apes aquatic biomes

Biome

A large region with similar climate, plants, and animals.

Aquatic biome

A biome found in water; determined by light, salinity, depth, temperature, and currents/tides.

Salinity

The saltiness of water.

Dissolved Oxygen (DO)

Amount of oxygen dissolved in water — needed for aquatic life.

Net Primary Productivity (NPP)

Rate at which producers (plants/algae) create usable energy in an ecosystem.

Watershed

Land area where all water drains into the same river, stream, or lake.

Term

Definition

Freshwater biome

Ecosystems with very low salinity — includes rivers, lakes, and wetlands.

Lotic system

Flowing freshwater systems like streams and rivers.

Lentic system

Still freshwater systems like ponds and lakes.

Source zone

Beginning of a river; cold, clear, high oxygen.

Transition zone

Middle section of a river; warmer, slower, moderate oxygen and nutrients.

Floodplain zone

End of a river; warm, muddy, nutrient-rich, low oxygen.

Oligotrophic lake

Deep, clear, nutrient-poor lake; low productivity.

Eutrophic lake

Shallow, nutrient-rich lake; high productivity.

Turbidity

Cloudiness or murkiness of water (caused by sediments or algae).

Littoral zone

Shallow area near the shore of a lake where plants grow.

Limnetic zone

Open surface water where sunlight supports photosynthesis.

Profundal zone

Deep, dark area of a lake with little light and low oxygen.

Benthic zone

Bottom of a lake; decomposers and detritus feeders live here.

Term

Definition

Inland wetland

Land covered by water year-round or seasonally (marshes, swamps, floodplains).

Marsh

Wetland dominated by grasses and reeds.

Swamp

Wetland dominated by trees.

Floodplain

Flat area along rivers that floods periodically.

Prairie potholes

Shallow wetlands formed by glaciers; common in prairies.

Groundwater recharge

Process where water moves downward into aquifers.

Ecosystem services (wetlands)

Filtration, flood control, habitat, groundwater recharge, biodiversity.

🌊 MARINE BIOMES

Term

Definition

Marine biome

Saltwater ecosystems — oceans, coral reefs, estuaries, etc.

Estuary

Area where freshwater mixes with saltwater; “brackish”; very high productivity.

Brackish

Mixture of salt and fresh water.

Salt marsh

Coastal wetland with grasses; nutrient-rich and biodiverse.

Mangrove swamp

Coastal forest of salt-tolerant trees in tropical/subtropical regions.

Mangrove

Tree adapted to living in saltwater with roots submerged in water.

Intertidal zone

Coastal area between high and low tides; harsh, changing environment.

Coral reef

Warm, shallow, nutrient-poor marine biome built by coral animals.

Coral polyp

Tiny coral animal with a mouth and tentacles; lives in colonies.

Zooxanthellae

Symbiotic algae living inside coral polyps; provide food through photosynthesis.

Coral bleaching

Loss of zooxanthellae due to stress (e.g. high temperature); coral turns white and can die.

🌊 OPEN OCEAN ZONES

Term

Definition

Open ocean

Vast body of salt water away from the coast; low nutrient levels.

Euphotic zone

Sunlit upper layer; photosynthesis occurs; low nutrients.

Bathyal zone

Middle depth; dim light; low productivity.

Abyssal zone

Deepest, darkest zone; cold, high pressure, very low productivity.

Photic zone

Top 200 meters of ocean where sunlight penetrates.

Aphotic zone

Below photic zone; no light, no photosynthesis.