Aquatic biomes

conditions that impact aquatic biomes

salinity, depth, turbidity, temperature, nutrient availability

turbidity

cloudiness due to dirt

nutrient availability

nitrogen and phosphorus

freshwater

streams, rivers, lakes, wetlands

marine (saltwater)

wetlands, estuaries, coral reefs, open ocean

littoral zone

shallow, most photosynthesis occurs here

limnetic zone

below littoral, no rooted plants & phytoplankton only photosyn. organisms

profundal zone

below limnetic, sunlight doesn’t reach, low oxygen levels

benthic zone

muddy bottom; inhabited by decomposers, insects, larvae, clams

phosphorus & nitrogen affect…

amount of phytoplankton

oligotrophic

low nutrients, low algae growth

mesotrophic

moderate level of nutrients

eutrophic

high nutrients, high algae growth —> lakes naturally become this over time

Wetlands include

marshes, swamps, bogs

Swamps and marshes can be…

saltwater or freshwater

Marshes

mainly non-woody i.e. cattails

swamps

emergent trees (woody plants)

bogs are

very acidic; typically moss and spruce trees

Swamps and marshes act like ___ and provide ___

sponges and filter pollutants from water; provide home for native and migratory wildlife

swamps are…

flat, poorly drained land often near streams

(marsh) inland freshwater

water from precipitation

(marsh) tidal freshwater

located by the coast, influenced by tides

(marsh) tidal saltwater

located along coasts, periodically covered & exposed by oceans’ tides

Postive impacts coastal mangrove swamps & salt marshes

biodiversity, filter contaminets, protect coastlines from erosion, nutirent-rich, sheltered & spawning habitat, store carbon

bogs form

where poorly drained basins or glacial depressions trap rainwater

estuary

where fresh water from rivers mixes with salt water from the ocean

estuaries are productive because…

constant fresh nutrients from river & ocean while surrounding land protects from harsh ocean waves

intertidal zones

Narrow band of coastline that exists between the levels of high tide and low tide

intertidal zones include…

rocky shore and sandy shore

coral reefs

warm, shallow waters in tropical climates; most diverse marine biome

open ocean

most ocean life in shallow coastal waters

(ocean) phytoplankton & other photosynthetic algae supply…

much of earth’s oxygen (photosynthesis)

(ocean) plankton

mostly microscopic organisms that float or drift freely in the water

(ocean) nekton

organisms that swim actively in open water

(ocean) benthos

bottom-dwelling organisms

(ocean) photic zone

upper layer where water receives enough sunlight for photosynthesis

(ocean) aphotic zone

includes benthic zone (ocean floor); deeper layer that lacks sufficient sunlight