BIOL 1442 Ch 44 Aquatic Biomes

In freshwater systems, the most critical abiotic factor is

stratification

The ocean’s open water is referred to as the

pelagic realm

The ( ) extends along the ocean bottom from the shoreline to the deepest parts of the ocean floor

benthic realm

Within the pelagic realm is the ( ), which is the portion of the ocean that light can penetrate

photic zone

At depths greater than 200 m, light cannot penetrate, which is referred to as the

aphotic zone

The deepest part of the ocean is

the Challenger Deep, which is about 11,000 m (6.8 mi) deep

The largest marine biome is the

ocean

The intertidal zone is

the zone between high and low tide, the oceanic region closest to land

Living things that thrive in the intertidal zone are

adapted to being dry for long periods of time

The neritic zone extends from

the intertidal zone to depths of about 200 m, at the edge of the continental shelf

Beyond the neritic zone is

the open ocean area known as the pelagic or open oceanic zone

Within the oceanic zone, there is ( ) where warm and cold waters mix because of ocean currents

thermal stratification

Most of the ocean lacks a process for

bringing the organic nutrients back up to the surface

Beneath the pelagic zone is the

benthic realm, the deep-water region beyond the continental shelf

the bottom of the benthic realm is composed of

sand, silt, and dead organisms

The deepest part of the ocean is the

abyssal zone, which is at depths of 4000 m or greater

The abyssal zone does not have ( ) because of the lack of light

plants

Hydrothermal vents are found primarily in the

abyssal zone

Coral reefs are ocean ridges formed by

marine invertebrates, comprising mostly cnidarians and molluscs

Coral reefs are located

within 30 degrees north and south of the equator

The largest reef system in the world is the

Great Barrier Reef

Corals found in shallower waters have a mutualistic relationship with

photosynthetic unicellular algae

The fishes inhabiting coral reefs feed on

coral, cryptofauna, or seaweed and algae

Estuaries are biomes where

a source of freshwater meets the ocean

Estuaries are important

breeding grounds

Many estuary plant species are

halophytes

Animal species in estuaries

have developed behavioral adaptations that expend a lot of energy to function

Freshwater biomes include

lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, and wetlands

Temperature is an important abiotic factor affecting living things in

lakes and ponds

In lakes and ponds, nitrogen and phosphorus are determining factors in

the amount of phytoplankton growth

Where there is a large input of nitrogen and phosphorus, the growth of

algae skyrockets, creating an algal bloom

Rivers and oceans are

continuous moving bodies of water that carry large amounts of water from the source to a lake or ocean

Streams begin at a point of origin referred to as

source water

The fast-moving water in streams and rivers results in

minimal silt accumulation at the bottom

In streams and rivers, photosynthesis is mostly attributed to

algae growing on rocks

Wetlands are environments where

the soil is either permanently or periodically saturated with water

Emergent vegetation consists of

wetland plants that are rooted in the soil but have portions of leaves, stems, and flowers extending above the water’s surface

Types of wetlands include

marshes, swamps, bogs, mudflats, and salt marshes

Freshwater marshes and swamps are characterized by

slow and steady water flow

Bogs develop in depressions where

water flow is low or nonexistent

The water found in a bog is

stagnant and oxygen-depleted