Standard S7L4e Students will describe the characteristics of Earth’s aquatic ecosystems

I can explain the characteristics of the earth’s aquatic ecosystems. Learning Target I can explain the characteristics of the earth’s aquatic ecosystems.

Aquatic Ecosystems

Aquatic refers to water.

Marine refers to saltwater or oceans. Put in Notes Marine refers to saltwater or oceans.

Important in Aquatic Environments Amount of Sunlight Water Temperature Amount of Dissolved Oxygen Amount of Salt

Don’t forget food webs

Freshwater Ecosystems include flowing and standing water. vary from small brooks to large rivers. have little or no salt.

Types of Freshwater Ecosystems Rivers and Streams Ponds Lakes Wetlands

Rivers and Streams These have flowing water. The faster the flow of water, the higher the oxygen content. Most nutrients in the water are washed in from the land. Areas with slow moving water have more nutrients, promoting higher plant growth.

Ponds These have very little water flow. They are small, shallow bodies of water. Sunlight gets to the bottom to promote plant and algae growth. Plants support animal life.

Lakes Deeper lakes support life along shallow shorelines or near the surface. In deeper lakes, cold temperatures and lower levels of light limit the types of organisms that can live there.

Wetlands: are found in regions between solid land and water. are regions that are wet most of the year. are very fertile ecosystems. Other names for wetlands are bogs and swamps.

Wetlands Examples of animals; beavers, alligators, muskrats, migratory birds. Plants are types that are able to survive in waterlogged soil. Some wetlands are a natural filters for pollutants.

Estuaries This is where a river meets an ocean.                      Estuaries This is where a river meets an ocean. These contain a mixture of freshwater and saltwater. Changes occur in salinity with the amount of freshwater brought in by rivers and the amount of saltwater pushed in by the tides.

Estuaries Other names for estuaries are bays, lagoons, harbors, inlets, and sounds. Estuaries are rich in nutrients brought in by flowing freshwater. Some are a natural filters for pollutants.

Saltwater Ecosystems 97% of the water on the surface of Earth contains high concentrations of salt. The amount of dissolved salt in water is called salinity.

Types of Saltwater Ecosystems Open Ocean Coral Reefs Seashores

Open Ocean Scientists divide the ocean into life zones - based upon depth of sunlight. The upper 200 meters of the ocean, the light zone, is home to plankton---foundation of ocean food chain.

Open Ocean Below 200 meters is the dark zone. Most of the animals in the dark zone feed on each other or from food that floats down from the light zone.

The ocean is 3-D What does this mean? It means that organisms live at every depth of the ocean. 2. In fact, one way scientists classify organisms in the ocean is by where they live and how they move.

Life Zones: Light Zone: Dark Zone:

Who lives where? 1. Plankton----Zooplankton and phytoplankton float in the upper part of the ocean and are carried by the ocean currents. Nekton----free swimming animals such as most fishes, marine mammals, squid, octopus. Benthos----bottom dwelling organisms such as crabs, lobsters, sea stars, sponges, kelp (ocean floor, dark areas)

Coral Reef One of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. They are formed from the calcium carbonate shells of coral. Coral reefs are a fragile ecosystem and must be protected.

Importance of Coral Reef Protects beaches and shorelines from being washed away (erosion) Home for many organisms Used in medical research

Seashores Seashores are found along coastlines. The intertidal zone is the part of the shoreline that is covered by water during high tide and exposed during low tide. Organisms must be adapted to the dramatic changes in temperature, moisture, salinity, and wave action.

Add this to your notes somewhere: Explaining Kelp Kelp is a producer. The kelp is at the bottom/benthic. Plankton floats on top of the ocean. What are the two types of plankton?

Human Impact Human activities can harm freshwater and saltwater ecosystems. Education of ways to prevent polluting our water systems is the best measure to guard against harming these ecosystems.