2. Aquatic Life Zones
Types of organisms in an aquatic ecosystem are mainly determined by salinity(amount of salt):
Saltwater/ Marine life zones
Freshwater life zones

3. Limiting Factors All zones that we discuss have limiting factors.
So what is a limiting factor?
Limiting factor: a resource or environmental condition that limits the growth, abundance, or distribution of an organism or a population of organisms in an ecosystem.

4. Limiting factors that affect aquatic organisms:
Temperature
Availability of light for photosynthesis
Confined to Euphotic (photic) zone
Dissolved oxygen content
Decreases with depth
Availability of nutrients (CO2, NO3-, PO43-)
CO2 increases with depth
Turbidity: degree of cloudiness in water
Inhibits photosynthesis

5. Why are our oceans important?
List at least 3 reasons our oceans are important.
ish_to_protect_our_oceans

6. What We Get From The Ocean:
Climate control
Nutrient cycling
Habitats
Food
Oil
Etc.

7. Marine Zones

8. Note Break!!
Looking at the words phytoplankton and zooplanktion, what is the difference between the two organisms?
Remember what you know about the prefix zoo and the definition of phyto is something pertaining to or derived from plants.

9. Types of Aquatic Organisms:
Plankton: free floating organisms; 3 types:
Phytoplankton
= Primary producers
Ex: Diatoms, cyanobacteria
Zooplankton
= Primary and secondary consumers
Single-celled to large invertebrates like jellyfish
Ultraplankton
Tiny photosynthetic bacteria

10. Plankton!!!

11. Beautiful plankton

12. Types of Aquatic Organisms cont.:
Nekton
Strong swimmers: fish, turtles, whales
2DA14B7
Benthos
Bottom dwellers: oysters, sea stars, clams, lobsters, crabs, worms
Decomposers: mostly bacteria

13. Major Life Zones

14. 3 Major Zones Horizontal Zones (Extending from land out to sea)
EX: Intertidal zone

15. Limiting Factors in the Horizontal Zone
Temperature
Salinity
Nutrient availability

16. 3 Major zones
Vertical life zones

17. Limiting Factors of Vertical Zones
Temperature
Nutrient availability
Available sunlight DO
As you move down through the zones all of these factors decrease.
Colder, darker, less dissolved oxygen, etc.

18. 3 Major Zones
Benthic Zones: Everything on the bottom. Includes all zones.

19. Limiting Factors in the Benthic Zone
Organisms that are benthic must adapt to the limiting factors listed in the zone where they live.
For example, a barnacle in a tidal pool will have different limiting factors than organisms on a deep sea vent.

20. Major Marine Ecosystems Coastal Ecosystems
From shore to edge of continental shelf
Warm, nutrient rich, shallow
High in nutrients because of increased photosynthesis
Contains 90% of all marine species & most fisheries

22. Coastal Ecosystems: ecological and economic services
Maintain water quality by filtering:
Toxic pollutants
Excess plant nutrients
Sediments
Provide food, timber, fuelwood, habitats
Reduce storm damage and erosion

24. Types of Coastal Ecosystems
Estuaries: where rivers meet the sea
Questions with video
(5 min)
B. Coastal Wetlands: land covered with water all or part of year:
Inlets, bays, sounds, mangrove forests, salt marshes
Ls (3 min)
Video question on estuaries:
How are estuaries distinct from every other ecosystem?
How much of the US population visit estuaries?
Why are estuaries important?
What are estuaries known as?
How are estuaries part of the economy?
What are some other benefits estuary give us?
How much of our population live in coastal areas? Is this a good or a bad thing?

25. Coastal Ecosystems: c. Coral Reefs Formation
Tiny animals (polyps) secret calcium carbonate shells, which become coral reefs
Polyps and zooxanthellae algae have mutualistic relationship:
Algae provide oxygen from photosynthesis & chemical energy
Coral polyps provide home
ch?v=nWyw5H88PBw (3 min)

26. Coastal Zone: Coral Reefs Ecosystem Services:
Marine equivalent of tropical rain forests
Provides habitat for one- fourth of all marine species
Moderates climate b/c takes up CO2
Economic/ Social Services:
Food
Potential medicine
Employment & Recreation
(4 min)

27. Coastal Zone: Coral Reefs Causes of Degradation:
(Human-caused) Warmer ocean temperatures leading to coral bleaching: kills algae and thus the polyps
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28. How do we contribute to coral bleaching?

29. Open Ocean: Three vertical zones:
Euphotic zone: lit upper zone
Phytoplankton perform photosynthesis
Nutrient levels low & d-Oxygen levels high
Have fast swimming, predatory fish
Bathyal zone
Dimly lit, few producers
Have zooplankton and
smaller fishes

30. Open Ocean: Three vertical zones:
Euphotic zone
Bathyal zone
Abyssal zone
Dark & cold
No photosynthesis, little d- oxygen
High nutrients
Have deposit & filter feeders (eat marine snow), slow fish
(2 min)

31. Deep Sea Adaptations

32. Major threats to marine systems:
Coastal development
Habitat destruction
Overfishing
Use of fishing trawlers
Pollution
Introduction of invasive species
Climate change

33. Ocean Acidification
(20 min)

34. Aquatic Life Zones Freshwater Zones: services: Climate moderation
Nutrient cycling
Flood control
Habitat
Food
Recreation & employment
Etc.

35. Freshwater Life Zones: includes:
Lentic (standing) bodies of freshwater:
Lakes
Ponds
Inland wetlands
Lotic (flowing) systems of freshwater:
Streams
Rivers

36. Lakes: bodies of standing fresh water formed when precipitation, runoff, or groundwater seepage fill depressions in earth’s surface

37. Aquatic Life Zones 4 Lake Zones: Littoral zone
Near shore with rooted plants
High biodiversity: turtles, frogs, crayfish, some fish
Limnetic zone
Open, sunlight area away from shore
Main photosynthetic zone
Some larger fish

38. Lake Zones: Profundal zone Deep water too dark for photosynthesis
Some fish
Benthic zone
Decomposers & detritus feeders
Nourished primarily by dead matter

39. Aquatic Life Zones Lake Types Based on Nutrient Levels:
Oligotrophic lakes
Low nutrients and low NPP
Very clear water
Eutrophic lakes
High nutrients and high NPP
Murky water with high turbidity
Cultural (artifical) eutrophication: input of excess nutrients (fertilizers) causing excess algal growth

40. Oligotrophic lake

41. Eutrophic lake

42. The Effect of Nutrient Enrichment on a Lake
Figure 8.17: These photos show the effect of nutrient enrichment on a lake. Crater Lake in the U.S. state of Oregon (left) is an example of an oligotrophic lake, which is low in nutrients. Because of the low density of plankton, its water is quite clear. The lake on the right, found in western New York State, is a eutrophic lake. Because of an excess of plant nutrients, its surface is covered with mats of algae.

43. Aquatic Life Zones Freshwater Degradation: Dams destroy habitat
Flood control levees and dikes along rivers alter flow & destroy habitat
Pollutants from cities and farms on streams, rivers, and lakes
Draining wetlands for agriculture & development