APES Video Notes 1.3 - Aquatic Biomes

Summary

In this video, Mr. Smith explains aquatic biomes, highlighting the factors that determine their distribution and the species adaptations within them. The focus is on freshwater and marine biomes, including rivers, lakes, wetlands, estuaries, coral reefs, and the open ocean. Key characteristics such as salinity, depth, water flow, and temperature are discussed, along with the roles of different zones in supporting aquatic life. The video also covers the environmental importance of these biomes in oxygen production, carbon dioxide absorption, and habitat diversity, providing a comprehensive understanding of aquatic ecosystems.

Takeaways

• 🌊 Aquatic biomes are influenced by factors like salinity, depth, flow, and temperature, which determine species survival.
• 💧 Freshwater biomes, such as rivers and lakes, are important sources of drinking water and feature varying oxygen and nutrient levels based on water flow.
• 🌿 The littoral zone is the shallow area around lakes or ponds where emergent plants like reeds grow, while deeper zones support different levels of photosynthesis.
• 🦠 Freshwater wetlands have water-saturated soils and support specialized plant species with adaptations to live in submerged conditions.
• 🌱 Wetlands provide critical environmental benefits, including flood control, groundwater recharge, pollutant filtration, and rich biodiversity.
• 🏞️ Estuaries, where rivers meet the ocean, mix fresh and saltwater, making them highly productive biomes rich in nutrients from river sediments.
• 🐟 Marine biomes include coral reefs, which are one of the most biodiverse ecosystems, and intertidal zones, where species adapt to changes in tides and wave activity.
• 🐠 Mangrove swamps stabilize shorelines, protect against storm surges, and provide habitats for various fish species with their unique stilted roots.
• 🌍 The open ocean is a low-productivity biome per unit of area but contributes significantly to global oxygen production and carbon dioxide absorption.
• 💡 Deep ocean organisms, especially in the abyssal zone, have adaptations like bioluminescence and resistance to high pressures, allowing them to survive in extreme conditions.

Q & A

What factors determine where aquatic biomes are found?

Aquatic biomes are determined by factors such as salinity, depth, flow, and temperature, which influence the types of species that can survive in a given biome.

Why is salinity important in aquatic biomes?

Salinity is important because it determines which species can survive in a body of water. It also influences whether or not the water is suitable for drinking.

How does depth affect aquatic ecosystems?

Depth influences how much sunlight can penetrate the water surface, which impacts photosynthesis and the types of plants that can grow in different parts of a body of water.

What role does flow play in aquatic biomes?

Flow determines how much dissolved oxygen is present in the water, which is vital for aquatic life. Fast-moving water, like rivers and streams, tends to have higher oxygen levels due to better mixing of air and water.

Why is temperature crucial in aquatic biomes?

Temperature affects the amount of dissolved oxygen in water. Warmer water holds less oxygen, which means it can support fewer aquatic organisms that rely on oxygen for survival.

What are the different zones in a lake or pond, and how do they differ?

The zones include the littoral zone (shallow edge with emergent plants), limnetic zone (where light penetrates and photosynthesis occurs), profundal zone (too deep for light, no photosynthesis), and benthic zone (murky bottom with nutrient-rich sediments and invertebrates).

What makes freshwater wetlands unique and important?

Freshwater wetlands are unique because they are submerged or saturated with water for part of the year. They store excess water during storms, recharge groundwater, and provide filtration by trapping pollutants in stormwater runoff.

How are estuaries formed, and why are they significant?

Estuaries are formed where rivers empty into the sea, mixing fresh and saltwater. They are significant because they are highly productive biomes with nutrient-rich sediments, providing important habitats for fish and shellfish.

What adaptations help organisms survive in the intertidal zone?

Organisms in the intertidal zone need adaptations like the ability to attach to rocks to resist being washed away, tough outer shells to prevent drying out during low tide, and the ability to endure harsh sunlight.

Why is the open ocean considered a low productivity biome, and what role does it play globally?

The open ocean is considered low in productivity per unit of area because only algae and phytoplankton can survive in its deep waters. However, due to its vast size, it plays a major role in producing oxygen and absorbing carbon dioxide, helping mitigate climate change.