1. Ecology Chapter 7
Aquatic Ecosystems

2. Standard 5 - Biomes Examine the major freshwater and marine ecosystems
{CLE ,.4,.5}
Obj:
Describe the factors and characteristics that determine each water biome and the organisms that live there
Freshwater Biome*

3. Sec. 1: Freshwater Ecosystems
Wetland - land that is periodically under water
Factors that determine which organisms live in an area are:
salinity, temperature, oxygen, sunlight, and nutrients
Include: lakes, ponds, swamps, and marshes

4. Types of Organisms Plankton: float near the surface 2 Types:
1.) Phytoplankton - microscopic plants;
2.) Zooplankton - microscopic animals
Nekton: free swimming organisms - fish, turtles, whales, etc.
Benthos: bottom dwellers - muscles, worms, bacteria, etc.

5. Lakes and Ponds Lakes, ponds, wetlands, rivers, streams 2 Zones:
1.) Littoral - near the shore;
2.) Benthic - bottom of the lake or pond - decomposers, insect larvae, and clams
Eutrophication - increase in the amount of nutrients in an aquatic ecosystems
Can cause damage to the lake and life

8. Swamps and Marshes
Swamps: dominated by woody plants such as trees and shrubs
Occur on flat, poorly drained land often near streams
Variety of plant and animal life exists

9. Swamp

10. Marshes Contain non-woody plants such as cattails
Florida Everglades is the largest freshwater wetland in US
Occur in low, flat lands and have little water movement
Several kinds of marshes each with it’s own characteristics and salinity

11. Freshwater Marsh

12. Rivers Most originate from snow melt in mountains
Changes with the land and climate through which it flows
Runoff effects the growth and health of the water and organisms
Life adapts to the different parts of the river (flow, temp, etc.)

13. Standard 5 - Biomes Examine the major freshwater and marine ecosystems
{CLE ,.4,.5}
Obj:
Describe the factors and characteristics that determine each water biome and the organisms that live there
Marine Biome*

14. Sec. 7-2: Marine Ecosystems
Located mainly in coastal areas and in the open ocean
Organisms in coastal areas adapt to changes in water level and salinity
In open ocean they adapt to temperature, amount of sunlight and nutrients

15. Coastal Wetlands Covered by salt water for all or part of the time
Estuaries, Marshes, and Swamps
Provide habitat and nesting for many fish and wildlife
Absorb excess rain, protects areas from flooding

16. Estuaries
An area in which fresh water from rivers mixes with salt water from the ocean
Very productive ecosystems because they constantly receive fresh nutrients

17. Estuaries: Plants and Animals
Receives lots of sunlight and plenty of nutrients for plants and animals
Provide protected harbors and access to the ocean, and connection to the river

18. Threats to Estuaries In populated areas, used as places to dump wastes
Pollutants can destroy; breaks down over time, but estuaries cannot cope with the amounts produced by large human populations

19. Salt Marshes Develop in estuaries where rivers dump mineral rich mud
Breeding ground for clams, fish, birds, shrimps, and crabs
Absorb pollutants and protect inland areas

20. Mangrove Swamps
Located along coastal areas of tropical and subtropical zones
Mangrove trees dominate these areas
Grow partly submerged in warm shallow waters
Help protect the coastline from erosion and reduce damage from storms

22. Rocky and Sandy Shores
Rocky shores have more plants and animals than sandy shores
Rocks provide anchors and protection to the organisms
Sandy shores often dry out and organisms get stranded

23. Coral Reefs
Built by tiny coral animals that secrete limestone which slowly accumulate to form the coral reef
Live only in clear and warm salt water with sunlight for photosynthesis
Among the most diverse ecosystem on Earth

25. Two types of Corals Hard Coral Soft Coral
Brain Coral and elkhorn coral
Build coral reefs
Sea fingers and sea whips
Do not build coral reefs

26. Types of Reefs
Fringing reefs are reefs that form along a coastline. They grow on the continental shelf in shallow water.
Barrier reefs grow parallel to shorelines, but farther out, usually separated from the land by a deep lagoon.
Coral Atolls are rings of coral that grow on top of old, sunken volcanoes in the ocean.

27. Humans and coral reefs Fragile ecosystem
27% of coral reefs in the world are in danger of destruction from human activities
Oil spills, sewage, pesticides, and silt runoff have been linked to coral reef destruction

28. Human interaction (cont.)
Over fishing can deplete fish populations and upset the reefs balance
Reefs grow slowly so may not be able to overcome repair the damage

29. Oceans
Sunlight that is usable only goes to about 100m (330ft) into the ocean before the sunlight is absorbed
Much of the oceans life is concentrated in the shallow, coastal waters
Seaweed and algae grow anchored to rocks, phytoplankton float near the surface, invertebrates that feed on these are also concentrated near the shore

30. Plants and Animals of the Ocean
In open ocean; least productive of all ecosystems
Phytoplankton only grow in area where there is enough sunlight
Zooplankton live near the surface with the phytoplankton they feed on
The larger organisms come closer to the surface to feed on these organisms
Decomposers, filter feeders that do not depend on sunlight dwell in the depths

32. Sunlit zone or the Euphotic zone
Plants
Animals
include most ocean fishincluding:
sharks and rays, man-o'-war, jellyfish, sea turtles, seals, coral, and zooplankton
Primary Producers
Free-floating algae -- often called seaweed
Red algae
Green algae
Brown algae
Phytoplankton -- tiny, one-celled photosynthetic plankton like diatoms, dinoflagellates,

33. Intertidal zone: where the land and sea meet

34. Threats to Oceans Steadily becoming polluted
Most pollution come from activities on land due to runoff
Over-fishing and certain fishing methods also destroying fish populations
Nets can drown or strangle animals that must return to the surface to breathe when they get caught in them

35. Artic & Antartic Ecosystems
Artic Ocean gets nutrients from the surrounding land masses
Supports whales, seals, ocean birds, polar bears, and provide food for people
Antartic only continent never colonized by humans - used mainly for research
Only a few plants grow
Artic plankton feed the fish, whales, and penguins that live there