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What is a Biome?
A major terrestrial or aquatic life zone.
What percentage of the Earth's surface is occupied by Aquatic Biomes?
Approximately 75%.
What are the two broad groups of Freshwater Biomes?
Standing water (lakes and ponds) and flowing water (rivers and streams).
What is the photic zone?
The shallow water near shore and the upper layer of water away from shore where light can support photosynthesis.
What characterizes the benthic realm in aquatic biomes?
It is the bottom area of all aquatic biomes.
How do rivers and streams change from their source to their mouth?
They typically become wider, warmer, and murkier downstream.
What is a Wetland?
A transitional biome between an aquatic ecosystem and a terrestrial ecosystem.
What defines the pelagic realm of marine biomes?
It encompasses the open water areas of the ocean.
What is the significance of coral reefs?
They are built by successive generations of coral animals and are being threatened by global warming.
What is unique about estuaries?
They are transition areas between a river and the ocean, and they are among the most productive areas on Earth.
What sort of organisms live in the aphotic zone of the ocean?
Most are deposit feeders, with low animal density except around thermal vents.
What are phytoplankton?
Photosynthetic algae and bacteria that are vital to oceanic food webs.
What happens to light intensity as you move from the photic zone to the twilight zone?
Light intensity decreases and photosynthesis is not possible between 200 – 1000 m.
