1. Aquatic Ecosystems
Chapter 4 4.5

2. What factors affect life in aquatic ecosystems?
Aquatic organisms are affected primarily by the water’s:
depth
temperature
Flow
and amount of dissolved nutrients.

3. What are the major categories of freshwater ecosystems?
Freshwater ecosystems can be divided into three main categories:
Rivers and streams
Lakes and ponds,
Freshwater wetlands

4. Why are estuaries so important?
Estuaries serve as spawning and nursery grounds for many ecologically and commercially important fish and shellfish species including bluefish, striped bass, shrimp and crabs.

5. How do ecologists usually classify marine ecosystems?
Ecologists typically divide the ocean into zones based on depth and distance from shore.
Intertidal Zone
Coastal Ocean
Open Ocean
Photic zone
Aphotic zone

6. Water Depth
Water depth strongly influences aquatic life because sunlight penetrates only a relatively short distance through water.
Photic zone
Aphotic zone

7. Vocabulary – Chapter 4, 4.5 Photic zone Aphotic zone Benthos Plankton
Wetland
estuary

8. Review Questions
1. What are the primary abiotic factors that affect life underwater?
2. What are the major categories of freshwater ecosystems?
3. What is a wetland? Why are wetlands important?
Where are estuaries found? Why is it important to protect estuaries?
How might a dam upriver affect an estuary?