Freshwater Biomes

LOCATION Freshwater is located all over the world. Freshwater biomes consist mainly of lakes and ponds and rivers and streams. Consists of only 3% of Earth’s waters.

Temperatures It varies in ponds and lakes, especially in the summer. Temps can range from 4°C at the bottom and 22°C at the top. Streams and rivers are cooler at the source rather than the mouth.

ANIMALS Trout, catfish, bass, turtles, insects, frogs, salamanders, shellfish, snakes

PLANTS Algae, water lilies, cattails, reeds. Plants in streams or rivers do not take root because of the moving water. Phytoplankton is not commonly present in rivers and streams because of the moving water.

Saltwater Biomes

LOCATION Also called Marine Biomes. 3 types of ocean biomes: coastal waters, open ocean, and deep ocean. Covers 71% of Earth’s surface.

Temperatures Coastal waters receive sunlight because of shallow water. Open oceans are generally cold due to constant mixing of water and very little sunlight. Deep ocean is very cold and dark.

ANIMALS Coastal: scallops, crabs, sea anemones, and clams. Open Ocean: zooplankton, whales, dolphins. Deep Ocean: microscopic animals.

PLANTS Coastal: Algae, seaweed Open ocean: phytoplankton, seaweed, very few plant life Deep ocean: very few producers; organisms feed off of one another or off of sinking producers from the upper parts of the ocean.