Biomes
Aquatic Biomes
Biomes
• Biome-def(p70)- a lrg grp of
ecosystems that share the same type
of climax community
– 2 types:
• Aquatic-biomes located in bodies of water
• Terrestrial-biomes located on land
Aquatic Biomes
• 75% of the Earth’s surface is covered with water
• Important differences between Freshwater
(Freshwater Biomes) & Saltwater (Marine Biomes)
environments
• Abiotic & Biotic factors can change in various parts
of the ocean
– i.e. Abiotic-salinity, depth, light availability,
temperature, pressure,etc.
– i.e.Biotic-types of invertebrates, predators,
producers,etc.
• Lrg amts of biomass are found in the ocean
– Biomass can be made up of microscopic organisms
to the lrgest org.
Marine Biomes
• Marine Biomes can be partitioned into zones
based on availability of light.
– Photic zone-def(p71)- the portion of the marine
biome that is shallow enough for sunlight to
penetrate.
• i.e.-coastlines (sandy beaches, tide pools, bays, rocky
shores, coral reefs,etc.)
• Potential Test Questions-What characteristics would
org that live in these areas have?
– Aphotic zone-def(p71)-the portion of the marine
biome that never receives any sunlight
• i.e-deep ocean
• Potential Test Question-What characteristics would
org that live in these areas have?
Aphotic & Photic Zones
Estuaries-Mixed Waters
• Estuary-def(p71)- a coastal body of
water, partially surrounded by land, in
which freshwater and salt water mix
– Imp Abiotic factor in estuaries= salinity
(amt of salt)
• Salinity in an estuary (0.5 to 17 ppt) can
range from seawater (35 ppt) to freshwater
(0.5ppt)
• Salinity changes with tidal changes
• Salinity affects the organisms that can be
found in an estuary
Estuaries-Mixed Waters
• Examples of Estuary organisms:
– Producers-saltgrass, eel grass, cordgrass,
saltmarsh hay
– Tangle of producers allows for nurseries to form
for: crabs, snails, shrimp
• These org can feed on decaying, suspended material
– Carnivores-birds, sea anemones, jellyfish, flounder,
pipefish
– Bacteria help decay and release of nutrients which
allows them to be recycled into the estuary.
Effects of Various Factors
in Marine Biomes
•
•
•
Tides
– Intertidal zones usually have:
• High levels of sunlight
• High levels of nutrients (these levels can change based on tide)
• High levels of oxygen (these levels can change based on tide)
Light Availability
– Photic Zones
• High nutrient content
• Abundant living org
– Plankton-def(p73)-sm org that drift & float in waters of photic
zone
– Can include: diatoms, eggs, juvenile larvae of marine animals
• High productivity
– Aphotic Zone
• Areas of the ocean where no sunlight penetrates and pressure
increases, and temperature decreases
• Many org that live in this region depend on plankton for food, either
directly or indirectly
Potential Test Question-What characteristics might an aphotic zone organism
have? Why?
Freshwater Biomes
• Freshwater biomes include:
– Lakes
-Streams
– Rivers
-Ponds
• Organisms that could be found in a freshwater biome:
– Producers-Cattails
– Heterotrophs-tadpoles, aquatic insects, turtles, worms, crayfish, catfish,
minnows,etc.
• Abiotic factors that effect organisms in freshwater biomes:
(Fig.3.7)
– Temperature of water
– Sunlight in water
– Amt of oxygen in water
Freshwater Biomes
• Other Examples of Aquatic Biomes:
– Wetlands-areas where water and land meet
– Types of wetlands:
• Swamps-
– have trees
– Water flowing through them
– Highly productive
• Marshes–
–
–
–
No trees
Water flowing through them
Found inland and in coastal regions
Highly productive
• Bogs
– No trees
– No water flowing through them