Aquatic Biomes and Freshwater Ecosystems

Study Notes

The Earth is composed of approximately 70% water.
Freshwater makes up only 2.5% of the Earth's total water, with the major freshwater biomes being ponds, lakes, streams, and wetlands.
Freshwater biomes have low salt content and are unable to support life in areas of high salt concentration.
Rivers and streams have water that flows in one direction from a source to a mouth, with the current and turbulence depending on the slope of the landscape.
Lakes and ponds are inland bodies of standing water that can range from a few square meters to thousands of square meters in size.
Wetlands, such as marshes, swamps, and bogs, support a high level of species diversity and include species like amphibians, reptiles, and birds.
The ocean covers 97% of the Earth's total water and is the largest and most diverse of all aquatic biomes.
The ocean is divided into five major oceans: Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern, and Arctic, and is teeming with life, including animals as large as humpback whales and as small as plankton.
Estuaries are coastal bodies of water connected to the open sea and are important because they provide a safe environment for fish and birds to raise their young, filter sediment and pollutants, and buffer the land and the ocean from flooding and storm surges.
There are several types of estuaries, including coastal plain estuaries, bar built estuaries, fjord estuaries, and tectonic estuaries, each with unique geological features.

Description

Test your knowledge about the Earth's aquatic biomes and freshwater ecosystems, including rivers, lakes, wetlands, oceans, and estuaries. Learn about the characteristics and importance of these diverse water environments.