Post on 03-Jan-2016
Aquatic EcosystemsAquatic Ecosystems Ch. 7 Ch. 7
BellringerBellringer
ObjectivesObjectives
DescribeDescribe the factors that determine the factors that determine where an organism lives in an aquatic where an organism lives in an aquatic ecosystem.ecosystem.
DescribeDescribe the littoral zone and the benthic the littoral zone and the benthic zone that make up a lake or pond.zone that make up a lake or pond.
DescribeDescribe two environmental functions of two environmental functions of wetlands.wetlands.
DescribeDescribe one threat against river one threat against river ecosystems.ecosystems.
I. Freshwater EcosystemsI. Freshwater Ecosystems
The types of organisms in an aquatic The types of organisms in an aquatic ecosystem are mainly determined by ecosystem are mainly determined by the water’s the water’s salinitysalinity – the amount of – the amount of dissolved salts the water containsdissolved salts the water contains
Aquatic ecosystems are divided into Aquatic ecosystems are divided into freshwater and marine ecosystemsfreshwater and marine ecosystems
Freshwater – lakes, ponds, rivers, Freshwater – lakes, ponds, rivers, streams and streams and wetlandswetlands – areas – areas periodically underwaterperiodically underwater
Marine – coastal areas of marshes, Marine – coastal areas of marshes, swamps, coral reefs, ocean swamps, coral reefs, ocean
A. Characteristics of Aquatic A. Characteristics of Aquatic EcosystemsEcosystems
Factors such as temperature, Factors such as temperature, sunlight, oxygen, and nutrients sunlight, oxygen, and nutrients determine which organisms live in determine which organisms live in which areas of the waterwhich areas of the water
Aquatic ecosystems contain several Aquatic ecosystems contain several types of organisms that are grouped types of organisms that are grouped by their location and adaptations by their location and adaptations
Aquatic OrganismsAquatic Organisms
PlanktonPlankton – organisms that float near – organisms that float near the surface of the waterthe surface of the water
-two types of plankton-two types of plankton phytoplanktonphytoplankton – microscopic – microscopic
plants, and plants, and zooplanktonzooplankton – – microscopic animalsmicroscopic animals
-phytoplankton produce most of -phytoplankton produce most of the food for an aquatic the food for an aquatic
ecosystem ecosystem
Aquatic OrganismsAquatic Organisms
NektonNekton – free-swimming organisms – free-swimming organisms such as fish, turtles, and whalessuch as fish, turtles, and whales
BenthosBenthos – bottom-dwelling – bottom-dwelling organisms such as mussels, worms, organisms such as mussels, worms, and barnaclesand barnacles
-most live attached to hard surfaces-most live attached to hard surfaces
Aquatic OrganismsAquatic Organisms
Decomposers – organisms that break Decomposers – organisms that break down dead organisms are also part down dead organisms are also part of aquatic ecosystemsof aquatic ecosystems
B. Lakes and PondsB. Lakes and Ponds Lakes, ponds, and wetlands can form Lakes, ponds, and wetlands can form
naturally where groundwater reaches naturally where groundwater reaches the Earth’s surfacethe Earth’s surface
Beavers can create ponds by Beavers can create ponds by damming up streamsdamming up streams
B. Lakes and PondsB. Lakes and Ponds Humans create artificial lakes by Humans create artificial lakes by
damming flowing rivers and streams damming flowing rivers and streams to use them for power, irrigation, to use them for power, irrigation, water storage, and recreationwater storage, and recreation
Lakes and ponds can be structured Lakes and ponds can be structured into horizontal and vertical zonesinto horizontal and vertical zones
Aquatic ZonesAquatic Zones
Horizontal Zones:Horizontal Zones: Littoral zoneLittoral zone – near the shore, – near the shore,
nutrient-rich, aquatic life is diverse nutrient-rich, aquatic life is diverse and abundantand abundant
-plants such as cattails and -plants such as cattails and reeds are rooted in the water and reeds are rooted in the water and upper leaves and stems emerge from upper leaves and stems emerge from the waterthe water
Littoral zoneLittoral zone plants with floating leaves like pond liliesplants with floating leaves like pond lilies
-in the open water – plants, algae, and -in the open water – plants, algae, and some bacteria perform photosynthesissome bacteria perform photosynthesis
-Open water deep areas there is too little -Open water deep areas there is too little light for photosynthesis – bacterial light for photosynthesis – bacterial decomposers live theredecomposers live there
-fish adapted to live in cool, dark areas -fish adapted to live in cool, dark areas
Limnetic ZoneLimnetic Zone
Open area of lakeOpen area of lakeNo rooted vegetationNo rooted vegetation
Horizontal Zones:Horizontal Zones:
Benthic zone – the bottom of a Benthic zone – the bottom of a pond or lakepond or lake
-inhabited by decomposers, insect -inhabited by decomposers, insect larvae, clamslarvae, clams
EutrophicationEutrophication
EutrophicationEutrophication – an increase in – an increase in plant nutrients in an aquatic plant nutrients in an aquatic ecosystemecosystem
-a lake that has a large amount -a lake that has a large amount of plant growth due to nutrients – of plant growth due to nutrients – eutrophic lakeeutrophic lake
Eutrophic LakeEutrophic Lake -as the amount of plants and algae grows, -as the amount of plants and algae grows,
the number of bacteria feeding on the the number of bacteria feeding on the decaying organisms also grows, these decaying organisms also grows, these bacteria use the oxygen dissolved in the bacteria use the oxygen dissolved in the lake, the reduced amount of oxygen lake, the reduced amount of oxygen
-kills oxygen-loving organisms-kills oxygen-loving organisms
-accelerated by runoff-accelerated by runoff
-runoff is precipitation that carries -runoff is precipitation that carries sewage, fertilizers, or animals waste sewage, fertilizers, or animals waste from land into bodies of waterfrom land into bodies of water
A Lake EcosystemA Lake Ecosystem
C. Freshwater WetlandsC. Freshwater Wetlands
Freshwater wetlands Freshwater wetlands - areas of - areas of land that are covered with land that are covered with freshwater for at least part of the freshwater for at least part of the yearyear
2 main types Freshwater 2 main types Freshwater WetlandsWetlands
MarshesMarshes – contain nonwoody plants – contain nonwoody plants SwampsSwamps – contain woody plants like – contain woody plants like
trees and shrubstrees and shrubs
Freshwater WetlandsFreshwater Wetlands Wetlands performs several important Wetlands performs several important
environmental functionsenvironmental functions
-act as filters or sponges because they -act as filters or sponges because they absorb and remove pollutants from water absorb and remove pollutants from water that flows through themthat flows through them
-controls flooding by absorbing extra water -controls flooding by absorbing extra water when rivers overflow which protects farms when rivers overflow which protects farms and urban and residential areas from and urban and residential areas from damagedamage
-used by fish for feeding and spawning -used by fish for feeding and spawning “nurseries”“nurseries”
-home for native and migratory wildlife-home for native and migratory wildlife
Freshwater WetlandsFreshwater Wetlands
the vegetation traps carbon that the vegetation traps carbon that would otherwise be released as would otherwise be released as carbon dioxidecarbon dioxide
-used to produce commercially -used to produce commercially important products like cranberriesimportant products like cranberries
Freshwater WetlandsFreshwater Wetlands
LocationLocation Most freshwater wetlands in the US Most freshwater wetlands in the US
are in the southeastare in the southeast
-Florida Everglades is the largest -Florida Everglades is the largest freshwater wetlandfreshwater wetland
-marshes tend to occur on low, flat -marshes tend to occur on low, flat lands that have little water lands that have little water movementmovement
-in shallow waters, plant such as -in shallow waters, plant such as reeds, rushes and cattails root in reeds, rushes and cattails root in sediment and stick out above the sediment and stick out above the water year roundwater year round
ZonesZones
benthic zones of marshes are benthic zones of marshes are nutrient richnutrient rich
-there are several kinds of marshes -there are several kinds of marshes each which is characterized by its each which is characterized by its salinitysalinity– brackish marshes have slightly brackish marshes have slightly
salty watersalty water– salt marshes contain saltier watersalt marshes contain saltier water
SwampsSwamps -occur on flat, poorly drained land often near -occur on flat, poorly drained land often near
streamsstreams
-dominated by woody shrubs or water-loving -dominated by woody shrubs or water-loving treestrees
-ideal habitat for many amphibians such as frogs -ideal habitat for many amphibians such as frogs or salamanders, and reptiles like the American or salamanders, and reptiles like the American alligatoralligator
Wetlands were previously considered to be Wetlands were previously considered to be wastelands that provided breeding grounds for wastelands that provided breeding grounds for insects and so insects and so
many have been drained, filled, and cleared for many have been drained, filled, and cleared for farms or developmentfarms or development
ImportanceImportance
-the important role of wetlands as purifiers -the important role of wetlands as purifiers of wastewater and flood prevention is now of wastewater and flood prevention is now recognizedrecognized
-they are vitally important for wildlife -they are vitally important for wildlife habitatshabitats
-law and the federal government protect -law and the federal government protect many wetlands and most states now many wetlands and most states now prohibit destruction of certain wetlandsprohibit destruction of certain wetlands
Environmental Functions of Environmental Functions of WetlandsWetlands
D. RiversD. Rivers Many rivers originate from snow melt in the Many rivers originate from snow melt in the
mountainsmountains
-At the headwaters, a river is usually cold and full -At the headwaters, a river is usually cold and full of oxygen, and runs swiftly through a shallow of oxygen, and runs swiftly through a shallow riverbedriverbed
-As the river flows down a mountain, it may -As the river flows down a mountain, it may become warmer, wider, and slower and decrease become warmer, wider, and slower and decrease in oxygenin oxygen
-Change with the land and climate through which -Change with the land and climate through which it flowsit flows
-Runoff may wash nutrients and sediment from -Runoff may wash nutrients and sediment from the surrounding land and can affect the growth the surrounding land and can affect the growth and health of the organisms in the riverand health of the organisms in the river
Life in a riverLife in a river Near the churning headwaters, Near the churning headwaters,
mosses anchor themselves to rocksmosses anchor themselves to rocks
Plankton do not live in the Plankton do not live in the headwaters because the current is headwaters because the current is too strong for them to floattoo strong for them to float
Trout and minnows are adapted to Trout and minnows are adapted to the cold, oxygen-rich headwatersthe cold, oxygen-rich headwaters
-powerful swimmers-powerful swimmers
Life in a riverLife in a river
Downstream plankton can float in the Downstream plankton can float in the warmer, calmer waterswarmer, calmer waters
-other plants can set roots in the -other plants can set roots in the plant’s sedimentplant’s sediment
-catfish and carp also live in the -catfish and carp also live in the calmer waterscalmer waters
Rivers in dangerRivers in danger -industries use river water in -industries use river water in
manufacturing processes and as manufacturing processes and as receptacles for wastereceptacles for waste
-runoff from the land puts pesticides -runoff from the land puts pesticides and other poisons into rivers and and other poisons into rivers and coats riverbeds with toxic sedimentscoats riverbeds with toxic sediments
-dams also alter the ecosystems in -dams also alter the ecosystems in and around a riverand around a river
II. Marine EcosystemsII. Marine Ecosystems Located in coastal areas and in the Located in coastal areas and in the
open oceanopen ocean
A. Coastal WetlandsA. Coastal Wetlands Coastal wetlandsCoastal wetlands – land areas that – land areas that
are covered by salt water for all or are covered by salt water for all or part of the timepart of the time
-provide habitat and nesting -provide habitat and nesting areas areas for many fish and wildlifefor many fish and wildlife
Coastal WetlandsCoastal Wetlands
-absorbs excess rain which protects -absorbs excess rain which protects areas from floodingareas from flooding
-filters out pollutants and sediments -filters out pollutants and sediments
-provide recreational areas for -provide recreational areas for boating , fishing, and huntingboating , fishing, and hunting
EstuaryEstuary EstuaryEstuary – an area in which fresh – an area in which fresh
water from a river mixes with salt water from a river mixes with salt water from the oceanwater from the ocean
-traps nutrients -traps nutrients -very productive ecosystems -very productive ecosystems
because they are constantly because they are constantly receiving fresh nutrientsreceiving fresh nutrients
Support many marine organisms Support many marine organisms because they have lots of nutrients because they have lots of nutrients and receive lots of sunlightand receive lots of sunlight
Threats to estuariesThreats to estuaries
-in populated areas estuaries were -in populated areas estuaries were used to dump wastesused to dump wastes
-used as building sites-used as building sites
-sewage, industrial waste containing -sewage, industrial waste containing toxic chemicals, agricultural runoff toxic chemicals, agricultural runoff containing pesticides and fertilizerscontaining pesticides and fertilizers
EstuariesEstuaries
Salt marshesSalt marshes
Salt marshesSalt marshes – develop in estuaries – develop in estuaries where rivers deposit a load of mineral-rich where rivers deposit a load of mineral-rich sedimentssediments
-support clams, fish, and aquatic birds-support clams, fish, and aquatic birds -acts as a nursery in which many species -acts as a nursery in which many species
of shrimp, crabs, and fishes find protection of shrimp, crabs, and fishes find protection when they are smallwhen they are small
-absorb pollutants and protect inland -absorb pollutants and protect inland areasareas
Quick LABQuick LAB
Mangrove swampsMangrove swamps
Mangrove swampsMangrove swamps – located along – located along coastal areas of tropical and coastal areas of tropical and subtropical zones dominated by subtropical zones dominated by mangrove treesmangrove trees
-protect coastline from erosion and -protect coastline from erosion and reduce the damage from stormsreduce the damage from storms
-breeding ground for about 2000 -breeding ground for about 2000 animals speciesanimals species
Mangrove swampsMangrove swamps
-filled with waste and destroyed in -filled with waste and destroyed in many parts of the worldmany parts of the world
Rocky shores have more plants and Rocky shores have more plants and animals than sandy shores doanimals than sandy shores do
-rocks provide anchorage for -rocks provide anchorage for seaweed and the many animals that seaweed and the many animals that live on them like sea anemones, live on them like sea anemones, mussels, spongesmussels, sponges
Sandy shores dry out when the tide Sandy shores dry out when the tide goes outgoes out
Barrier islandsBarrier islands
Barrier islandsBarrier islands – run parallel to the – run parallel to the shore, and the long thin islands help shore, and the long thin islands help protect the mainland and the coastal protect the mainland and the coastal wetlandswetlands
Math PracticeMath Practice
BellringerBellringer
ObjectivesObjectives
ExplainExplain why an estuary is a very why an estuary is a very productive ecosystem.productive ecosystem.
CompareCompare salt marshes and salt marshes and mangrove swamps.mangrove swamps.
DescribeDescribe two threats to coral reefs.two threats to coral reefs. DescribeDescribe two threats to ocean two threats to ocean
organisms.organisms.
Coral ReefsCoral Reefs
Corals live only in clear, warm salt Corals live only in clear, warm salt water where there is enough light for water where there is enough light for photosynthesis.photosynthesis.
B. Coral ReefsB. Coral Reefs Coral reefsCoral reefs – limestone ridges built – limestone ridges built
by tiny coral animals called by tiny coral animals called coral coral polypspolyps. .
-Coral polyps secrete skeletons of -Coral polyps secrete skeletons of limestone (calcium carbonate) which limestone (calcium carbonate) which slowly accumulates to form coral slowly accumulates to form coral reefs.reefs.
Coral ReefsCoral Reefs -thousands of plant and animal species -thousands of plant and animal species
live in the cracks and crevices of the coral live in the cracks and crevices of the coral reefsreefs
Coral reefs are among the most diverse Coral reefs are among the most diverse ecosystems on Earthecosystems on Earth
Corals live only in clear and warm salt Corals live only in clear and warm salt water where there is enough light for water where there is enough light for photosynthesisphotosynthesis
-found in shallow tropical seas-found in shallow tropical seas
Coral ReefsCoral Reefs
-only the outer layer or a reef -only the outer layer or a reef contains living corals which build contains living corals which build their rock homes with the help of their rock homes with the help of photosynthetic algae photosynthetic algae
Corals use tentacles to capture their Corals use tentacles to capture their preyprey
Disappearing coral reefsDisappearing coral reefs
-productive but fragile ecosystems-productive but fragile ecosystems
-27% are in danger of destruction -27% are in danger of destruction from human activitiesfrom human activities
-if the water is too hot or too -if the water is too hot or too cold or if fresh water drains into the cold or if fresh water drains into the water surrounding the reef, the water surrounding the reef, the corals may diecorals may die
Disappearing coral reefsDisappearing coral reefs
-if the water is too muddy, polluted, -if the water is too muddy, polluted, or too high in nutrients the algae that or too high in nutrients the algae that live within the coral will live within the coral will
die or grow out of control killing the die or grow out of control killing the coralscorals
oil spills, sewage, pesticide, and silt oil spills, sewage, pesticide, and silt runoff have been linked to coral reef runoff have been linked to coral reef destructiondestruction
Disappearing coral reefsDisappearing coral reefs
overfishing can decimate the fish overfishing can decimate the fish populations and upset the balance of populations and upset the balance of a reef’s ecosystema reef’s ecosystem
-because coral reefs grow slowly a -because coral reefs grow slowly a reef may not be able to repair itself reef may not be able to repair itself after chunks of coral are destroyed after chunks of coral are destroyed by divers, fisheries, shipwrecks, ships by divers, fisheries, shipwrecks, ships dropping anchor, or people breaking dropping anchor, or people breaking off pieces of itoff pieces of it
C. OceansC. Oceans Much of the ocean’s life is Much of the ocean’s life is
concentrated in the top 100m or 330 concentrated in the top 100m or 330 ft because that is how far sunlight ft because that is how far sunlight can penetratecan penetrate
most life is in the shallow coastal most life is in the shallow coastal waterswaters
Plants and animals of the oceanPlants and animals of the ocean
OceansOceans in the open ocean phytoplankton grows in the open ocean phytoplankton grows
where there is enough light and nutrientswhere there is enough light and nutrients
-the open ocean is one of the least -the open ocean is one of the least productive of all ecosystemsproductive of all ecosystems
-zooplankton feed on phytoplankton, these -zooplankton feed on phytoplankton, these include jellyfish, tiny shrimp, larvae of fish include jellyfish, tiny shrimp, larvae of fish and bottom-dwelling organisms such as and bottom-dwelling organisms such as oysters and lobsters oysters and lobsters
Plants and Animals of OceansPlants and Animals of Oceans
OceansOceans fish feed on the plankton as to fish feed on the plankton as to
marine mammals like whalesmarine mammals like whales
-depths of the ocean are perpetually -depths of the ocean are perpetually dark so most food consists of dead dark so most food consists of dead organisms that fall from the surfaceorganisms that fall from the surface
-decomposers, filter-feeders, and the -decomposers, filter-feeders, and the organisms that eat them live in these organisms that eat them live in these deep areasdeep areas
Threats to the oceanThreats to the ocean
-Most ocean pollution arises from -Most ocean pollution arises from activities on landactivities on land
-plant nutrients runoff the land’s -plant nutrients runoff the land’s fertilized fields may cause algal fertilized fields may cause algal blooms some of which are poisonousblooms some of which are poisonous
-industrial waste and sewage discharged -industrial waste and sewage discharged into rivers is the biggest source of coastal into rivers is the biggest source of coastal pollution pollution
-overfishing and certain fishing methods -overfishing and certain fishing methods are also destroying some fish populationsare also destroying some fish populations
trawl nets can entangle organisms that are trawl nets can entangle organisms that are larger than net holes such as dolphins and larger than net holes such as dolphins and sea sea
turtles who need to breathe air can drown turtles who need to breathe air can drown in the netsin the nets
discarded fishing lines in the ocean can discarded fishing lines in the ocean can strangle and kill fish and sealsstrangle and kill fish and seals
Arctic and Antarctic EcosystemsArctic and Antarctic Ecosystems
arctic ecosystems depend on marine arctic ecosystems depend on marine ecosystems because nearly all the ecosystems because nearly all the food comes from the oceanfood comes from the ocean
Arctic OceanArctic Ocean Arctic Ocean is rich in nutrients from Arctic Ocean is rich in nutrients from
the surrounding land masses and it the surrounding land masses and it supports large populations of supports large populations of
plankton which feeds a rich diversity plankton which feeds a rich diversity of fish in the open water and under of fish in the open water and under the icethe ice
fish are food for ocean birds, whales, fish are food for ocean birds, whales, and sealsand seals
fish and seals also provide food for fish and seals also provide food for polar bears and people on landpolar bears and people on land
AntarcticAntarctic
Antarctic is the only continent never Antarctic is the only continent never colonized by humanscolonized by humans
governed by an international governed by an international commission and is used mainly for commission and is used mainly for researchresearch
No Polar BearsNo Polar Bears
AntarcticAntarctic
during the summer a few plants grow during the summer a few plants grow at the rocky edges of the continentat the rocky edges of the continent
-plankton form the basis of this food -plankton form the basis of this food web too which nourishes large web too which nourishes large numbers of fish, whales and birds numbers of fish, whales and birds such as such as penguinspenguins