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Aquatic Ecosystems Chapter 7
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Aquatic Environments: Types and Characteristics
Aquatic life zones Saltwater Freshwater
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The Aquatic World Fig. 5-23a, p. 96
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Organisms in Aquatic Life Zones
Phytoplankton Zooplankton Nekton- Strong swimming (fish, sharks, etc.) Benthos - Bottom-dwelling (crabs, shellfish, worms) Decomposers Free floating
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Factors that Limit Life with Water Depth
Temperature Sunlight (photosynthesis, euphotic zone) Dissolved oxygen content Availability of nutrients (like phosphorus and nitrates- net primary productivity)
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Saltwater Life Zones Open ocean Coastal zone Estuaries
Coastal wetlands Mangrove swamps Intertidal zones (rocky shores and barrier beaches) Coral reefs
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Major Life Zones in the Ocean
High tide Low tide Open Sea Sun Coastal Zone Sea level Euphotic Zone Photosynthesis Estuarine Zone Continental shelf Bathyal Zone Twilight Biological Zones in Open Sea: Euphotic zone Bathyal zone Abyssal zone Abyssal Zone Darkness Fig. 5-26, p. 98
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Marine Ecosystems Fig. 5-25, p. 97 Climate moderation CO2 absorption
Natural Capital Marine Ecosystems Ecological Services Economic Services Climate moderation CO2 absorption Nutrient cycling Waste treatment and dilution Reduced storm impact (mangrove, barrier islands, coastal wetlands) Habitats and nursery areas for marine and terrestrial species Genetic resources and biodiversity Scientific information Food Animal and pet feed (fish meal) Pharmaceuticals Harbors and transportation routes Coastal habitats for humans Recreation Employment Offshore oil and natural gas Minerals Building materials Fig. 5-25, p. 97
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Estuaries Where freshwater and saltwater meet.
Highly variable environment (salinity, temperature, light penetration rapidly changes). Many fishes and shellfish spend larval stages here.
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Sediment Plume in an Estuary
Madagascar’s Betsiboka River flowing into Mozambique Channel Fig. 5-27, p. 98
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Estuaries Two general types: 2)Mangrove forests 1) Salt marshes
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Salt Marsh in Lake Titicaca, Peru
Fig. 5-28b, p. 99
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Salt Marsh Ecosystem Fig. 5-28a, p. 99 Smelt Herring gulls
Peregrine falcon Producer to primary consumer Snowy egret Cordgrass Short-billed dowitcher Primary to secondary consumer Marsh periwinkle Secondary to higher-level consumer Phytoplankton Smelt All producers and consumers to decomposers Zooplankton and small crustaceans Soft-shelled clam Clamworm Bacteria Fig. 5-28a, p. 99
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Marine Ecosystems Intertidal Zone
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Beach Organisms Fig. 5-29a, p. 101 Hermit crab Sea star Shore crab
Rocky Shore Beach High tide Periwinkle Sea urchin Anemone Mussel Low tide Sculpin Barnacles Kelp Sea lettuce Monterey flatworm Nudibranch Fig. 5-29a, p. 101
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Beach Organisms Fig. 5-29b, p. 101 Barrier beach Beach flea
Peanut worm Tiger beetle Blue crab Clam Dwarf olive High tide Sandpiper Ghost shrimp Silversides Low tide Mole shrimp White sand macoma Sand dollar Moon snail Fig. 5-29b, p. 101
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Barrier island – Miami Beach
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Primary and Secondary Beach Dunes
Ocean Beach Intensive recreation, no building Primary Dune No direct passage or building Trough Limited recreation and walkways Secondary Dune No direct passage or building Back Dune Most suitable for development Bay or Lagoon Intensive recreation Bay shore No filling Grasses or shrubs Taller shrubs Taller shrubs and trees Fig. 5-30, p. 102
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Coral Reef Ecosystem Fig. 5-31, p. 102 Bacteria Gray reef shark
Green sea turtle Sea nettle Producer to primary consumer Fairy basslet Blue tangs Primary to secondary consumer Parrot fish Sergeant major Brittle star Hard corals Algae Banded coral shrimp Secondary to higher-level consumer Phytoplankton Coney Symbiotic algae Zooplankton Blackcap basslet All producers and consumers to decomposers Sponges Moray eel Bacteria Fig. 5-31, p. 102
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Global Distribution of Coral Reefs
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Major Threats to Coral Reefs
Natural Capital Degradation Coral Reefs Ocean warming Soil erosion Algae growth from fertilizer runoff Mangrove destruction Coral reef bleaching Rising sea levels Increased UV exposure from ozone depletion Using cyanide and dynamite to harvest coral reef fish Coral removal for building material, aquariums, and jewelry Damage from anchors, ships, and tourist divers Fig. 5-32, p. 103
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Human Impacts on Marine Ecosystems
Natural Capital Degradation Marine Ecosystems Half of coastal wetlands lost to agriculture and urban development Over one-third of mangrove forests lost since 1980 to agriculture, development, and aquaculture shrimp farms About 10% of world’s beaches eroding because of coastal development and rising sea level Ocean bottom habitats degraded by dredging and trawler fishing boats Over 25% of coral reefs severely damaged and 11% have been destroyed Fig. 5-33, p. 103
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Aquatic Ecosystems Human Impacts on the Ocean
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Aquatic Ecosystems Human Impacts on the Ocean
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Freshwater Life Zones Standing (lentic) water - lakes and ponds
Flowing (lotic) water - streams and rivers
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Major Services of Freshwater Systems
Natural Capital Freshwater Systems Ecological Services Economic Services Climate moderation Nutrient cycling Waste treatment and dilution Flood control Groundwater recharge Habitats for aquatic and terrestrial species Genetic resources and biodiversity Scientific information Food Drinking water Irrigation water Hydroelectricity Transportation corridors Recreation Employment Where does our freshwater come from??? Fig. 5-34, p. 104
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Zones in a Temperate Lake
Sunlight Green frog Painted turtle Blue-winged teal Muskrat Pond snail Littoral zone Limnetic zone Diving beetle Plankton Profundal zone Benthic zone Northern pike Yellow perch Bloodworms Fig. 5-35, p. 105
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Freshwater Ecosystems
Lakes and Ponds Photosynthetically productive; large fish Highly productive, high species richness
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Freshwater Ecosystems
Lakes and Ponds Not always present; anaerobic, dominated by decomposers
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Freshwater Ecosystems
Thermal stratification in temperate lakes
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Freshwater Ecosystems
Turnover in temperate lakes
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Nutrient effects on lakes and streams
Oligotrophic- nutrient poor, therefore low net primary productivity; clear blue-green water Eutrophic- nutrient rich with nitrates and phosphates; lead to increase algae and excessive growth of producers; murky brown or green water with poor visibility.
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Humans accelerate eutrophication of lakes and streams
Animation of river eutrophication
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Freshwater Streams and Rivers
Surface water- precipitation that does not sink into the ground. Runoff Watershed or drainage basin- area of land where rivers and streams come together (river basin- all the water drains into a large river) *Aquifers- porous, water-saturated layers of sand, gravel or bedrock that are filled from surface water percolating down through the sediments. *Water table- upper surface of the zone of saturation , where all pores between sediment particles are filled with water.
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Flowing water zones- (Planet Earth)
Source: Tend to be narrow, swift, clear, cold, nutrient poor, and highly oxygenated; not very productive Transition: warmer, wider, deeper streams, support more producers than source zone Floodplain: Tend to be wide, deeper river meet valleys. slow, cloudy, warm, nutrient rich, and less oxygenated; large levels of algae, aquatic plant
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Stream Zones Fig. 5-36, p. 106 Rain and snow Lake Glacier Rapids
Waterfall Tributary Flood plain Oxbow lake Salt marsh Delta Ocean Deposited sediment Source Zone Transition Zone Water Floodplain Zone Sediment Fig. 5-36, p. 106
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Freshwater Inland Wetlands
Importance of inland wetlands Natural sponges/ remove pollutants Diverse habitats Types of wetlands Marshes (dominated by grasses/reeds) Swamps (dominated by trees/shrubs) Prairie potholes (depressions carved out by glaciers) Floodplains Arctic tundra (in summer) Seasonal wetlands
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Freshwater Ecosystems
Freshwater Swamps Marsh
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Freshwater Ecosystems
Prairie potholes Floodplain- Mississippi River 40
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Freshwater Ecosystems
Artic tundra- Alaska in summer 41
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Human Impacts on Freshwater Systems
Dams, diversions and canals - Animation Flood control levees and dikes Pollutants from cities and farmlands Wetland destruction
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Interaction of Life Zones
Case-in-Point: The Everglades
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What are the Everglades?
Used to cover over 11,000 square miles flowing from Kissimmee River to Lake Okeechobee, and then south through the Everglades to Florida Bay (KOE watershed) Spans up to 60 miles in width, but can be only 6 inches in depth in some areas Considered a hot spot of biodiversity Only area in the world where Alligators and Crocodiles exist side by side Nicknamed “River of Grass” (Marjorie Stoneman Douglas)
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History of the Everglades
FL governor Napoleon Bonaparte Broward began the push to drain the Everglades Miami and Ft. Lauderdale were created when tracts of land were drained into farmland 1948- Central and South Florida Project (US congress)-- created man-made canals and levees moving over 1 billion gallons of water daily into the ocean The Everglades is now one half of the size it used to be due to this change
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What is being done? CERP (Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan)
30 year, $10.9 billion 50-50 partnership with FL and US govts Improve water quality and water flow Flow maps
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The major CERP Plan components :
Surface Water Storage Reservoirs Water Preserve Areas Management of Lake Okeechobee as an Ecological Resource Improved Water Deliveries to the Estuaries Underground Water Storage Treatment Wetlands Improved Water Deliveries to the Everglades Removal of Barriers to Sheetflow Storage of Water in Existing Quarries Reuse of Wastewater Improved Water Conservation Additional Feasibility Studies
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