Aquatic Biomes
description
Transcript of Aquatic Biomes
Aquatic Biomes• Freshwater– Lakes and Ponds– Streams and Rivers– Marshes and Swamps
•Marine– Oceans
– Coastal wetlands
Freshwater
Lakes and Ponds• Very small and
seasonal to very large and deep
• Summer top layer warmest
• Winter bottom layer is warmest
Lake and Pond Life• Insects• Frogs, Turtles• Fish – feeders and predators• Plants- more along shore less the deeper
you go.– Ponds will have plants even in the deepest
parts• Microscopic life
Rivers and Streams• Bodies of water moving in one
direction• Source – spring, snow melt,
lake• Cold and fast moving near
source– Higher oxygen levels
• Middle – diverse ecosystem, slower moving
• Mouth – warmest, lowest oxygen levels
River Life• Fast moving cold water –
Trout and Dobson fly• Middle parts of river– Bass, turtles, frogs– Otters
• Mouth of the river– Carp and catfish
Wetlands
Swamp• Trees• Poorly drained
land near rivers
Marsh• Low flat land• Shallow waters• Reeds and cattails• Rich sediments
Wetland Animal Life
• Ducks, geese• Muskrats, nutria• Turtles, frogs, newts,
salamanders• Alligators
Wetland Plant Life
• Marshes– Cattails
• Swamps– Bald cypress
Biotope Aquarium – Amazon River
Biotope Aquarium – African Great Lakes
Marine Biome
Oceans• Largest biome on the
planet• Divided into zones
according to how much light penetrates the water:– Sunlight – Twilight– Midnight
Sunlight Zone• Down to about 600 feet
below surface• 90 % of marine life lives here• Photosynthesis can take
place here• Includes tidal zones
Twilight Zone
• From 600 to 3000 feet below the surface
• Very little light• No plant life• Specialized animals
Midnight Zone
• 3000 feet to the bottom• No light – no plants• Cold – except by thermal
vents• Very high pressure
Coastal Wetlands• Halophytic plants – salt loving plants• Where fresh water meets salt water• Brackish water• Erosion and flood control
Salt Marshes
• Where rivers meet oceans• Temperate • Abundant bird life• Tidal flooding – floods
everyday• Sand or mud flats
Mangrove Swamps
• Mangrove trees – tangled roots
• Pneumatophores – special adaptation that supplies tree with air
• Tropical• Protects shoreline