1. Aquatic Ecosystems
Chapter

2. Lesson Essential Question:
What factors affect the distribution of life in an aquatic ecosystem?

3. KNOW:
phytoplankton
zooplankton
salinity
estuary

4. Main Ideas: The ocean can be divided into zones.
15.4 Marine Ecosystems
Main Ideas:
The ocean can be divided into zones.
Coastal waters contain unique habitats.

5. The ocean can be divided into zones.
Ocean zones can be determined by their distance from shoreline and water depths.
intertidal zone
neritic zone
bathyal zone
abyssal zone

6. Zones Cont.…. intertidal zone—between low and high tide
neritic zone—from intertidal zone to continental shelf
bathyal zone—neritic zone to base of continental shelf
abyssal zone –lies below 2000 m
intertidal zone
neritic zone
bathyal zone
abyssal zone

7. Zones Cont.…. Photic = Light
Photic zones – Zones where sunlight penetrates the water, Where aquatic producers live
Aphotic zones – No light penetrates these zones because it is too deep, no producers

8. Quick Video

9. Zones Cont.….
The neritic zone harbors more biomass than any other zone.
Plankton make up most of the biomass.
zooplankton
phytoplankton

10. Zooplankton
zoo = animal or living being
Zooplankton = animal plankton

11. Phytoplankton phyto = plant Phytoplankton = photosynthetic plankton
Example: blue-green algae
critical to life on this planet
carry out most of the photosynthesis
provides most of the oxygen
~70% of the air you breath
base of oceanic food web

12. Plankton Video

13. 15.5 Estuaries and Freshwater Ecosystems
Estuary – Where rivers flow into the ocean
a partially enclosed body of water.
mixture of fresh water with salt water
Chesapeake Bay / Louisiana bayous

14. Estuaries highly productive ecosystems.
provide a protected refuge for many species.
birds migration
spawning grounds
primarily threatened by land development. p472

15. salinity – amount of salt in the water
temperature – decreases as you go deeper into the ocean
Saltwater – Ocean biome
Freshwater – Lakes, Ponds, Rivers, Streams

16. Freshwater Biomes
have photic, aphotic, and benthic zones; greater seasonal & temp changes than marine biomes, organisms must adapt.
Three main types:
Moving water
Standing water
Wetland

17. River, river systems, body of water
Freshwater Biomes
Watershed
River, river systems, body of water
estuary
ocean