Biomes & Aquatic Ecosystems

Biomes group of communities with similar climate, plants, and animals. Tolerance: amount of variation animals & plants can live in and still survive and reproduce Microclimate – the climate in a small area is different than the surrounding climate Temperature & Precipitation Mountain

Exceptions North Polar Region – polar bears, seals, insects, and mites Mountain Ranges Abiotic and biotic factors vary with elevation affects the types of plants and animals. Polar Ice Caps North Polar Region – polar bears, seals, insects, and mites Antarctica – penguins and marine mammals

Aquatic Ecosystems Water’s: depth, flow, temperature, & chemistry Freshwater Ecosystems Flowing Water Ecosystems Standing Water Ecosystems

Flowing Water Ecosystems Rivers, Streams, Creeks, & Brooks organisms are adapted to the rate of flow Source: fewer animals and plants Downstream: more plants & animals

Standing Water Ecosystems Lakes and Ponds water flowing in & out and circulating within helps distribute heat, oxygen, and nutrients Plankton: tiny, free floating or weakly swimming organisms Phytoplankton: single celled algae Zooplankton: feed on phytoplankton

Phytoplankton Zooplankton

Wetlands water covers or is present at the surface for part of the year Bogs: water collecting depression Sphagnum moss acidic water Marshes: shallow wetland along river Underwater most of the year Cattails, rushes, and other tall grass-like plants Swamps: flooded forest Slow flowing water wet year-round

Estuaries wetland formed when river meet the sea Salt Marshes: temperate-zone estuaries dominated by salt-tolerate grasses Largest one: Chesapeake Bay, MD Mangrove Swamp: coastal wetlands across tropical regions, FL, Hawaii Salt tolerate trees, Mangrove Trees, and Sea grasses Florida Everglades National Park

Salt Marsh Mangrove Swamp

Marine Ecosystems Photic Zone: well-lit upper layer of the ocean where photosynthesis can occur Aphotic Zone: permanently dark; chemosynthetic autotrophs

Distance from Shore Intertidal Zone: exposed to water and air sunlight and temperatures change with the tide snail, sea urchins, sea stars, barnacles, crabs Coastal Ocean: low-tide to the continental shelf photic zone kelp forest, snails, sea urchins, fish, and whales

Marine Ecosystem Coral Reefs: shallow water of tropics Most diverse & productive environments jellyfish & coral Open Ocean: edge of continental shelf 90% of world’s ocean & 500 m -11,000 m deep low nutrient levels only support small producers swordfish, octopi, dolphins, and whales