2

Aquatic ecosystems are classified as◦ Freshwater (inland), or◦ Saltwater

Wetlands are areas that are web for at least part of the year◦ Marshes◦ Swamps◦ Bogs

3

Stonefly larva, Plecoptera sp.

Rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri

stream

river lake

salt marsh

delta

Blue crab, Callinectes sapidus

Carp, Cyprinus carpio

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(Stonefly): © Kim Taylor/Bruce Coleman, Inc.; (Trout): © William H. Mullins/Photo Researchers, Inc.; (Carp): © Robert Maier/Animals Animals/Earth Scenes; (Crab): © Gerlach Nature Photography/Animals Animals/Earth Scenes

4

Lakes◦ Bodies of water classified by nutrient status

Oligotrophic - Nutrient-poor Eutrophic - Nutrient-rich

◦ Lake Stratification In temperate zones, deep lakes are stratified in the

summer and winter and have distinct vertical zones

5

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a. Oligotrophic lake

b. Eutrophic lakea: © Roger Evans/Photo Researchers, Inc.; b: © Michael Gadomski/Animals

Animals/Earth Scenes

6

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Summer Stratification

Fall OverturnSpring Overturn

wind

wind

wind

epilimnion 24°–25°C

thermocline 13°–18 °

wind

ice

2°–3°C

hypolimnion5°–8°

most of lake4°C

Winter Stratification

7

Plankton◦ Important community in fresh water and salt

water ecosystems Phytoplankton - Photosynthetic algae Zooplankton - Animals

Life Zones◦ Littoral zone - Closest to shore◦ Limnetic zone - Sunlit areas◦ Profundal zone - Below light penetration◦ Benthic zone - Soil-Water interface

8

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surface organisms

fishes

insect larvae

phytoplankton

zooplankton

Northern pike, Esox lucius

LittoralZone

clingingorganisms

ProfundalZone

LimneticZone

(Pike): © Robert Maier/Animals Animals/Earth Scenes; (Water strider): © G.I. Bernard/Animals Animals/Earth Scenes

BenthicZone

bottom-dwellingorganisms

Water strider , Gerris sp.

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Estuaries◦ Partially enclosed bodies of water where fresh

water and seawater meet and mix◦ Organisms must be able to adapt to changing

salinity◦ Nearly two thirds of all marine fishes and shellfish

require development in estuaries

10

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a. Mudflat

b. Mangrove swamp

c. Rocky shore

a: © John Eastcott/Yva Momatiuk/Animals Animals/Earth Scenes; b: © Theo Allofs/Visuals Unlimited; c: © Brandon Cole/Visuals Unlimited.

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Littoral zone lies between high and low water marks◦ Rocky Shores

Many attached organisms Littoral zone of rocky beach divided into subzones

◦ Sandy beach No attachment sites available Nearly all permanent residents dwell underground

12

Euphotic Zone◦ Contain a greater concentration of organisms

than the rest of the sea Coral Reefs

◦ Located just below the surface in shallow, warm, tropical waters

◦ Densely populated with life

13

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abyssal plain

low tide

intertidal zone

euphotic zone

high tide

continentalshelf

continentalslope

deep-seawaters

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Pelagic Zone◦ Epipelagic Zone

Lacks inorganic nutrients Does not have high concentration of phytoplankton

◦ Mesopelagic Zone High concentration of organisms due to sunlight

penetration and supply of inorganic nutrients Coral Reefs

◦ Bathypelagic Zone Complete darkness except for bioluminescent light Carnivores and scavengers

15

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dolphin

sea turtle barracuda

ocean bonito

mackerel

tuna

prawn

lanternfish

giantsquid midshipman

spermwhale

shark

viperfish

hagfish

anglerfish

deep-seashrimp

gulper

baleenwhale

EpipelagicZone

MesopelagicZone

BathypelagicZone

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Abyssmal Plain◦ High pressure and extreme cold◦ Organisms are dependent on debris sinking down

from above◦ Interrupted by oceanic ridges◦ Hydrothermal vents

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Major ocean currents move heat from the equator to cooler parts of the biosphere◦ Gulf Stream warms the east coast of North

America and parts of western Europe◦ Another current in the Southern Hemisphere

warms the eastern coast of South America◦ The Humboldt Current in the Southern

Hemisphere carries cold water northward along the western coast of South America El Nino Southern Oscillation--Cold upwelling off west

coast of South America subsides

18

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Asia

Australia

Africa

Europe

Gulf Stre

am

equatorequatorial countercurrent

Japan Current

warm currents

cold currents

west wind drift

west wind drift

east wind drift

Antarctica

NorthAmerica

SouthAmerica

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Climate and the Biosphere◦ Solar Radiation◦ Global Wind

Circulation Terrestrial

Ecosystems◦ Tundra◦ Forests◦ Shrublands◦ Grasslands◦ Deserts

Aquatic Ecosystems Lakes Life Zones Estuaries Seashores Oceans

20

Openers (Earth): Courtesy NASA; (Lake): © Stephen J. Krasemann/Photo Researchers, Inc.; (Birch): © Dwight Kuhn; (Sunflowers): © Jim Brandenburg/Minden Pictures; (Acacia tree): © Konrad Wothe/Minden Pictures; (Rain forest): © age fotostock/SuperStock; (Lynx): © Imagebroker/Alamy; (Salamander): © David M. Dennis/Animals Animals/Earth

Scenes; (Buffalo): © Eastcott Momatiuk/Getty Images; (Lion): © age fotostock/SuperStock; (Toucan): © age fotostock/SuperStock

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.