Aquatic Biomes

5) Aquatic Biomes
Most of the biosphere is made up of aquatic biomes These biomes are set apart by such physical factors as light, temperature, & salt content of water Two types: a) Marine or saltwater b) Freshwater

a) Marine
Saltwater environments including oceans & their shorelines More than 70% of the Earths surface is covered by this biome Physical conditions vary: Salinity (salt content) varies from place to place Water pressure, temperature, & light change with depth

Marine Zones

Photic vs. Aphotic

Photic the layer of ocean (200m) in which sufficient light for photosynthesis can penetrate the water Algae (*provide nearly all food & oxygen needed by heterotrophic organisms living in the ocean) autotrophs Phytoplankton Other heterotrophs

Photic Zone

Aphotic Zone

Algae

Other Living Things . . .

Photic vs. Aphotic

Aphotic a region of the ocean where light does not penetrate Organic debris from the photic zone forms a steady rain of nutrients on the organisms below Heterotrophs Chemotrophs

Photic Zone

Aphotic Zone

Intertidal (Littoral) Zone

The band of land at the waters edge that is alternately covered & exposed by water Intertidal means between tides

Neritic Zone
A relatively shallow region of water lying above the continental shelf This area and the intertidal zone are both in the photic zone

Oceanic Zone
Area beyond the continental shelf This zone is divided into several levels, according to depth Pelagic zone open ocean, away from shoreline & ocean floor Bathyal zone - ocean between depths of 200 m, the edge of the continental shelf, & 2000 m Benthic (abyssal) zone - environment at the bottom of the ocean floor

Pelagic Organisms

Abyssal Zone

Benthic Organisms

More . .

Estuary
Shallow areas where fresh water & salt water mix This mixture of salt & fresh water is called brackish water Although estuaries only make up 10% of the marine biome, they contain almost 90% of the marine life Estuaries are sometimes referred to as the oceans nurseries

Estuary

Sapelo Island

b) Freshwater Biomes
Water which is has very little salt, if any Two types: Moving-water biomes streams & rivers Standing-water biomes ponds & lakes A third type of biome is a wetland Where fresh or salt water & land meet

Moving-water Biomes
Rivers & streams Organisms have adaptions that prevent them from being washed away by the current

Standing-water Biomes
Lakes are typically larger than ponds, with ponds being shallow enough for light to penetrate the entire bottom

Pond Community

Wetlands

Marshes have small plants such as reeds, cattails, & grasses

Wetlands
Swamps contain larger plants, such as cypress trees, Spanish moss, & water lilies

Okefenokee Swamp

Okefenokee Swamp