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Characteristics of Aquatic Biomes
Salinity
How much salt there is in a body of water, determines which species can survive & usability for drinking
(Fresh water vs. estuary vs. ocean)
Depth
It affects how much sunlight reaches plants for photosynthesis.
Flow
Determines which plants & organisms can survive, how much O2 can dissolve into water
Temp.
Warmer water holds less dissolved O2 so it can support fewer aq. organisms
Freshwater: Rivers & Lakes
Rivers have high O2 due to flow mixing water & air, also carry nutrient-rich sediments (deltas & flood plains = fertile soil)
Lakes
standing bodies of fresh H2O (key drinking H2O source)
Littoral
shallow water w/emergent plants
Limnetic
where light can reach (photosynth)
No rooted plants, only phytoplankton
Profundal
too deep for sunlight (no phots.)
Benthic
murky bottom where inverts (bugs) live, nutrient-rich sediments
