosynthesis). Therefore, they are considered autotrophs. Zooplankton • Zooplankton are animal plankton. • They are heterotrophic and feed on phytoplankton. What abiotic factors affect life in aquatic biomes? 1. Water 2. Temperature 3. Latitude What abiotic factors affect life in aquatic biomes? 1. Water: • Water is always present in the aquatic biomes unlike in terrestrial biomes. What abiotic factors affect life in aquatic biomes? 2. Temperature (continued): • Lakes and ponds show more change than the oceans. • Oceans have an effect on the temperature of the land. Without oceans, the temperature of the Earth would vary much more than it does. What abiotic factors affect life in aquatic biomes? 3. Latitude: • Water temperature varies from 0 degrees (polar regions) to 32 degrees Celsius (near equator). • This variation in latitude affects the kinds of marine life than can survive in what areas of the ocean. Estuaries (coastal marshes) • More productive biome than either the ocean or fresh water • water is mostly shallow allowing light to penetrate to the bottom • plant life is abundant and varied • animal life is abundant Some fish use the estuary as a nursery. When the young are large enough they leave the estuary for the ocean. coastal marsh Can you identify the sequence of organisms in this marine food web? Sources of Water Pollution • • • • • Human sewage decaying plant life industrial waste animal wastes runoff • • • • fertilizers pesticides Herbicides Detergents How oil enters marine ecosystems? • Oil tanker accidents • offshore wells spills • On-shore oil spills thru drainage pipes Disadvantages of the Oil pollution on Marine Ecosystems (pg.148) • floating oil harms birds: -No longer water proof -They freeze to death • can prevent birds and marine mammals from breathing • heavy oil sinks and destroys bottom dwellers such as mussels, crabs and oysters. • Since bottom dwellers are part of the food chain,oil eventually enters the bodies of birds, fish and humans.