Aquatic Ecosystems Freshwater Ponds & Lakes Streams & Rivers WetlandsMarineOceans Coral Reefs Estuaries

Freshwater Ponds & Lakes Streams & Rivers Wetlands

Freshwater Freshwater is defined as having a low salt concentration—usually less than 1% Plants and animals in freshwater regions are adjusted to the low salt content and would not be able to survive in areas of high salt concentration (i.e, ocean)

Ponds and Lakes range in size from just a few square meters to thousands of square kilometers ponds may be seasonal, lasting just a couple of months (such as sessile pools) lakes may exist for hundreds of years or more may have limited species diversity since they are often isolated from one another and from other water sources like rivers and oceans may have limited species diversity since they are often isolated from one another and from other water sources like rivers and oceans

Ponds and Lakes divided into three different “zones” determined by depth and distance from the shoreline littoral zone limnetic zone profundal zone

Littoral Zone warmest since it is shallow and can absorb more of the Sun’s heat sustains a fairly diverse community, which can include several species of algae (like diatoms), rooted and floating aquatic plants, grazing snails, clams, insects, crustaceans, fishes, and amphibians sustains a fairly diverse community, which can include several species of algae (like diatoms), rooted and floating aquatic plants, grazing snails, clams, insects, crustaceans, fishes, and amphibians the egg and larvae stages of some insects are found in this zone vegetation and animals living in the littoral zone are food for other creatures such as turtles, snakes, and ducks

Limnetic Zone near-surface open water surrounded by the littoral zone well-lighted (like the littoral zone) and is dominated by plankton, both phytoplankton and zooplankton plankton are small organisms that play a crucial role in the food chain – most life would not be possible without them variety of freshwater fish also occupy this zone variety of freshwater fish also occupy this zone

Profundal Zone Plankton have short life spans—when they die, they fall into the deep-water part of the lake/pond much colder and denser than the other two little light penetrates all the way through the limnetic zone into the profundal zone animals are decomposers

Ponds and Lakes Temperature varies seasonally. Summer from 4° C near the bottom to 22° C at the top Winter from 4° C while the top is 0° C (ice) between the two layers is a narrow zone called the thermocline where the temperature of the water changes rapidly with depth

Ponds and Lakes during the spring and fall seasons is a mixing of the top and bottom layers resulting in a uniform water temperature of around 4° C mixing also circulates oxygen throughout the lake many lakes and ponds do not freeze during the winter resulting in the top layer being a little warmer

Ponds and Lakes ice can develop on the top of lakes during winter blocks out sunlight and can prevent photosynthesis oxygen levels drop and some plants and animals may die called "winterkill." called "winterkill."

Streams & Rivers bodies of flowing water moving in one direction found everywhere—they get their start at headwaters, which may be springs, snowmelt or even lakes found everywhere—they get their start at headwaters, which may be springs, snowmelt or even lakes travel all the way to their mouths, usually another water channel or the ocean

Streams & Rivers characteristics change during the journey from the source to the mouth temperature is cooler at the source than it is at the mouth water is also clearer, has higher oxygen levels, and freshwater fish such as trout and heterotrophs can be found there water is also clearer, has higher oxygen levels, and freshwater fish such as trout and heterotrophs can be found there

Watershed describes an area of land that contains a common set of streams and rivers drains into a single larger body of water, such as a larger river, a lake or an ocean

Streams & Rivers Streams & Rivers

Wetlands Wetlands are areas of standing water that support aquatic plants Marshes, swamps, and bogs are all considered wetlands

Wetlands highest species diversity of all ecosystems many species of amphibians, reptiles, birds (such as ducks and waders), and furbearers can be found in the wetlands not considered freshwater ecosystems as there are some, such as salt marshes, that have high salt concentrations—these support different species of animals, such as shrimp, shellfish, and various grasses

Wetlands River Otter River Otter Damselfly Dragonfly Mayfly Damselfly Dragonfly Mayfly Crayfish Snails Leech Bluegill Bass Crayfish Snails Leech Bluegill Bass Catfish Sculpin Minnow Snakes Frog Turtle Frog Turtle Great Blue Heron Canadian Goose

Aquatic Ecosystems MarineOceans Coral Reefs Estuaries

Marine cover about three-fourths of the Earth’s surface and include oceans, coral reefs, and estuaries algae supply much of the world’s oxygen supply and take in a huge amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide evaporation of the seawater provides rainwater for the land

Oceans largest of all the ecosystems dominate the Earth’s surface separate zones IntertidalPelagicAbyssalBenthic great diversity of species richest diversity of species even though it contains fewer species than there are on land richest diversity of species even though it contains fewer species than there are on land

Oceans

Intertidal Zone where the ocean meets the land sometimes submerged and at other times exposed waves and tides come in and out waves and tides come in and out communities are constantly changing

Wave Regions much stronger than wind decide what grows where shores classified by amount of wave action Exposed shores – receive full brunt of the ocean for most or at least some of the time Semi-exposed shores – sheltered by barrier islands but still have to cope with waves Sheltered shores – shelter of peninsulas and inshore islands Enclosed shores river mouths and estuaries river mouths and estuaries completely sheltered by either a protective rocks or a sand bar completely sheltered by either a protective rocks or a sand bar

Epipelagic – Open Ocean extends down to around 200m lowest depth that light can penetrate flora in the epipelagic zone include surface seaweeds fauna include many species of fish and some mammals, such as whales and dolphins many feed on the abundant plankton

Mesopelagic Zone "twilight zone" of the ocean photic zone above darkness below food becomes scarce – some animals migrate up to the surface at night to feed rely on food that falls down from above eat each other sometimes the only things to eat may be bigger than the hunter sometimes the only things to eat may be bigger than the hunter developed long sharp teeth,developed long sharp teeth, expandable jaws and stomachsexpandable jaws and stomachs

ctenophore – related to jellyfish Big Scale - ambush predator cilia can be illuminated Firefly squid three kinds of photophores Hatchet Fish only a few inches long Viperfish specially adapted hinged skull Dragonfish - stomachs hold big meals Snipeel up to 1.2m Siphonophores are colonies of animals related to jellyfish best known is Portugese Man of War

Bathypelagic Zone extends down from 1000 to 4000m only light is from bioluminescent organisms only food is what trickles down from above, or from eating other animals only food is what trickles down from above, or from eating other animals water pressure at this depth is considerable (~100 – 400 atmospheres) water pressure at this depth is considerable (~100 – 400 atmospheres) most animals are either black or red in color very little blue/green light penetrates this deep – red is not reflected and looks black

Narcomedusa Vampire Squid Snake Dragon Angler Fish Amphi - crustacean Ctenophore – voracious predator Deepstaria very slow swimmers, no tentacles, close flexible bells (up to a meter across) around their prey Big Red grows to over a meter across

Abyssopelagic Zone - the Abyss 4000m to the sea floor only zone deeper than this is the hadal zone areas found in deep sea trenches and canyons areas found in deep sea trenches and canyons home to pretty inhospitable living conditions home to pretty inhospitable living conditions near- freezing temperatures near- freezing temperatures crushing pressures

Deep Water Squid Basketstar Basketstar Sea Pig Sea Spider Sea Pig Sea Spider Shrimp Shrimp Winged Sea Cucumber Winged Sea Cucumber Medussa Medussa Deep Sea Smoker - 648°F Deep-sea Anemone Hydrothermal Vent Deep-sea Anemone Hydrothermal Vent

Estuaries enclosed body of water formed where freshwater from rivers and streams flows into the ocean, mixing with the salty sea water estuaries and the lands surrounding them are places of transition from land to sea, and from fresh to salt water although influenced by the tides, estuaries are protected from the full force of ocean waves, winds, and storms by the reefs, barrier islands, or fingers of land, mud, or sand that define an estuary's seaward boundary

Estuaries are semi-enclosed bodies of water where fresh water from the land mixes with sea water. Estuaries originate as: drowned river valleys, fjords, bar-built estuaries, and tectonic estuaries. Salinity typically grades from normal marine salinity at the tidal inlet to fresh water at the mouth of the river.

The Coral Reef Biome

What Is a Coral Reef? A structure formed by coral polyps, tiny animals that live in colonies. Coral polyps form a hard, stony, branching structure made of limestone. New polyps attach to old coral and gradually build the reef.

Types of Coral Reefs Fringing reefs Submerged platforms of living coral extending from the shore into the sea Barrier reefs Follow the shore but are separated from it by water Great Barrier Reef is world’s largest

Types of Coral Reefs Atolls Ring-shaped islands of coral in open sea Form on submerged mud banks or volcano craters Surround a seawater lagoon Channels connect lagoon to the sea

A World of Coral Reefs = Coral Reef

Coral Reef Climate Usually found near land in shallow, warm salt water Lots of light Tropical temperatures, averaging 70°- 85° F Most coral cannot survive below 65° F