APES 1.3: Aquatic Biomes

vocab covering freshwater, marshes, and ocean

salinity

ow much salt there is in a body of water; determines which species can survive & usability for drinking

flow

how much O₂ can dissolve into water; determines which plants & organisms can survive

depth

influences how much sunlight can penetrate and reach plants below the surface for photosynthesis

temperature

warmer water holds less dissolved O₂ so it can support fewer aquatic organisms

littoral

shallow water with emergent plants (freshwater)

limnetic

where light can reach; only phytoplankton (freshwater)

profundal

too deep for sunlight (freshwater)

benthic

murky bottom where inverts (bugs) live; nutrient rich sediments (freshwater)

wetlands (freshwater)

area with soil submerged/saturated in water for at least part of the year, but shallow enough for emergent plants

estuaries

areas where rivers empty into the ocean; mix of fresh and salt water; high productivity

salt marsh (estuary)

along coast in temperate climates; breeding ground for many fish & shellfish species

mangrove swamps (estuary)

along coast of tropical climates; mangrove trees stabilize shoreline & provide habitat for many species of fish & shellfish

coral reef

warm shallow waters beyond shoreline; most diverse marine biome; mutualistic relationship

intertidal zones

narrow band of coastline between high & low tide; organisms adapt to survive crashing waves

open ocean

low productivity; only algae & phytoplankton of ocean produce a lot of earth O₂

photic zone (open ocean)

area where sunlight can reach (photosynthesis)

aphotic zone / abyssal (ocean)

area too deep for sunlight