-WATER ECOSYSTEMS -FRESHWATER, MARINE, ESTUARIES -ABIOTIC FACTORS: -LIGHT INTENSITY -OXYGEN LEVELS -CARBON DIOXIDE LEVELS -ORGANIC AND INORGANIC NUTRIENTS

FRESHWATER BIOMES RIVERS, LAKES, STREAMS, PONDS, VERNAL POOLS SUPPLY DRINKING WATER MANY BECOMING POLLUTED BECOMING SCARCE IN MANY AREAS SOURCE OF FOOD FLOATING PLANTS/ANIMALS (PLANKTON) PROVIDE FOOD FOR FISH, AMPHIBIANS

VERNAL POOLS TEMPORARY POOLS (2000 IN MASS.) FORM IN SPRING FROM SNOW MELT/RUNOFF SUPPORT SPECIES FOUND IN NO OTHER ECOSYSTEMS OBLIGATE SPECIES REPRODUCE ONLY IN TIDE POOLS DESIGNATED VERNAL POOLS ARE PROTECTED ANYONE CAN HAVE A VERNAL POOL CERTIFIED

VERNAL POOL CHARACTERISTICS MUST DRY UP IN SUMMER MUST HAVE NO INLET OR OUTLET MUST SUPPORT AT LEAST ONE OBLIGATE SPECIES OBLIGATE SPECIES INCLUDE: FAIRY SHRIMP FINGERNAIL CLAMS MOLE SALAMANDERS JEFFERSON SPOTTED MARBLED BLUE SPOTTED

VERNAL POOL CERTIFICATION SIGNED APLICATION DOCUMENT LOCATION (MAP) TAKE PHOTOS OF AREA TAKE PHOTOS OF OBLIGATE SPECIES PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF OBLIGATE SPECIES (NOT THE ORGANISMS THEMSELVES!) CONTACT/SEND INFO TO WILDLIFE DEPT.

VERNAL POOL

VERNAL POOL INDICATOR SPECIES (OBLIGATE SPECIES) MARBLED SALAMANDER BLUE SPOTTED SALAMANDER SPOTTED SALAMANDER FAIRY SHRIMP FINGERNAIL CLAM JEFFERSON SALAMANDER

WOOD FROGS

MARINE BIOMES -COVER MOST OF EARTH SUNLIGHT TO ABOUT 200 METERS MAXIMUM PHOTIC ZONE PHOTOSYNTHESIS TAKES PLACE HERE WHERE PHYTOPLANKTON AND ALGAE GROW

PHYTOPLANKTON

INTERDTIDAL ZONE VERY NARROW AREA NEAR SHORE SUBJECT TO POLLUTION DIFFICULT FOR LIVING THINGS MUST TOLERATE CHANGING CONDITIONS SUBMERGED PART OF DAYM EXPOSED TO AIR PART OF DAY ADAPTATIONS TO SURVIVE POUDING WAVES CLAMS BURROW BARNACLES, SEAWEED ATTACH TO ROCKS SNAILS, URCHINS, SEASTARS CLING TO ROCKS

NERITIC ZONE EXTENDS FROM LOW TIDE LINE TO EDGE OF OPEN SEA SEAWEED ABUNDANT HERE, IN PHOTIC ZONE KELP FORESTS OF CALIFORNIA

NERITIC ZONE CONT. MOST OF OCEAN LIFE EXISTS HERE MANY SPECIES REPRODUCE HERE SUBJECT TO POLLUTION

OPEN SEA ZONE PHTOPLANKTON: 80-90% OF EARTH’S PHOTOZYNTHESIS BASE OF OCEAN FOOD WEB MANY FISH (PELAGIC), MAMMALS (WHALES, DOLPHINS), SEA BIRDS NUTRIENTS SCARCE LIMITS NUMBER OF ANIMALS THERE

DEEP SEA ZONE AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE TOTAL DARKNESS, COLD TEMPERATURES INHABITED BY MANY STRANGE ORGANISMS FEED ON DETRITUS FROM ABOVE AND ON EACH OTHER ZOOPLANKTON MIGRATE TO SURFACE AT NIGHT TO FEED ON PHYTOPLANKTON MANY BOTTOM DWELLERS

ESTUARIES BOUNDARY BETWEEN FRESH, SALT WATER SALT MARSHES, MANGROVE SWAMPS, LAGOONS, MOUTHS OF RIVERS MIXTURE OF FRESH/SALT WATER SUPPORT VARIETY OF LIFE SHALLOW, SUPPORTS AQUATIC PLANTS MANY FISH, INVERTEBRATES SPAWNING, HATCHING AREAS FOR MANY NESTING AREAS FOR SOME BIRD SPECIES