Aquatic Ecosystems

What are the 2 deciding factors that affect land biomes? What are the 2 deciding factors that affect land biomes? Would this be the same for aquatic biomes? Would this be the same for aquatic biomes? –Salinity –Nutrients

Freshwater Ecosystems Rivers Rivers Streams Streams Lakes Lakes Ponds Ponds Marshes Marshes Swamps Swamps Wetlands Wetlands

Flowing Water: Rivers and Streams Along the river, different populations of organisms are found due to: shading, depth, temperature, current and energy sources. Along the river, different populations of organisms are found due to: shading, depth, temperature, current and energy sources.

Watersheds describes an area of land that contains a common set of streams and rivers describes an area of land that contains a common set of streams and rivers drains into a single larger body of water, such as a larger river, a lake or an ocean drains into a single larger body of water, such as a larger river, a lake or an ocean

Human Impacts Dams- change the populations at the site of the dam as well as downstream from the dam. Dams- change the populations at the site of the dam as well as downstream from the dam. Water Pollution- affects downstream populations Water Pollution- affects downstream populations Urbanization Urbanization

Standing Water: Lakes and Ponds Three Zones Three Zones –Littoral Zone- shallow water area, most productive –Limnetic Zone- Open water beyond literal zone, less vegetation, includes larger fish –Profundal Zone-bottom, deepest part of the lake.

Thermal Stratification Dependent on sunlight penetration Dependent on sunlight penetration Turnovers mix nutrients Turnovers mix nutrients

Wetlands, Marshes, Swamps Wetlands: saturated for at least part of a year and have high organic matter, HIGHEST SPECIES DIVERSITY, HIGHEST PRODUCTIVITY OF ALL ECOSYSTEMS Wetlands: saturated for at least part of a year and have high organic matter, HIGHEST SPECIES DIVERSITY, HIGHEST PRODUCTIVITY OF ALL ECOSYSTEMS Swamps and Marshes: permanently saturated, includes grasslike plants Swamps and Marshes: permanently saturated, includes grasslike plants Provide invaluable ecosystem services: replenish water supply, clean and filter water, stores floodwater, and provide food and shelter Provide invaluable ecosystem services: replenish water supply, clean and filter water, stores floodwater, and provide food and shelter

Estuaries: A salt and freshwater mix Shifting water level Shifting water level Changes in salinity Changes in salinity Organisms uniquely adapted Organisms uniquely adapted Very fertile, high productivity Very fertile, high productivity –Constant influx of nutrients –Tidal action circulates nutrients –High level of light pentration –Large plant mass traps detritus, which fish feed upon

Mangrove forests and salt marshes Often seen as worthless, but they provide valuable services Often seen as worthless, but they provide valuable services –Salt marshes: Habitat, traps pollution and sediment, groundwater supply, buffers storms –Mangrove forests: breeding ground for fish and crabs, nesting sites for birds, stabilize soils, storm protection

Chesapeake Bay Largest, richest estuary in US Largest, richest estuary in US Provides oysters, crabs, fish Provides oysters, crabs, fish Home to more than 17 million people Home to more than 17 million people Suffers from pollution from agriculture, automobiles, homes, industry Suffers from pollution from agriculture, automobiles, homes, industry Massive campaign to reduce pollution Massive campaign to reduce pollution

Marine Ecosystems: Ocean Intertidal Zones: Intertidal Zones: –Biologically productive –occur on coast –Stressful conditions

Benthic Environment Benthic Environment –Ocean Floor –Mostly sediments –Borrowing organisms: worms, clams –Lots of bacteria –Abyssal benthic zone and the hadal benthic zone include life without sun Marine Ecosystems: Oceans

Oceans

Impact of Human Activities on the Oceans Development destroys coastal ecosystems Development destroys coastal ecosystems Pollution: from rivers, dumping, spills, atmospheric pollution Pollution: from rivers, dumping, spills, atmospheric pollution Agricultural runoff Agricultural runoff Increased fishing technologies Increased fishing technologies

Coral Reefs

Coral Reefs : The Underwater Tropical Rain Forest Found in warm, shallow sea waters Found in warm, shallow sea waters –Some consist of red coralline algae –Some consist of colonies of tiny coral animals and their symbiotic zooxanthellae –Grow slowly, new polyp colonies attach and grow on old coral. –3 types: fringing reefs, atolls, barrier reefs

Coral Reefs Fringing Reef: Fringing Reef: –Submerged platforms of living coral extending from the shore into the sea Barrier Reef: Barrier Reef: –Follow the shore but are separated from it by water –Great Barrier Reef is world’s largest Atoll: Ring-shaped islands of coral in open sea Atoll: Ring-shaped islands of coral in open sea –Form on submerged mud banks or volcano craters –Surround a seawater lagoon –Channels connect lagoon to the sea

Coral Reefs of the World = Coral Reef

The Great Barrier Reef 1500 species of fish 1500 species of fishspecies 400 different types of coral 400 different types of coral 4,000 mollusks 4,000 mollusks 500 species of seaweed 500 species of seaweed 215 species of birds 215 species of birds 16 species of sea snake 16 species of sea snake 6 species of sea turtle 6 species of sea turtle Whales visit during winter Whales visit during winter World’s largest coral reefWorld’s largest coral reef Over 1257 miles longOver 1257 miles long Off the northeast coast of AustraliaOff the northeast coast of Australia Only grows about one inch per yearOnly grows about one inch per year

Human Impacts on Coral Reefs 30-50% of coral species rare or endangered in the tropical western Atlantic 30-50% of coral species rare or endangered in the tropical western Atlantic Deforestation  erosion  increased silt  upsets balance and inhibits new growth Deforestation  erosion  increased silt  upsets balance and inhibits new growth Diverting fresh water  increased salinity Diverting fresh water  increased salinity Pollution, building, overpopulation Pollution, building, overpopulation Dredging Dredging

The Everglades

Haven for wildlife Haven for wildlife Sawgrass wetland ecosystem Sawgrass wetland ecosystem Designated national park, International Biosphere Reserve, World Heritage Site, and a Wetland of International Importance Designated national park, International Biosphere Reserve, World Heritage Site, and a Wetland of International Importance Affects the Florida Bay and Keys Affects the Florida Bay and Keys Local economies rely on fisheries and tourism Local economies rely on fisheries and tourism

The Everglades Human Influence: Human Influence: –Agricultural pollutants- nitrogen and phosphorus- change plant community –Hoover Dike prevented water from lake Okeechobee to drain into the everglades –Canals, levees, pump stations divert water to the Ocean –Urbanization- pollutants and habitat fragmentation

The Everglades Farmers clean runoff to reduce phosphorus and nitrogen Farmers clean runoff to reduce phosphorus and nitrogen Some agricultural land bought and restored to wetlands Some agricultural land bought and restored to wetlands Re-engineer canals, levees, pumps Re-engineer canals, levees, pumps Drill into the aquifer and pump excess water into it in the rainy season Drill into the aquifer and pump excess water into it in the rainy season