APES Aquatic Biomes

What factors determine the characteristics of aquatic biomes?

Flow, salinity, temperature, and depth.

How does salinity affect aquatic organisms?

Salinity determines which plants and organisms can survive and how much oxygen can dissolve in water.

What is a wetland?

An area with soil submerged or saturated in water for part of the year, supporting emergent plants.

What is an estuary?

An area where rivers empty into the ocean, mixing fresh and salt water.

How do coral and algae benefit each other?

Coral provides CO2 for algae, while algae provide energy to coral through photosynthesis.

What are intertidal zones?

Narrow coastal bands between high and low tide where organisms must adapt to changing conditions.

What adaptations do organisms in intertidal zones have?

They may have shells or tough skin to prevent desiccation during low tides.

What is the significance of temperature in aquatic biomes?

Warmer water holds less dissolved oxygen, supporting fewer aquatic organisms.

How does depth influence aquatic ecosystems?

Depth affects how much sunlight penetrates the water, which is crucial for photosynthesis.

What are the main types of freshwater bodies?

Rivers and lakes.

What is a key characteristic of rivers?

Rivers have high oxygen levels due to flow mixing water and air and carry nutrient-rich sediments.

What defines a lake?

Lakes are standing bodies of freshwater and are a key source of drinking water.

What are the photic and aphotic zones in the ocean?

The photic zone is where sunlight can reach for photosynthesis, while the aphotic zone is too deep for sunlight.

What are the four zones of a lake?

Littoral, limnetic, profundal, and benthic.

What are the benefits of wetlands?

They store excess water, recharge groundwater, support high plant growth, and filter pollutants.

What is a salt marsh?

An estuary habitat along the coast in temperate climates, serving as a breeding ground for fish and shellfish.

What characterizes mangrove swamps?

Estuary habitats along tropical coasts with mangrove trees that stabilize shorelines and provide habitats.

What is a coral reef?

A diverse marine biome in warm shallow waters, characterized by a mutualistic relationship between coral and algae.

What is the open ocean characterized by?

Low productivity, with only algae and phytoplankton surviving in most areas.

What is chemosynthesis?

A process used by bacteria to produce energy using methane and hydrogen sulfide.