Biomes A BIOME is a large group of ecosystems that share the same kind of climax community. There are 2 Types of Biomes: Terrestrial Aquatic

Aquatic Biomes Aquatic Biomes are located in bodies of WATER Aquatic Biomes are based upon the salinity (saltiness) of the water. There are 3 Kinds of Aquatic Biomes: Marine: High Salinity Level (Saltwater) Intertidal zones Oceanic pelagic biome Coral reefs Benthos Estuary: Moderated Salinity Level (Mildly Salty) Freshwater: Little to No Salinity Levels at all Wetlands Lakes Rivers, streams

Aquatic Biomes Aquatic biomes account for the largest part of the biosphere in terms of area. Can contain fresh or salt water. Oceans cover about 75% of Earth’s surface. Have an enormous impact on the biosphere.

Aquatic Biomes Many aquatic biomes are stratified into zones or layers defined by light penetration, temperature, and depth. The photic zone is the most productive.

Inland Waters Only about 2.5% of the earth’s water is fresh. Much of that is found in polar ice caps or underground aquifers. Limnology – study of fresh water ecosystems. Divided into two systems Lotic or running water habitats include streams and rivers. Currents More oxygen Lentic or standing water habitats include lakes and ponds. No current Less oxygen

Examples of Lentic Systems Standing water Lakes Ponds Wetlands Marshes Swamps bogs

Examples of Lotic Systems Rivers Streams Creeks

Inland Waters - Lotic Streams and rivers have a current. Organisms need adaptations so that they are not swept away by moving water Heavily affected by man changing the course of flow (E.g. dams and channel-straightening) and by using rivers to dispose of waste. STREAMS AND RIVERS

Inland Waters - Lentic Oligotrophic lakes nutrient poor & oxygen rich. Eutrophic lakes =nutrient rich & sometimes oxygen poor. An oligotrophic lake A eutrophic lake

Inland Waters Eutrophic lake: nutrient rich, lots of algal productivity so it’s oxygen poor at times, water is murkier  often a result of input of agricultural fertilizers

Inland Waters Oligotrophic Lake: Nutrient poor, water is clear, oxygen rich; little productivity by algae, relatively deep with little surface area.

Estuaries / Coastal Wetlands Part of coastal zone Brackish (mixture of salt and freshwater) Usually due to the movement of the tides Salinity and temperature vary due to Daily tides Seasonal variations and its affect of water flow Unpredictable flows of water from flooding or storms Constant movement of nutrients due to flow of water

Wetlands Wetlands include areas that are able to support aquatic plants. May be freshwater or marine.

Wetlands Marshes, bogs, swamps, seasonal ponds. Among richest biomes with respect to biodiversity and productivity. Very few now exist as they are thought of often as wastelands.

Estuaries Estuaries are transition areas between river and sea. Salinity varies from nearly fresh to the salinity of seawater.

Estuaries Place where freshwater stream or river merges with the ocean. Highly productive biome; important for fisheries and feeding places for water fowl. Often heavily polluted from river input so many fisheries are now lost.

Nearshore Soft Sediments Intertidal and subtidal environments with soft sediments include beaches, mudflats, salt marshes, sea-grass beds, and mangrove communities. Salt marsh habitat includes grasses, mussels, crabs, shrimp, and polychaetes. Burrowing organisms. Deposit or filter feeders. Small fishes and birds that feed on them are common.

Nearshore Soft Sediments Calm, tropical, coastal areas support mangrove communities. Mangrove trees grow submerged in soft sediments. Rich community of detritus feeders (oysters, crabs, shrimp). Many fishes – often used as a nursery ground.

Rocky Intertidal Zone The rocky intertidal zone is alternately submerged and exposed by the tides. Upper zones are exposed to air longer. Physical stress (desiccation, waves, temp, salinity), predation, and competition produce distinct bands.

Rocky Subtidal Zone Kelp forests dominated by brown seaweeds occupy shallow subtidal waters. Grazing urchins and molluscs are common. Predators include sea stars, fishes, and otters.

Rocky Subtidal Zone Kelp forests dominated by brown seaweeds occupy shallow subtidal waters. Grazing urchins and molluscs are common. Predators include sea stars, fishes, and otters.

Rocky Subtidal Zone Coral reefs are limited to the photic zone in tropical marine environments with high water clarity. Highly diverse CORAL REEFS

Rocky Subtidal Zone Coral reefs occur in neritic zones of warm, tropical water, dominated by cnidarians (corals); very productive, protect land from storms; most are now dying from rise in global temperatures

Deep-Sea Sediments The deep sea includes the continental slope, continental rise, and abyssal plain. Sand where there are currents, fine mud where currents are weak. Suspension feeding invertebrates are common. Deposit feeders found in muddy areas.

Hydrothermal Vents Hydrothermal vents occur on the abyssal plain in areas of submarine volcanic activity. Archaebacteria that derive energy by oxidizing sulfides form the basis of the food chain. Grazed by bivalves, limpets, and crabs. Other organisms, like tube worms, have symbiotic archaebacteria.

Hydrothermal Vents Deep-sea vent: Occurs in benthic zone; diverse, unusual organisms; energy comes not from light but from chemicals released from the magma.

Pelagic Realm Open Ocean The pelagic realm includes the open ocean area. High oxygen, low nutrient levels. Areas of upwelling bring nutrients up from the sea floor. OCEANIC PELAGIC BIOME

Pelagic Realm Epipelagic – surface waters Mesopelagic – twilight zone, supports a varied community of animals. Deep sea forms depend on a rain of organic debris from above.

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