Aquatic Ecosystems

temperature, sunlight, oxygen, nutrients

Abiotic factors that determine where an organism lives in an aquatic ecosystem.

Plankton

These aquatic organisms are poor swimmers or floaters and can be protists, tiny animals, or plants

Nekton

These aquatic organisms are strong swimmers and include fish, snakes, eels, etc.

benthos

These aquatic organisms are usually bottom dwellers and include organisms such as clams, mussels, and crabs.

Littoral zone

Area of a lake or pond found near the shore that receives plenty of sunlight and has abundant life.

Benthic zone

Cool and dark area of a lake or pond that does not receive enough sunlight for plant to grow.

Phytoplankton

Primary producer in aquatic ecosystems; tiny plants or photosynthetic protists.

Wetland

Area of land that is covered with water for all or part of the year

Control flooding, remove pollutants, provide habitat

These are a few environmental functions of wetlands.

Marsh

Type of wetland that is dominated by grasses and has no trees

Swamp

Type of wetland that contains trees

Poorly drained land near rivers; most in the U.S. are found in the southeast.

Swamps are found in ...

They get warmer, wider, and slower, which allows for plants to take root and larger fish.

What happens to rivers as they flow down a mountain to flatter ground?

Rivers

Pollution and diverting water to cities built in arid areas are two threats to this type of ecosystem.

Near the shores

Where is most life in the ocean found, in the open ocean or near the shores?

Changes in water temperature, sea level changes, too much freshwater, pollution, overfishing, etc.

What are some threats to corals reef ecosystems?

Increased pollution and overfishing directly related to an increasing human population.

What are some threats to the animals in the open oceans?

An increase in nutrients in an aquatic ecosystem; usually caused by the runoff of artificial fertilizers.

What is eutrophication?

Bacteria feeding on algae reduce the amount of oxygen in the water which causes fish to die.

How does eutrophication affect the animals in aquatic ecosystems

Area found where rivers meet the sea that contain a mix of salt and freshwater.

What is an estuary?

Pollutants from large areas of land end up in estuaries and become concentrated there.

Why are estuaries in danger?

Abundant food due to the nutrient rich waters and easy transportation.

Why are many of the Earth's largest cities built on estuaries?

Plants do not have a place to anchor themselves. Where there are few plants you find few animals.

Why is there low biodiversity on sandy shores?

Coral reefs

limestone ridges rich with life that are created by a tiny polyp.

Wetland

A land area that is covered with a shallow layer of water during some or all of the year

abiotic factors

nonliving parts of an ecosystem