Aquatic Buomes

What causes highest high tides and lowest low tides?

High tides are caused by full moon and new moon phases.

What are the factors influencing tide variation?

Wave action, temperature, water levels, and salinity.

What adaptations do rocky intertidal organisms have?

Attachment devices, hard shells, water storage inside shells, and thick outer skins.

Define an estuary.

A semi-enclosed coastal water body connected to the open sea where seawater is diluted with fresh water from rivers.

What is a salt marsh?

An estuarine marsh community containing non-woody emergent vegetation, occurring in areas protected from wave action.

What are two characteristics of estuaries?

Abundant nutrients and sediments; support high biological productivity.

What is the neritic zone?

The waterbody over the continental shelf, hosting diverse sea life.

What is the impact of temperature on coral reefs?

Coral bleaching can occur at high temperatures, causing coral to expel symbiotic zooxanthellae.

What are kelp forests?

Ecosystems dominated by brown algae, providing habitat and shelter for diverse species.

What is the Epipelagic zone?

The epipelagic zone where sufficient light is available for photosynthesis.

~660 feet depth

Where photosynthesis occurs

Describe the biological carbon pump.

Plants remove CO2 from surface water and transform it into organic matter through photosynthesis.

what are the characteristics of a open ocean

wide range of habitats

algae is a major source of primary production

one the least studied ecosystems

What is the depth range of the mesopelagic zone?

Approximately from 660 to 3000 feet.

What do organisms in the bathypelagic zone rely on for food?

Predation or consuming detritus from upper zones.

What is the bathypelagic zone?

pinch black no light

Define the abyssopelagic zone.

The zone between 13,000 to 18,000 feet, characterized by extreme pressure and low temperatures.

what is a characteristic of species in the abyssopelagic zone?

most species are transparent and eyeless

What is the hadalpelagic zone?

The deepest ocean zone, ranging from 18,000 to 35,000 feet.

Important Abiotic Factors Of marine Ecosystems

Light

Temperature

Salinity

Oxygen

Pressure

Nutrients

How does light intensity change in the ocean?

Light decreases with depth and latitude.

What affects the temperature profile of the ocean?

Latitude and depth affect temperature variations.

What factors influence salinity in ocean waters?

Precipitation, melting ice, and freshwater runoff.

How does osmoregulation work in fish?

Fish retain water and secrete solutes through gills and kidneys to maintain salt balance.

What happens to oxygen levels with increasing depth?

Oxygen initially decreases to a minimum at the bottom of the mesopelagic zone.

How does water pressure change with depth?

Pressure increases one atmosphere for every 33 feet of depth.

What are hypoxic and anoxic water conditions?

Hypoxic: low oxygen; Anoxic: no oxygen.

What drives surface ocean currents?

Global air circulation patterns and the Coriolis force.

What direction do Northern Hemisphere gyres move?

Clockwise.

What happens in upwelling areas?

Cool, nutrient-rich water is brought to the surface, supporting marine life.

What is the temperature range in the neritic ecosystem?

68-83°F in tropical regions.

Describe coral reefs.

Highly diverse ecosystems that rely on symbiotic relationships and are found in the neritic zone.

What are types of coral reefs?

Active Volcano, Barrier Reef, Fringing Reef, and Atoll.

What is significant about estuaries?

They are important hatcheries for commercially and ecologically important fish species.

Why are kelp forests important?

They provide shelter and feeding grounds for diverse species.

What type of ecosystems are found in the open ocean?

Various habitats from Arctic to tropical waters.

How does temperature affect marine species at the poles?

Warming oceans can affect species adapted to extreme cold.

What is the primary source of production in the oceanic ecosystem?

Algae in the surface waters.

What role do algae play in oceanic ecosystems?

They are a major source of primary production in the euphotic zone.

What is the significance of primary production in the epipelagic zone?

It accounts for the majority of ocean photosynthesis.

How are organisms in the bathypelagic zone adapted?

They are adapted to high pressure and dark conditions.

What is the ecological importance of the euphotic zone?

It's where light is sufficient for photosynthesis and supports marine life.