1. What are the characteristics of the Earth’s major aquatic communities?

2. What does aquatic mean?
Aquatic means water.

3. Nearly 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water
Nearly 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water. The biotic and abiotic factors in these ecosystems make up aquatic communities.

4. Aquatic communities are influenced by:
Amount of light present
Amount of oxygen present
Amount of nutrients available
Salinity (salt) level of the water

5. There are three types of Aquatic communities we will discuss:
Marine
Freshwater
Wetland

6. 5. Marine Marine ecosystems exist in salt water
There are four general marine zones: intertidal, neritic, oceanic, and benthic

7. Label your diagram

8. Marine – Intertidal Zone
Area of shore between low and high tide
Organisms must be able to survive the changing tides and the pounding waves
Sometimes under water, sometimes exposed to air and sunlight
Most biologically active due to high level of light and nutrients

9. Marine – Intertidal Zone Biotic Life
Crab
Clam
Oyster
They burrow in the sand or retreat to shells during low tides

10. Marine – Intertidal Zone Biotic Life
Snail
Sea Star
Sea Urchin
They cling to rocks and other surfaces

11. Marine – Neritic Zone Characteristics
Located above the continental shelf
Water is shallow enough that light can penetrate it, which makes photosynthesis possible

12. Marine – Neritic Zone Biotic Life
Collection of small or microscopic organisms, including algae and protozoans, that float in great numbers in fresh or salt water, especially at or near the surface, and serve as food for fish and other larger organisms
Plankton

13. Marine – Neritic Zone Biotic Life
Sea Turtle
Dolphins
Squid

14. Marine – Oceanic Zone Characteristics
Open ocean and the largest marine zone
Makes up most of the world’s oceans
Sunlight can only pass through about 200 meters
Most of the photosynthesis occurs in this zone because of the huge area
Where sunlight does not reach, it becomes dark and cold with increased pressure

15. Marine Oceanic Zone: Biotic Life
Sword Fish
Fishes, mammals, and animals without backbones live here. Some fish have no eyes or have developed luminescent organs
Whale
Tuna

16. Marine – Benthic Zone Characteristics
Ocean floor
Extends horizontally from the Neritic zone through the Oceanic zone
Hydrothermal vents found in deep areas
Coral reefs are commonly found in the warm, shallow waters of benthic areas

17. Marine – Benthic Zone Biotic Life
Hagfish
Clam
Tubeworm

18. Double check your diagram and ensure it is labeled!

19. Only 3% of all the water on the Earth’s surface is fresh water

20. Label your diagram
Ocean
Stream
Lake
River
Estuary

21. Fresh Water Characteristics
Low salt content (salinity)
Found in most places
Found in areas with differing temperatures
Supports a variety of animal and plant life
Important in recycling the Earth’s water supply through the water cycle

22. Fresh Water
Lake
Pond

23. Fresh Water – Lakes & Ponds Characteristics
Bodies of fresh water that flow slowly or not at all
Lakes are deeper and larger than ponds
Ponds are shallow enough to allow sunlight to reach the bottom; therefore, plants can grow

24. Fresh Water – Lakes & Ponds Biotic Life
Frog
Algae
Bass
Turtle
Catfish
River
Stream
Creek

25. Fresh Water – Rivers & Streams Characteristics
Water that flows
Rivers begin as cold streams in the mountains or hills that flow rapidly
Farther down the mountain, water slows down and forms twists and turns
Small streams join together to form large rivers
Plants and animals must be able to survive the flowing currents

26. Fresh Water – Rivers & Streams Biotic Life
Trout and other fish have sleek bodies that help them move with the current; others have “suckers” they use to latch on to rocks
Where the water slows down you can find beavers and otters

27. 7. Wetlands

28. Wetlands
An ecosystem where water either covers the soil or is near the soil’s surface for all or part of the year
Includes marshes, swamps, and estuaries
May be fresh water or salt water
Water may flow or stand still
Important because it provides breeding grounds for organisms
Plant life adapted to live in water

29. Wetland - Estuary
Shrimp
Mullet

30. Wetland – Estuary Characteristics
Wetland which forms at the mouth of a river where fresh water mixes with salt water from an ocean or bay
Great diversity of plants and animals
Dense (thick) plants protect organisms from waves and hide them from predators
Tides circulate nutrients

31. Wetlands – Estuary Biotic Life
Osprey
Heron
Scallop

32. Wetlands – Marshes & Swamps

33. Wetlands – Marshes & Swamps Characteristics
Areas where water is more or less permanently at the surface
Abundance of plant and animal life because nutrients are plentiful
Marsh consists of soft stemmed vegetation
Swamp is mainly woody plants or shrubs

34. Wetlands – Marsh Biotic Life
Blackbird
Butterfly
Otter
Duck
Blue Heron
Turtle

35. Wetlands – Swamp Biotic Life
Crocodile
Bald Eagle
Frog
Egret
Dragonfly
Shrimp

36. Study Jams: Aquatic Ecosystems
Click the following link
Right click
Click “open hyperlink”
Take notes during the video
Take the quiz at the end
Study Jams: Aquatic Ecosystems