Aquatic Ecosystems

Aquatic Ecosystems

What type of fresh water ecosystem is this?

Standing Water Ecosystem

Ponds and Lakes • Water bodies with very little dissolved salt • Standing water • Photic zone: surface of water – Phytoplankton and water plants that use photosynthesis

• Aphotic zone: no light/little light – Light levels too low to support photosynthesis – Benthic zone • Rock, sand, sediment • Floor

Plankton • Phytoplankton – Unicellular algae – cyanobacteri a

• Zooplankton – Planktonic animals that feed on phytoplankt on

What type of Freshwater ecosystem are these?

Flowing Water

Streams and Rivers •

Rivers change from source point to end point (where they empty out, usually ocean) – Source: usually cold (water is from springs), low in nutrients and clear • • • • •

shallow and narrow few phytoplankton major producers are algae on rocks in river bed Arthropods in benthic zone that feed on algae and leaves Common fish is trout

– Downstream from source • • • • •

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Wider and deeper Marshes and other wetlands Warmer and murkier water Phytoplankton Frogs, catfish, insect larvae

Organisms adapt

Name this marine ecosystem…

Wetlands

Wetlands • Aquatic ecosystem where water covers the soil or is present near the surface of soil for at least part of the year • Water may be flowing or standing, salty, or brackish • Very productive ecosystem • Four types: 3 fresh water, 1 mixed (fresh and salt)

Small depressions where water collects Lots of mosses

Bogs

Marsh

Marsh Shallow wetlands along rivers Grass-like plants in water Looks like river of grass

Swamp

Swamp Water is slowly flowing through these wetlands Looks like a flooded forest

Name this ecosystem (hint: unique to Florida)

Covers much of south florida Unique Water from Lake Okeechobee flows to the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Wet season (May to October) Dry season (November to April) Unique Wildlife Endangered species

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Everglades

Estuary

where rivers meet ocean Mix of fresh and salt water (brackish) Affected by rise and fall of ocean tides shallow Photosynthesis plays a major role even in benthic zone Primary producers are plants and bacteria, who use both photosynthesis and chemosynthesis Estuary food webs differ from other ecosystems because primary production is not consumed by herbivores Most organic material enters food web as detritus Detritus: made of tiny pieces of organic material that provide food for organisms at the base of the estuary food web Clams, worms, and sponges feed on this Support large biomass Fewer species than fresh water ecosystems 2 types 

Salt Marsh Salt tolerant plants above low tide line Sea grasses underwater Found along eastern North America (Maine to Georgia) Chesapeake Bay in Maryland

Coastal estuaries found in tropical regions Hawaii and Florida Salt tolerant trees (mangroves) Sea grasses Prevalent in Everglades

Mangrove Swamp

Marine Ecosystems

Divisions of Marine Ecosystems • Light – photic – aphotic

• Distance from shore – Intertidal – Coastal (Neritic) Ocean – Open (oceanic) Ocean

• Depth – Pelagic – Benthic 

Zones of Marine ecosystems •

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2 Main Divisions Based on Light – Photic • 200 m • photosynthesis – Aphotic • Permanent darkness • chemosynthesis Depth/Distance Divisions – Intertidal Zone • Rocky • zonation – Coastal Ocean • Low tide mark to outer edge of continental shelf – Open Ocean • Edge of continental shelf and outward • 500m to 11000m • Largest division – Benthic Zone • Ocean floor • Attached organisms…

Name this Marine Ecosystem

Intertidal Zone

ZONATION

prominent horizontal banding of organisms in particular habitat

Coastal ocean

Kelp Forests

Open Ocean Ecosystem (largest)

Benthic Zone

Coral Reefs

Zones of Marine ecosystems •

•

2 Main Divisions Based on Light – Photic • 200 m • photosynthesis – Aphotic • Permanent darkness • chemosynthesis Depth/Distance Divisions – Intertidal Zone • Rocky • zonation – Coastal Ocean • Low tide mark to outer edge of continental shelf – Open Ocean • Edge of continental shelf and outward • 500m to 11000m • Largest division – Benthic Zone • Ocean floor • Attached organisms…