Aquatic Biomes- FreshWater

Ponds/ Lakes

-fresh water, SUNLIGHT is an important ABIOTIC FACTOR, STILL water, fed by river or stream

-Littoral Zone- floating plants, light can still reach the bottom, emerged plants, submerged plants

-Open Zone- Euphotic layer- where sunlight is and it’s still warm

-Benthic layer- as you go lower it gets colder and darker

Rivers

-fresh water

-large, strong stream of water that flows towards oceans, lakes, or another river

-SPEED the water moves is important ABIOTIC FACTOR

-organisms have special adaptations to avoid being swept away by fast moving water

-adaptations include roots, suction, burrows, hold fasts, suction disks

Marsh

-wetlands, near rivers and lakes

-transition biome between aquatic and land/terrestrial

-TALL GREEN GRASSES and shrubs that withstand submersion

-NO trees

-help with flood control by absorbing storm waters and salt

-GA barrier islands are an example

-must be able to survive ocean tides here

-plants can withstand submersion (being in the water) for part of the day or even part of the year

-adapt to salt and fresh water

Swamp

-low lying wetland

-ALL swamps have TREES many have mosses and VINES

-aid in flood control by absorbing storm waters

-Filters out pollutants from runoff; nitrogen

-trees have adaptation of extra wide bases to keep them stable in water

Tributary

-smaller stream or river that flows into a larger one (feeder)

-most large rivers are formed by many tributaries

Estuary

-where river meets sea, FRESH and SALT water mix

-high in nutrients and biodiversity

-called nursery because many animals come to nest or lay eggs here

-organisms adapt to constant salinity change in water