Aquatic BiomesAquatic Biomes

Environmental ScienceEnvironmental Science

Instructor: E. EnnisInstructor: E. Ennis

Water on the EarthWater on the Earth

75% - 78% of the Earth’s surface is covered in water75% - 78% of the Earth’s surface is covered in water

Land22%

Water78%

What factors influence the kind of What factors influence the kind of life an aquatic biome contains?life an aquatic biome contains?

SalinitySalinity DepthDepth Speed of water flowSpeed of water flow

How much freshwater?How much freshwater?

Of all the water Of all the water available on Earth…available on Earth…

Only 3% is freshwaterOnly 3% is freshwater Of the 3% freshwater, Of the 3% freshwater,

2% is tied up in 2% is tied up in glaciers and glaciers and icebergs…icebergs…

Only leaving less than Only leaving less than 1% available to 1% available to humans.humans.

97%

2%

1%

Types of Life in An Types of Life in An Aquatic BiomeAquatic Biome

Major types of aquatic biomesMajor types of aquatic biomes

Salt WaterSalt Water Estuaries**Estuaries** CoastlinesCoastlines Coral ReefsCoral Reefs Coastal Marshes**Coastal Marshes** Mangrove Swamps**Mangrove Swamps** OceansOceans

** May be brackish** May be brackish

Fresh WaterFresh Water StreamsStreams RiversRivers LakesLakes PondsPonds Wetlands (inland)Wetlands (inland)

LimnologyLimnologyThe study of fresh water and its ecosystemsThe study of fresh water and its ecosystems

The study of freshwater ecosystems can be The study of freshwater ecosystems can be divided into 2 systemsdivided into 2 systems

1. Lentic – standing water 1. Lentic – standing water (little or no current)(little or no current)

2. Lotic – flowing water2. Lotic – flowing water

Examples of Lentic SystemsExamples of Lentic Systems

Standing waterStanding water LakesLakes PondsPonds Wetlands Wetlands

• MarshesMarshes• SwampsSwamps• bogsbogs

Life Found in Aquatic Life Found in Aquatic SystemsSystems

PhytoplanktonPhytoplankton

““Plant Plankton”Plant Plankton” Free FloatingFree Floating MicroscopicMicroscopic Cynobacteria or algaeCynobacteria or algae ProducersProducers Contain cholorphyll - Contain cholorphyll -

photosyntheticphotosynthetic Support most aquatic Support most aquatic

food chains and food food chains and food webswebs

•Plants in the ocean produce over half the world's oxygen.

• The most important plants in the ocean are too small to be seen without a microscope.

• They float near the surface and drift with the currents, so they have been named phytoplankton (phyto=plant, plankton=drifter).

• Phytoplankton are the 'grass' of the sea. Where they grow there is food for marine animals.

• Ocean color tells you how much phytoplankton there is in the water.

Did you know????Did you know????

How do plankton stay afloat?How do plankton stay afloat?

Spines – increase Surface area

Empty cavitiesIncrease buoyancy

Chains or linking increasesSurface area

Flagella allow weakSwimming or movement

ZooplanktonZooplankton

““Animal Plankton”Animal Plankton” Non-photosyntheticNon-photosynthetic Consumers (herbivores)Consumers (herbivores)

Feed on phytoplanktonFeed on phytoplankton

Single Celled Protozoa to Single Celled Protozoa to larger invertebrates such larger invertebrates such as jellyfishas jellyfish

Many zooplankton are Many zooplankton are larval stages of familiar larval stages of familiar animals animals

LarvalStages

AdultStages

Strong SwimmersConsumersFish, turtles, Whales

Nekton

BenthosBenthos Bottom DwellersBottom Dwellers Anchor to one spot: Anchor to one spot:

barnacles, oystersbarnacles, oysters Burrow in mud or sand: Burrow in mud or sand:

wormsworms Walk on bottom: Lobsters, Walk on bottom: Lobsters,

crabscrabs

Habitats: Habitats: Intertidal zones, rocky Intertidal zones, rocky

shores, tide poolsshores, tide pools Muddy Sandy communitiesMuddy Sandy communities Deep ocean/ coral reefsDeep ocean/ coral reefs Hydrothermal vent areasHydrothermal vent areas

• archaebacteriaarchaebacteria

DecomposersDecomposers

Break down organic Break down organic compounds into compounds into simple nutrients that simple nutrients that can be used by can be used by producersproducers

Break down dead Break down dead bodies and wastebodies and waste

Characteristics of an Characteristics of an Aquatic BiomeAquatic Biome

Have less pronounced and fixed physical Have less pronounced and fixed physical boundariesboundaries Makes it difficult to count and manage Makes it difficult to count and manage

populationspopulations due to the size of the ocean and many due to the size of the ocean and many

organisms are largely hidden from vieworganisms are largely hidden from view

Characteristics of an Aquatic BiomeCharacteristics of an Aquatic Biome

Have more complex and longer food Have more complex and longer food chains and food webschains and food webs

Physical support from water Physical support from water buoyancybuoyancy

Organisms take advantage of water's buoyancy to transport themselves to nearby or distant habitats with little energy expenditure

A fish will float on top of the water if it A fish will float on top of the water if it weighs less than the amount of water it weighs less than the amount of water it displaces (pushes away). displaces (pushes away).

Most fish weigh more than the water they Most fish weigh more than the water they displace and would sink to the ocean floor. displace and would sink to the ocean floor. But, most fish do not spend their lives on But, most fish do not spend their lives on the ocean floor. the ocean floor.

They can do this because of an organ They can do this because of an organ called a swim-bladder ( a built-in gas filled called a swim-bladder ( a built-in gas filled chamber) that helps the fish get off the chamber) that helps the fish get off the ground and up in the water. ground and up in the water.

Some fast-moving fish and sharks do not Some fast-moving fish and sharks do not have a swim bladder and therefore must have a swim bladder and therefore must keep moving or they will sink. keep moving or they will sink.

Fairly constant temperatureFairly constant temperature

Nourishment from dissolved Nourishment from dissolved nutrientsnutrients

Areas of pronounced upwellingAreas of pronounced upwelling

-Deep oceanic currents colliding with sharp coastal shelves -Temperature differences / changes-Surface Winds

Water AvailabilityWater Availability

Oceans cover 139,400,000 square miles Oceans cover 139,400,000 square miles of the Earth’s surfaceof the Earth’s surface

The average depth of the oceans is The average depth of the oceans is 12,238 feet 12,238 feet

OceanArea (square

miles)Average Depth (ft) Deepest depth (ft)

Pacific Ocean 64,186,000 15,215Mariana Trench, 36,200 ft deep

Atlantic Ocean 33,420,000 12,881Puerto Rico

Trench, 28,231 ft deep

Indian Ocean 28,350,000 13,002Java Trench, 25,344 ft deep

Southern Ocean7,848,300 sq. miles (20.327 million sq

km )

13,100 - 16,400 ft deep (4,000 to 5,000 meters)

the southern end of the South

Sandwich Trench, 23,736 ft (7,235 m)

deep

Arctic Ocean 5,106,000 3,953Eurasia Basin, 17,881 ft deep

Easy dispersement of organisms, Easy dispersement of organisms, larvae and eggslarvae and eggs

Water propulsion

Water propulsion

Hydrofoils - use of flippers

Up/Down movement of pectoral fins

A big difference between fish and dolphins A big difference between fish and dolphins is that a fish's tail moves from side to side is that a fish's tail moves from side to side and a dolphin's moves up and down. and a dolphin's moves up and down.

The more slender the body shape, The more slender the body shape, the faster the movementthe faster the movement

AdvantagesAdvantages

Less exposure to harmful radiationLess exposure to harmful radiation Dilution and dispersion of pollutants Dilution and dispersion of pollutants

DisadvantagesDisadvantages

Can tolerate a narrow range of Can tolerate a narrow range of temperaturestemperatures

Exposure to dissolved pollutantsExposure to dissolved pollutants Fluctuating populations size for many Fluctuating populations size for many

speciesspecies Dispersion separates many aquatic Dispersion separates many aquatic

offspring from parentsoffspring from parents

Salt Water Life ZonesSalt Water Life Zones

How Oceans were FormedHow Oceans were Formed

Un-level LithosphereUn-level Lithosphere Rain (static electricity)Rain (static electricity) Erosion , Mass Erosion , Mass

wastingwasting Salts from Rock Salts from Rock

formationsformations

Why are oceans important?Why are oceans important?

Covers 71-75% of earth’s surfaceCovers 71-75% of earth’s surface Make up 99.5% of earth’s habitable Make up 99.5% of earth’s habitable

volumevolume Contain 250,000 known species of plant Contain 250,000 known species of plant

and animalsand animals Provide important and ecological and Provide important and ecological and

economic serviceseconomic services

Major ecological and Major ecological and economic services provided economic services provided

by marine systemsby marine systems

Ecological ServicesEcological Services

Ecological ServicesEcological Services

Climate moderationClimate moderation Carbon dioxide absorptionCarbon dioxide absorption Nutrient cyclingNutrient cycling Reduced storm impact (mangrove Reduced storm impact (mangrove

swamps, estuaries, barrier islands)swamps, estuaries, barrier islands) Habitats and nurseries for species Habitats and nurseries for species

(shrimp, crab, oysters, clams, fish)(shrimp, crab, oysters, clams, fish) Genetic resources and biodiversityGenetic resources and biodiversity

Mangrove Swamps (Forest)Mangrove Swamps (Forest)

Mangrove swamps Mangrove swamps are found along are found along tropical seacoasts tropical seacoasts on both sides of the on both sides of the equatorequator

EstuariesEstuaries

Barrier Islands

Economic ServicesEconomic Services

FoodFood

PharmaceuticalsPharmaceuticals

Algae: Astaxanthin is a powerful natural antioxidant / dietary supplement

TransportationTransportation

Ocean transport is the Ocean transport is the backbone of internal backbone of internal tradetrade

Coastal Habitats and Employment Coastal Habitats and Employment for Humansfor Humans

RecreationRecreation

Offshore Oil and Natural Gas / Offshore Oil and Natural Gas / MineralsMinerals

Coastal ZonesCoastal Zones

What is a coastal zone?What is a coastal zone?

The coastal zone is the warm, nutrient The coastal zone is the warm, nutrient rich, shallow water from high tide area on rich, shallow water from high tide area on land to the edge of the continental shelf.land to the edge of the continental shelf. Contains 90% of all marine speciesContains 90% of all marine species Site of most commercial fisheriesSite of most commercial fisheries

Ample supply of sunlight and nutrientsAmple supply of sunlight and nutrients

Estuaries / Coastal WetlandsEstuaries / Coastal Wetlands Part of coastal zonePart of coastal zone Brackish (mixture of salt and freshwater) Brackish (mixture of salt and freshwater)

Usually due to the movement of the tidesUsually due to the movement of the tides Salinity and temperature vary due toSalinity and temperature vary due to

• Daily tidesDaily tides• Seasonal variations and its affect of water flowSeasonal variations and its affect of water flow• Unpredictable flows of water from flooding or Unpredictable flows of water from flooding or

stormsstorms

Constant movement of nutrients due to Constant movement of nutrients due to flow of waterflow of water

Estuaries / Coastal WetlandsEstuaries / Coastal Wetlands

Covered with water all or part of the yearCovered with water all or part of the year River mouths (delta’s)River mouths (delta’s) InletsInlets BaysBays SoundsSounds Mangrove forest swampsMangrove forest swamps Salt marshesSalt marshes

Major life zones in an Major life zones in an oceanocean

Continental Rise

OceansOceans