Aquatic Biomes

Biome

Salinity Type

Distinguishing Characteristics

Threats

Streams and Rivers

Freshwater

<1% Salt concentration

  • Flowing (lotic) water

  • “Riparian” habitats- area adjacent to river or stream

  • Fast moving water= high oxygen content---supports trout

  • Slow moving = inc. in sediments and nutrients 

  • deliver nutrients to ecosystems

  • Diversion

  • Dams

  • Channeling

Lakes and Ponds

Freshwater

<1% Salt concentration

  • Standing (lentic) bodies of water enclosed by land

  • Spring and fall overturn

  • May be described as 

    • Oligotrohic

    • Mesotrophic

    • Eutrophic 

  • pollution

Wetlands

Freshwater

<1% Salt concentration

  • Lowland areas saturated where soils are saturated with water at least part of the time of a year.

    • Marshes- wetlands with emergent grasses

    • Swamps- wetlands with emergent woody vegetation

    • Bogs – wetlands rich in decomposing plant material- acidic soils, mosses

  • Essential Ecosystem services- flood control, water filtration and purification

  • Drained for agriculture and development

Estuaries

Fresh water meets salt water

Variable salinity 

  • Highly productive due to high nutrient content

  • Area essential for fish nurseries, bird nesting/ reproduction

  • Ecosystem services- filter pollutants

  • Mangrove forests- decrease erosion and provide habitats for marine organisms

  • Drained for agriculture and development

Coastal/ Intertidal

Marine

~3% salt concentration

  • Communities subjected to daily variation in water levels, temperature and sunlight

  • Animal adaptations to with stand mechanical force of waves

  • Destroyed by pollution and human activity

Coral Reef

Marine

~3% salt concentration

  • Symbiotic relationship between corals and algae

  • Shallow region- light penetrates- high photosynthesis

  • High biodiversity

  • Sediment pollution blocks sunlight, lower pH, warmer temperatures= coral bleaching

  • High nutrient load from runoff allows algae to outcompete coral

Open Ocean

Marine

~3% salt concentration

  • Waters constantly mixed by currents

  • Plankton live in photic zone

  • Includes benthic and abyssal zones with no light, and little nutrients

  • Large free swimming organisms

  • Plastic pollution in the gyres