Aquatic Biomes 3/23/12

What are the freshwater (Oligotrophic) biomes? Less than 1% salt concentration or 0.5-5psu salt concentration. 1) Raparian = rivers or moving water 2) Lakes and Ponds = still bodies of water 3) Wetlands = saturated land that is covered mostly in water

What ecosystem services (economic benefits) do wetlands provide? 1) Prevention of flooding/storm mitigation 2) source of fishing, canoeing, bird watching and recreational activities

What ecological benefits do wetlands provide? Habitat for wildlife – very high biodiversity Prevent nutrient and toxic chemical build up (phytoremediation)

What are the 3 Marine Biomes? 1) Open Ocean Marine biome = all biomes in the open ocean (i.e. deep water/pelagic realm or in abyssal trenches) 2) Coral Reefs = found on the continental shelf, in the euphotic zone (well lighted). 3) Estuaries = transition area where salt and fresh water mix

What are the two basic realms? 1) Pelagic = open water 2) Benthic = sea bottom

What zones is the Pelagic realm divided into horizontally? 1) Neritic zone = encompasses water that overlies the continental shelves. 2) Oceanic zone = water over the open waters.

What are the vertical zones of the Pelagic realm? 1) Euphotic Zone = well lighted zone, highest NPP Also known as epipelagic zone 2) disphotic zone = area that is light enough for vision, but not enough for photosynthesis 3) aphotic zone = permenantly dark zone.

What areas is the aphotic zone divided into? 1) mesopelagic 2) bathypelagic 3) abyssalpelagic 4) hadalpelagic

What is the benthic zone beneath the continental shelf called? The sublittoral or shelf High biodiversity High Net Primary Productivity

What is the intertidal/littoral zone? Shore area lying between the extremes of high and low tide.