Aquatic Ecosystems Freshwater ecosystems – lakes, rivers, wetlands (marshes & swamps) Marine ecosystems – coastal marshes, estuaries, coral reefs, ocean Abiotic factors that affect life : temperature, light, dissolved oxygen, nutrients

Freshwater Ecosystems Categorized as either flowing or standing Wetlands – areas of land covered with fresh water for at least part of the year Important b/c: – Remove pollutants & improve water quality – Control flooding – Home for native & migratory wildlife

Marine Ecosystems Estuaries –where fresh water from a river mixes with salt water from the ocean – Home for many organisms, very productive – Animals : fish, dolphins, manatees, otters, crabs, birds – Threats: pollution, human development

Marine Ecosystems Coral reefs – areas where coral animals build skeletons & support thousands of organisms (= high biodiversity) – Found in shallow, clear tropical waters – Threats: Coral bleaching – high water temperatures causes coral to die

Marine Ecosystems Ocean – Open ocean – phytoplankton perform photosynthesis  eaten by zooplankton  eaten by fish – Deep ocean is dark, cold Supports decomposers, filter feeders – Threats: pollution (runoff, city waste), overfishing, global warming The United Nations Environment Program estimated in 2006 that every square mile of ocean contains 46,000 pieces of floating plastic.

You (alone) will create a new, never discovered, completely original aquatic creature. Your creature must live in one of the aquatic biomes discussed in class. Your creature must have an adaptation particular for that environment. Have fun and be creative! You MUST include: 1.Name of your creature (20 pts) 2.Name of the aquatic in which your creature lives (20 pts) 3.Illustration of creature (20 pts) 4.Illustration of creature’s habitat (20 pts) 5.5 – 7 sentences explaining your creature, its biome and its adaptation (20 pts)