Aquatic biomes

lakes physical environment

varies in size - small ponds and very large lakes

temperate lakes - seasonal thermocline

tropical lowland lakes - year round thermocline

lakes chemical environment - oligotrophic lake

nutrient poor and O2 rich with low organic content

lakes chemical environment - eutrophic lakes

nutrient rich, high in organic content, O2 periodically depleted

lakes geological features

oligotrophic have less surface area relative to depth

lakes photosynthetic organisms

rooted and floating aquatic plants live in shallow littoral zone

phytoplankton inhabit limnetic zone

lakes heterotrophs

zooplankton and drifting heterotrophs graze on phytoplankton

invertebrates in benthic zone

fish live in all zones

wetlands physical environment

inundated by water

wetlands chemical environment

rapid organic production and decomposition deplete dissolves oxygen

wetlands geological features

shallow basins, flooded river banks, coasts of large lakes and seas

wetlands photosynthetic organisms

lilies, cattails, sedges, bald cypress, and black spruce

swamps - woody plants
bogs - sphagnum mosses

wetlands heterotrophs

diverse invertebrates, birds, otters, frogs, alligators

streams and rivers physical environment

the current

streams and rivers physical environment - headwater streams

cold, clear, swift, and turbulent currents

streams and rivers physical environment - downstream rivers

warm and turbid currents

streams and rivers chemical environment

salt and nutrient content increases from headwaters to mouth

oxygen rich but organic enrichment deplete oxygen

streams and rivers geological features - headwater

narrow and rocky bottoms

streams and rivers geological features - downstream

wide and silty bottoms

streams and rivers photosynthetic organisms

rich in phytoplankton or rooted aquatic plants

streams and rivers heterotrophs

diverse fish and invertebrates

Estuaries physical environment

productive transition zone between a river and the sea

Estuaries chemical environment

nutrient rich

varied salinity

changing tides

Estuaries geological environment

complex network of tidal channels, islands, natural leavees, and mudflats

Estuaries photosynthetic organisms

saltmarsh grasses and algea

Estuaries heterotrophs

invertebrates, fish, waterfowl, marine mammals are abundant

Intertidal zones physical environment

periodically submerged and exposed by tides

Intertidal zones chemical environment

variation in temperature and salinity, oxygen and nutrient levels generally high

Intertidal zones geological features

rocky or sandy

Intertidal zones photosynthetic organisms - sandy intertidal zones

no attached plants or algea

Intertidal zones photosynthetic organisms - rocky Intertidal zones

support some attached algae

Intertidal zones heterotrophs - rocky zones

attach to substrate

Intertidal zones heterotrophs - sandy zones

worms, clams, crustaceans

Intertidal zones heterotrophs

sponges, sea anemones, echinoderms, small fishes

Oceanic pelagic zone physical environment

expanse of open water, constantly mixed by wind-driven currents

Oceanic pelagic zone chemical environment

oxygen levels are high but nutrient concentrations are lower

Oceanic pelagic zone chemical environment - temperate oceans

seasonal turnover, nutrient concentrations are lower

Oceanic pelagic zone photosynthetic organisms

phytoplankton and zooplankton

Oceanic pelagic zone heterotrophs

fish, squid, turtles, marine mammals

Coral reefs physical environment

formed from calcium carbonate skeletons of corals

Coral reefs chemical environments

high oxygen

Coral reefs geological features

go from fringing reef to barrier reef

Coral reefs photosynthetic organisms

shallow corals in photic zone, deep sea coral, mutualistic relationships with unicellular algae

Coral reefs heterotrophs

corals, other invertebrates, and fish

Marine benthic zone physical environments

consists of seafloor below the surface waters of the coastal zone and offshore pelagic zone

Marine benthic zone chemical environment

adapted to continuous cold and very high water pressure, oxygen abundant,

Marine benthic zone photosynthetic organisms

soft sediments or rocks, seaweed, filamentous algae

Marine benthic zone geological features

hydrothermal vents in deep sea

Marine benthic zone heterotrophs

chemoautotrophic prokaryotes, giant tube worms, echinoderms, arthropods, invertebrates, fishes