1. What do these abiotic factors have in common? What is different about them?

2. Three out of the four sources of water (lake, river, ocean) include both biotic and abiotic factors; therefore, they are considered communities or ecosystems. The glacier is just an abiotic factor because it does not contain any biotic organisms (at least that we know about).

3. Over the next few days, we will learn about the characteristics of aquatic (water) communities that contain both biotic and abiotic factors.

4. Essential Question: What are the characteristics of the Earth’s major aquatic communities?

5. Standard: S7L4e. Describe the characteristics of Earth’s major terrestrial biomes and aquatic communities (i.e. freshwater, estuaries, and marine)

6. What does aquatic mean? Aquatic means water.

7. Nearly 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water. The biotic and abiotic factors in these ecosystems make up aquatic communities.

8. Aquatic communities are influenced by: Amount of light present Amount of oxygen present Amount of nutrients available Salinity (salt) level of the water

9. There are three types of Aquatic communities we will discuss: Marine Freshwater Wetland

10. Marine

11. Use your Marine Chart to take notes

12. Marine Marine ecosystems exist in salt water There are four general marine zones: intertidal, neritic, oceanic, and benthic

13. Marine – Intertidal Zone

14. Marine – Intertidal Zone Characteristics Area of shore between low and high tide Organisms must be able to survive the changing tides and the pounding waves Sometimes under water, sometimes exposed to air and sunlight Most biologically active due to high level of light and nutrients

15. Marine – Intertidal Zone Biotic Life Crab Clam Oyster They burrow in the sand or retreat to shells during low tides

16. Marine – Intertidal Zone Biotic Life Snail Sea Star They cling to rocks and other surfaces Sea Urchin

17. Marine – Neritic Zone

18. Marine – Neritic Zone Characteristics Located above the continental shelf Water is shallow enough that light can penetrate it, which makes photosynthesis possible

19. Marine – Neritic Zone Biotic Life Collection of small or microscopic organisms, including algae and protozoans, that float in great numbers in fresh or salt water, especially at or near the surface, and serve as food for fish and other larger organisms Plankton

20. Marine – Neritic Zone Biotic Life Sea Turtle Squid Dolphins

21. Marine – Oceanic Zone

22. Marine – Oceanic Zone Characteristics Open ocean and the largest marine zone Makes up most of the world’s oceans Sunlight can only pass through about 200 meters Most of the photosynthesis occurs in this zone because of the huge area Where sunlight does not reach, it becomes dark and cold with increased pressure

23. Marine Oceanic Zone: Biotic Life Fishes, mammals, and animals without backbones live here. Some fish have no eyes or have developed luminescent organs Sword Fish Tuna Whale

24. Marine – Benthic Zone

25. Marine – Benthic Zone Characteristics Ocean floor Extends horizontally from the Neritic zone through the Oceanic zone Hydrothermal vents found in deep areas Coral reefs are commonly found in the warm, shallow waters of benthic areas

26. Marine – Benthic Zone Biotic Life Hagfish Tubeworm Clam

27. Zones of the Marine

28. Turn to an elbow partner and compare the four zones of the marine biome.

29. Label your diagram

30. Fresh Water Only 3% of all the water on the Earth’s surface is fresh water

31. Fresh Water Characteristics Low salt content (salinity) Found in most places Found in areas with differing temperatures Supports a variety of animal and plant life Important in recycling the Earth’s water supply through the water cycle

32. Fresh Water Lake Pond

33. Fresh Water – Lakes & Ponds Characteristics Bodies of fresh water that flow slowly or not at all Lakes are deeper and larger than ponds Ponds are shallow enough to allow sunlight to reach the bottom; therefore, plants can grow

34. Fresh Water – Lakes & Ponds Biotic Life Algae Bass Frog Catfish Turtle

35. Fresh Water RiverStream Creek

36. Fresh Water – Rivers & Streams Characteristics Water that flows Rivers begin as cold streams in the mountains or hills that flow rapidly Farther down the mountain, water slows down and forms twists and turns Small streams join together to form large rivers Plants and animals must be able to survive the flowing currents

37. Fresh Water – Rivers & Streams Biotic Life Where the water slows down you can find beavers and otters Trout and other fish have sleek bodies that help them move with the current; others have “suckers” they use to latch on to rocks

38. Turn to an elbow partner and compare and contrast lake/pond and river/stream. Include characteristics and adaptations.

39. Wetlands

40. An ecosystem where water either covers the soil or is near the soil’s surface for all or part of the year Includes marshes, swamps, and estuaries May be fresh water or salt water Water may flow or stand still Important because it provides breeding grounds for organisms Plant life adapted to live in water

41. Wetland - Estuary

43. Wetland – Estuary Characteristics Wetland which forms at the mouth of a river where fresh water mixes with salt water from an ocean or bay Great diversity of plants and animals Dense (thick) plants protect organisms from waves and hide them from predators Tides circulate nutrients

44. Wetlands – Estuary Biotic Life Examples of organisms that begin their lives in an estuary. ShrimpMullet

45. Wetlands – Estuary Biotic Life Scallop Osprey Heron

46. Wetlands – Marshes & Swamps

47. Wetlands – Marshes & Swamps Characteristics Areas where water is more or less permanently at the surface Abundance of plant and animal life because nutrients are plentiful Marsh consists of soft stemmed vegetation Swamp is mainly woody plants or shrubs

48. Wetlands – Marsh Biotic Life Blackbird Butterfly Otter Duck Blue Heron Turtle

49. Wetlands – Swamp Biotic Life Crocodile Bald Eagle Frog Egret Dragonfly Shrimp

50. Label your diagram Stream Lake River Estuary Ocean

51. Study Jams: Aquatic Ecosystems