Chapter 7
estuary
An area is which freshwater from a river mixes with salt water from the ocean.
nekton
Aquatic organism that are free-swimming.
decompser
Aquatic organisms that break down dead organisms.
benthos
Aquatic organisms that dwell at the bottom of the water.
Plankton
Aquatic organisms that float near the surface of the water.
Plankton
Base of marine food web
bethos
Bottom-dwelling organisms.
Plankton: organisms that float near the surface Nekton: free swimming organisms Benthos: bottom dwelling organisms
Describe plankton, nekton, and benthos
As the amount of plant life grows, the bacteria feeding on dead matter grows. There becomes a low amount of oxygen and fish and other living organisms begin to die. Eutrophication is accelerated by runoff
Describe the process of eutrophication.
Salt marshes
Develop in estuaries where rivers deposit their load of mineral-rich mud.
swamps
Dominated by woody plants like tree and shrubs.
Coral reef
Ecosystem found in shallow, tropical seas
the rives and oceans
Estuaries are very productive ecosystems because they receive fresh nutrients from
temp., salinity, nutrients, sunlight, oxygen
Factor that determines where aquatic organisms live.
Nekton
Free-swimming organisms.
pond, lake, river, wetland
Freshwater ecosystem.
zooplankton, phytoplankton
Give 2 examples of plankton
Barnacles, crabs, worms, mussels
Give 3 examples of benthos organisms
Whales, fish, turtles, shrimp, jellyfish
Give 3 examples of nekton organisms
The secretion of calcium carbonate by tiny organisms
How are coral reefs formed?
coral reefs
Limestone ridges built by tiny coral animals called coral polyps.
-covered w/water at least part of the year - clean pollutants -help prevent flooding - have plentiful nutrients - can be salt or fresh water
List 3 characteristics of wetlands
1. Littoral- near the shore; aquatic life is abundant 2. Limnetic- area away from the shore; middle of a lake or a pond. contains plankton 3. Benthic- the bottom of a lake or pond; consists mainly of detritis
List and describe the three zones of lakes and ponds.
boating (poor driving), oil spills, runoff
List three threats to coral reefs
coral reef, estuary, salt marsh, ocean, mangrove swamp
Marine ecosystem.
Open Ocean
Marine ecosystems considered not productive
zooplankton
Microscopic animals.
phytoplankton
Microscopic plants.
plankton
Most of the food for an aquatic ecosystem is produced by
Barnacles
Organisms that anchors itself to grasses and rocks
salinity and water level
Organisms that live in estuaries must adapt to changes in
Runoff
Potential threat to an estuary
barrier islands
Run parallel to the shore and help protect the mainland and wetlands.
coastal areas and shorelines; Salt marshes: Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Coast; Mangrove swamps: tropical & subtropical zones
Salt marshes and mangrove swamps are found where?
flat, poorly drained land near streams
Swamps are commonly found where?
mangrove swamps
Swamps located along coastal areas of tropical and subtropical zones.
salinity
The amount of dissolved salts the water contains.
the amount of sunlight and nutrients
The arrangement of organisms in the open ocean is determined by the
Open ocean
The least productive marine ecosystem is
shallow, coastal waters
The majority of marine organisms are found in
temperature, sunlight, and nutrients
The types of organisms found in a pond or a lake depend on
marshes
Wetland that contains non-woody plants.
marshes & swamps
What are the two main types of freshwater wetlands?
industrial waste sewage
What causes most river pollution?
salt marshes
Which ecosystem has the highest level of salinity: salt marshes or brackish marsh?
not enough sunlight gets there. It only gets 100m
Why doesn't photosynthesis occur in deep ocean water?
