What do these
abiotic factors
have in common?
What is different
about them?
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).
Over the next few days,
we will learn about the
characteristics of aquatic
(water) communities that
contain both biotic and
abiotic factors.
Essential Question:
What are the
characteristics of the
Earth’s major aquatic
communities?
Standard:
S7L4e. Describe the
characteristics of Earth’s major
terrestrial biomes and aquatic
communities (i.e. freshwater,
estuaries, and marine)
What does
aquatic mean?
Aquatic means
water.
Nearly 70% of the Earth’s
surface is covered by water.
The biotic and abiotic factors
in these ecosystems make
up aquatic communities.
Aquatic communities are
influenced by:
•
•
•
•
Amount of light present
Amount of oxygen present
Amount of nutrients available
Salinity (salt) level of the water
There are three types of Aquatic
communities we will discuss:
Freshwater
Marine
Wetland
Marine
Use your Marine Chart to take notes
Marine
• Marine ecosystems exist in
salt water
• There are four general
marine zones: intertidal,
neritic, oceanic, and benthic
Marine – Intertidal Zone
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
Marine – Intertidal Zone
Biotic Life
Crab
Clam
Oyster
They burrow in the sand or retreat to
shells during low tides
Marine – Intertidal Zone
Biotic Life
Snail
Sea Star
Sea Urchin
They cling to rocks and other surfaces
Marine – Neritic Zone
Marine – Neritic Zone
Characteristics
• Located above the continental
shelf
• Water is shallow enough that
light can penetrate it, which
makes photosynthesis possible
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
Marine – Neritic Zone
Biotic Life
Sea Turtle
Dolphins
Squid
Marine – Oceanic Zone
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
Marine
Oceanic Zone:
Biotic Life
Fishes, mammals, and animals
without backbones live here.
Some fish have no eyes or have
developed luminescent organs
Tuna
Sword Fish
Whale
Marine – Benthic Zone
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
Marine – Benthic Zone
Biotic Life
Hagfish
Clam
Tubeworm
Zones of the Marine
Turn to an elbow partner
and compare the four
zones of the marine biome.
Label your diagram
Fresh Water
Only 3% of all the water on the
Earth’s surface is fresh water
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
Fresh Water
Lake
Pond
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
Fresh Water – Lakes & Ponds
Biotic Life
Algae
Bass
Catfish
Frog
Turtle
Fresh Water
River
Stream
Creek
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
Fresh Water – Rivers & Streams
Biotic Life
Trout and other fish have sleek
bodies that help them move with
the current; others have
“suckers” they use to latch on to
rocks
Where the water
slows down you can
find beavers and
otters
Turn to an elbow partner
and compare and contrast
lake/pond and river/stream.
Include characteristics and
adaptations.
Wetlands
Wetlands
• 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
Wetland - Estuary
Wetland - Estuary
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
Wetlands – Estuary
Biotic Life
Shrimp
Mullet
Examples of organisms that begin
their lives in an estuary.
Wetlands – Estuary
Biotic Life
Osprey
Heron
Scallop
Wetlands – Marshes &
Swamps
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
Wetlands – Marsh
Biotic Life
Blackbird
Butterfly
Otter
Duck
Blue Heron
Turtle
Wetlands – Swamp
Biotic Life
Crocodile
Dragonfly
Bald Eagle
Frog
Egret
Shrimp
Label your diagram
Ocean
Stream
Lake
River
Estuary
Study Jams:
Aquatic Ecosystems