Aquatic Biomes

littoral in Ponds/Freshwater lakes

*(shallow; emergent plants) most photosynthesis

Profundal in Ponds/Freshwater lakes

*This zone is below limnetic; no light available; has decomposers and no producers

Wetland

-baby fish, birds, insects -emergent plants and trees -Very High productivity -filtration, flood/erosion prevention, nurseries zero to very low salinity and still water

Coral Reef

-commonly in more oligotrophic waters (nutrient-poor) because zooxanthellae are photosynthesizing to produce food -very high productivity

salinity, depth, and water flow

Aquatic biomes are categorized by

Coral Reef

Earth's most diverse biome is

Swamps, Marshes, Bogs

Examples of freshwater wetlands

a source of drinking water

Freshwater biomes provide

Streams

Has high productivity very small fish, pollution-intolerant macro-invertebrate indicator species

Coral Reef Biota

Highest biodiversity in the ocean one million species of inverts, fish, reptiles, and birds corals have mutualistic relationship with zooxanthellae algae 35 ppt/current and wave action

Salt Marshes/Estuaries

Mangrove trees Seagrasses Mollusks and crustaceans, baby fish and birds -very high productivity -nurseries, filtration, erosion control

ice caps and glaciers

Most freshwater on earth is found in

Mangrove swamps

Occur along tropical and subtropical coasts and contain trees whose roots are submerged in water. They help protect the coastlines from erosion and storm damage.

Open Ocean

Phytoplankton Large fish, mammals low primary productivity 35 ppt/currents and gyres

Brackish water (between 0.5-35 ppt)

Salt Marshes/Estuaries have salt and fresh water mixed together (water is called)

no zones

Streams, wetlands, and salt marsh/estuary

rivers

This freshwater biome is characterized by fast-flowing water that can originate from underground springs or runoff, which carries sediment and organic material.

benthic zone Open Ocean

This zone is the seafloor

Ecological services by wetlands

Wetlands store rainwater, Wetlands filter pollutants from water, Wetlands slowly release water into the ground and streams, Wetlands provide breeding sites for birds and fish.

freshwater wetlands

aquatic biomes that are submerged or saturated by water for at least part of each year, but shallow enough to support emergent vegetation.

eutrophic freshwater lakes/ponds

high productivity = (high productivity due to high nutrients)

Oligotrophic Ponds/Freshwater lakes

low productivity = (low productivity due to low nutrients)

Coral bleaching

the death of algae within the tissue of corals

limnetic in Ponds/Freshwater lakes

the open water; has phytoplankton, but not rooted plants

photic zone Open Ocean

this zone has light; producers use photosynthesis to produce organic compounds

benthic in Ponds/Freshwater lakes

this zone is the muddy bottom

Rivers

trout, salmon(high O2-in fast moving water) catfish(low O2-in slower moving water) medium productivity

Ponds/Freshwater lakes

variable freshwater fish and plants, turtles, frogs; algae zero salinity and still waters

streams

zero/fast *organic material enters as fallen leaves to provide the base of the food chain. (little algae/plants)

aphotic zone open ocean

zone with no light; producers use chemosynthesis to produce organic compounds