Categorized by depth salinity temperature dissolved oxygen Freshwater

�Categorized by depth, salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen �Freshwater : streams, rivers, lakes and wetlands �Marine: estuaries, intertidal zones, coral reefs and open oceans Aquatic Biomes

�Originate from underground springs or as runoff from rain or melting snow. �Few plants or algae to act as PP. Inputs of organic matter are from terrestial biomes (falling leaves) Rivers & Streams

� Standing water. Divided into several zones � Littoral Zone: Shallow area near shore where emergent plants and algae grow. Photosynthesis occurs � Limnetic Zone: Open water. Rooted plants can no loner survive. Phytoplankton are the only photosynthetic organisms. Extends as deep as sunlight penetrates � Profundal Zone: No sunlight. Producers cannot survive. Bacteria decompose detritus, consuming oxygen in the process. DO levels not sufficient to support large organisms. � Benthic Zone: Muddy bottom of the lake or pond. Lakes and Ponds

Lake Zones

�Swamps: emergent trees �Marshes : nonwoody vegetation �Bogs: acidic wetlands – sphagnum and spruce trees moss ◦ Take in large amounts of rainwater and release slowly into groundwater or streams. Therefore, reducing flooding ◦ Filter pollutants ◦ Recharge groundwater ◦ Migration and breeding ground for birds and fish �½ of US wetlands have been drained for agriculture or urbanization Freshwater Wetland

SWAMP MARSH

�Many organisms found in estuaries: ◦ Where freshwater of a river meets saltwater of the ocean �Very productive areas � 2/3 of marine fish and shellfish spend larval stages in an estuary Salt Marshes

� Found in warm shallow waters � Large diversity of organisms � Great Barrier Reef: ◦ 400 sp. Of coral ◦ 1500 sp of fish ◦ 200 sp of birds � Coral Bleeching: Algae inside the coral dies. w/o the algae the coral die, turning the reef white. Coral Reefs

Coral Bleeching

� Coastline between high tide and low tide �Lowtide: Organisms have a high tolerance for exposure to direct sunlight, high temperatures and desiccation. �Hightide: Organisms must anchor themselves against the force of wave motion Intertidal Zone

Open Ocean

� Euphotic Zone: Upper layer of the ocean with available sunlight. Phytoplankton found here. Rich in DO. Many large predatory fish. Low in nutrients (unless ‘upwelling’ area) � Bathyl Zone: Mid-layer, twilight, no photosynthetic organisms, Low DO. Small fish and zooplankton. � Abyssal Zone: No sunlight, Plenty of nutrients. “Marine Snow” � The deeper the water : less sunlight, DO and temperature falls Open Ocean

phytoplankton

Ocean food chain

� Bioaccumulation: the accumulation of toxins in the tissue of living organisms (Toxins cannot be broken down ) � Biomagnification: the increasing concentration of toxin molecules at successively higher trophic levels in a food chain. Biomagnification