5-2: Aquatic Biomes   After this lecture you should be able to…

  Identify the factors are used to classify aquatic biomes

  Describe the common zones of aquatic biomes and how their conditions differ.

  Explain the factors that influence ocean currents and how they do so.

  Explain the common locations, abiotic factors, animal adaptations, plant adaptations, and threats to the following land biomes:   Lakes/Ponds   Rivers   Estuaries/Wetlands   Oceans

Water  is  Water.    Right?  

  More  than  75%  of  Earth  is  covered  with  water,  but  not  all  water  is  the  same.  

  There  are  three  types  of  aqua?c  profiles,  each  with  sub-­‐biomes  that  have  unique  characteris?cs,  organisms,  and  adapta?ons.    The  three  are:    Freshwater  

  Marine  (Saltwater)  

  Brackish  (Mixed)  

Freshwater  Biomes    Freshwater  biomes  are  classified  by  

having  less  than  0.5ppt  salinity  (salt.)  

  One  of  the  most  influen?al  factors  in  these  biomes  is  the  amount  of  sunlight  that  is  able  to  filter  through  the  water  

  Variable  establishes  zones  within  the  biome,  each  of  which  with  their  own  unique  characteris?cs.    LiQoral  Zone  –  Shoreline    Limne?c  Zone  –  Open  water  

surface  offshore    Pho?c  Zone  –  Depth  of  water  with  

sufficient  light  for  photosynthesis    Apho?c  Zone  –  Depth  of  water  

with  liQle/no  light    Benthic  Zone  -­‐  Floor  

  Freshwater  biomes/regions  include:    Lakes    Ponds    Rivers    Marshes  (freshwater  wetland)  

Lakes  &  Ponds  Loca?on  

  Lakes are the largest and deepest fresh water systems.

  Feed by underground aquifers and streams.

  Ponds are small, shallow bodies of freshwater.   Feed by rainfall and run-off.   May be seasonal

Abio?c  Factors    LiQoral  zone  is  nutrient  rich  

  Shallow  bodies  are  more  suscep?ble  to  temperature  changes.  

  Clima?c  differences  based  on  loca?on.  

Lakes  &  Ponds  (cont.)  Adapta?ons  

  PLANTS  

  Floa?ng  plants  take  advantage  of  liQoral  and  lemne?c  zones.  

  Single-­‐cells  por?sts/algae  grow  rapidly.  

  ANIMALS  

  Adjust  to  temperature  shi_s  

  Live  deep,  feed  shallow  

  Limited  growth  (size)  by  area.  

Threats    Slow  water  cycling  translates  

to  long  residence  ?me.  

  Water  View/supply  is  popular  for  human  habitats  which  leads  to  excessive  use/deple?on.  

Rivers  Loca?on  

  Located between divides of watersheds (elevations) where freshwater flows to ocean.

Abio?c  Factors    Headwaters  are  usually  cold  and  

high  in  O2.  

  Sizes  vary  greatly:    Stream,  creek,  brooks,  rivulets,  

&  tributaries.  

  Downstream  waters  broaden  and  warm.  

  Mul?ple  flows  converge  from  different  areas.  

  Current/movement  shapes  land  masses.  

  Clima?c  differences  depending  on  loca?on  

Rivers  (cont.)  Adapta?ons  

  PLANTS    Strong  root  systems  to  

“hang  on”.  

  Primarily  near  edge  of  rivers.  

  ANIMALS    Migratory  with  current  

  Fish  burrow  to  prevent  flow  away  

  Mammals  have  high  oil  content  in  fur.  

Threats    Industrial  use  of  rivers  to  

dispose  of  waste  (out  of  sight  =    out  of  mind.)  

  Run-­‐off  from  mul?ple  loca?ons  centralize  in  spots,  bringing  pollu?on  from  upstream.  

Estuaries  &  Wetlands  Loca?on  

  Estuaries are where fresh and salt water meet.

  Surrounding lands include:   Swamps   Bogs   Coastal Wetland

Abio?c  Factors    Shallow  waters  receive  a  lot  

of  light  

  Carbon  sink  

  Nutrient  rich  

  Saturated  Soil  

  Low  O2  content  

  Brackish  water  

  Salinity  fluctuates    0.5  -­‐  30ppt  

Estuaries  &  Wetlands  (cont.)  Adapta?ons  

  PLANTS    Shallow  roots,  o_en  on  

surface  or  above.    Quick  growing    Salt  tolerant  (due  to  

salinity  changes)  

  ANIMALS    Amphibious  (both  water  

and  land)  &  Salt  tolerant    Hard,  protec?ve  barrier  

(crustaceans/mollusks)    Varied  diet  to  address  

constant  change  

Threats    Sinks  for  waste  and  pollu?on  

  Human  intrusion  and  manipula?on  

Marine/Saltwater  Biomes    Marine  biomes  are  classified  by  

having  30  –  50ppt  salinity.  

  Like  freshwater  biomes,  the  most  influen?al  factors  oceanic  biomes  is  light  penetra?on  and  depth.  

  Variable  establishes  zones  within  the  biome,  each  of  which  with  their  own  unique  characteris?cs.    Inter?dal  Zone  –  Shoreline  with  

changing  ?de  (high-­‐?de  =  under  water.    Low-­‐?de  =  dry.)  

  Neri?c/LiQoral  Zone  –  Offshore  with  constant  water  cover  

  Oceanic  Zone  –  Open  water  surface  offshore  

  Benthic  Zone  -­‐  Floor    Pho?c  &  Apho?c  Zones  are  sub-­‐

divided.  

Currents  &  Salinity  Currents  (Temperature)  

  Water  moves  from  warm  to  cold  (surface  and  depth).  

  Cooler  water  sinks,  warmer  water  rises.  

Salinity    Because  of  currents,  isotonic  

equilibrium  can  not  be  achieved  (diffusion).  

  Warm  water  can  hold  more  salt  than  cool  water,  and  is  more  dense.  

  This  results  in  collisions  of  warm,  salty  water  and  cool,  low  salinity  water.  

Oceans  Loca?on  

  Over 75% of the planet and at every line of latitude.

Abio?c  Factors    Zones  determined  by  depth  

and  loca?on.  

  Temperature  fluctua?ons.    Water  can  go  below  0oC  

and  not  freeze.  

  Salinity  fluctuates    30-­‐50+  ppt.  

Oceans  (cont.)  Adapta?ons  

  PLANTS    Very  liQle  plant  life  due  to  

depths  and  salt.    Phytoplankton  are  the  

primary  producer  in  marine  biomes.  

  ANIMALS    Countless  unique  

adapta?ons  for  a  variety  of  condi?ons.  

  Range  from  largest  animals  on  planet  to  smallest  (zooplankton)  

Threats    Climate  change  causes  glacier  melt  

which  effects  ocean  temps  and  salinity.  

  Despite  sheer  size,  pollu?on  is  showing  signs  of  bioaccumula?on.  

  Overfishing  in  certain  zones  leads  to  decrease  biodiversity/increased  instability  

End of Lecture Objectives   After this lecture you should be able to…

  Identify the factors are used to classify aquatic biomes

  Describe the common zones of aquatic biomes and how their conditions differ.

  Explain the factors that influence ocean currents and how they do so.

  Explain the common locations, abiotic factors, animal adaptations, plant adaptations, and threats to the following land biomes:   Lakes/Ponds   Rivers   Estuaries/Wetlands   Oceans