Categorized by depth, salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen Freshwater : streams, rivers, lakes and wetlands Marine: estuaries, intertidal zones, coral reefs and open oceans Aquatic Biomes

Originate from underground springs or as runoff from rain or melting snow. Few plants or algae to act as PP. Inputs of organic matter are from terrestial biomes (falling leaves) Rivers & Streams

Lakes and Ponds Standing water. Divided into several zones Littoral Zone: Shallow area near shore where emergent plants and algae grow. Photosynthesis occurs Limnetic Zone: Open water. Rooted plants can no loner survive. Phytoplankton are the only photosynthetic organisms. Extends as deep as sunlight penetrates Profundal Zone: No sunlight. Producers cannot survive. Bacteria decompose detritus, consuming oxygen in the process. DO levels not sufficient to support large organisms. Benthic Zone: Muddy bottom of the lake or pond. Lakes and Ponds

Lake Zones

Freshwater Wetland Swamps: emergent trees Marshes : nonwoody vegetation Bogs: acidic wetlands – sphagnum moss and spruce trees Take in large amounts of rainwater and release slowly into groundwater or streams. Therefore, reducing flooding Filter pollutants Recharge groundwater Migration and breeding ground for birds and fish ½ of US wetlands have been drained for agriculture or urbanization Freshwater Wetland

SWAMP MARSH

Salt Marshes Many organisms found in estuaries: Very productive areas Where freshwater of a river meets saltwater of the ocean Very productive areas 2/3 of marine fish and shellfish spend larval stages in an estuary Salt Marshes

Coral Reefs Found in warm shallow waters Large diversity of organisms Great Barrier Reef: 400 sp. Of coral 1500 sp of fish 200 sp of birds Coral Bleeching: Algae inside the coral dies. w/o the algae the coral die, turning the reef white. Coral digests food, releasing CO2. The algae use the CO2 during photosynthesis and produce sugar for the coral. Symbiotic relationship. Coral Reefs

Coral Bleeching

Coastline between high tide and low tide Lowtide:Organisms have a high tolerance for exposure to direct sunlight, high temperatures and desiccation. Hightide: Organisms must anchor themselves against the force of wave motion Intertidal Zone

Open Ocean

Euphotic Zone: Upper layer of the ocean with available sunlight Euphotic Zone: Upper layer of the ocean with available sunlight. Phytoplankton found here. Rich in DO. Many large predatory fish. Low in nutrients (unless ‘upwelling’ area) Bathyl Zone: Mid-layer, twilight, no photosynthetic organisms, Low DO. Small fish and zooplankton. Abyssal Zone: No sunlight, Plenty of nutrients. “Marine Snow” The deeper the water : less sunlight, DO and temperature falls Open Ocean

phytoplankton

Ocean food chain

Bioaccumulation: the accumulation of toxins in the tissue of living organisms (Toxins cannot be broken down ) Biomagnification: the increasing concentration of toxin molecules at successively higher trophic levels in a food chain. Biomagnification