B: Aquatic Biomes

Streams/rivers

Streams/rivers

• freshwater biome

• flowing water

• originates from spring

• gets more polluted as it goes from source to mouth

Lakes/ponds

• freshwater biome

• standing water

• too deep for emergent vegetation

• limited species diversity 

• seasonal turnover

Wetlands

• freshwater biome

• submerged or saturated by water

• emergent vegetation

• productive biome

• can filter pollutants and reduce floods

Salt marsh

• marine biome

• emergent vegetation (not wood)

• on temperate coasts

• very productive

• combined salt/fresh water

Mangrove swamp

• marine biome

• swamp along tropical coasts

• salt resistant trees

• protect coast from storms

Intertidal zone

• marine biome

• narrow coastline between high and low tides

• communities change often

Coral reef

• marine biome

• very diverse

• warm shallow water

• nursery for fish species

• surrounding water poor in nutrients

Oceans

• marine biome

• deep open ocean water

• divided into photic/aphotic zones

Littoral zone

Zone of lake/pond with shallow emergent plants

Limnetic zone

Zone of lake/pond with open water

Profundal zone

Zone of lake/pond below limnetic with no sunlight

Benthic zone

Zone of lake/pond with muddy bottom

Photic zone

Zone of ocean in upper layer, enough sunlight for photosynthesis

Aphotic zone

Zone of ocean in deeper layer, not enough sunlight for photosynthesis