Aquatic Ecosystems and Their Characteristics
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Questions and Answers

What is a characteristic of the abyssal zone?

  • Very low nutrients (correct)
  • Warm temperatures
  • High light availability
  • Low salinity
  • Why is light availability important in aquatic ecosystems?

  • It is necessary for photosynthesis (correct)
  • It contributes to lower temperatures
  • It increases salinity levels
  • It decreases dissolved oxygen concentration
  • Which of the following organisms is primarily responsible for starting most oceanic food webs?

  • Coral
  • Phytoplankton (correct)
  • Zooplankton
  • Kelp
  • What aspect of the aquatic environment is directly correlated with the productivity of producers?

    <p>Dissolved oxygen concentration (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does salinity measure in aquatic environments?

    <p>The total salts dissolved in water (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characterizes the salinity of bodies of water as they move from freshwater to ocean water?

    <p>Salinity increases as water becomes more saline. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does pH relate to the concentration of H+ ions in a solution?

    <p>Lower pH correlates with a higher concentration of H+ ions. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement accurately describes temperature in aquatic ecosystems?

    <p>Temperature decreases as you move away from the equator. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the two key factors that contribute to the productivity of aquatic ecosystems?

    <p>Exposure to light and supply of nutrients. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What process occurs during seasonal turnover in a lake?

    <p>Cooler water from the surface sinks, redistributing nutrients. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What effect do extra-strong tropical trade winds have on fishing revenue?

    <p>They create favorable conditions for increased upwelling. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of wetland is characterized by being submerged in water for part or all of the year while supporting emergent vegetation?

    <p>Marsh (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key characteristic of estuaries?

    <p>They are the transition zone between rivers and the ocean. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What primarily happens during upwelling along the coasts of some continents?

    <p>Deep ocean water is brought to the surface, rich in nutrients. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    During El Nino, how is upwelling affected?

    <p>Upwelling is diminished, preventing nutrient-rich water from rising. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which zone of a lake is known as the photic zone where light penetrates?

    <p>Limnetic Zone (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT true about the relationship between marine and freshwater systems?

    <p>They are completely independent. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What climatic conditions are typically associated with El Nino in South America?

    <p>Very rainy weather, often causing flooding. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of wetland is typically found in brackish water areas and has both saltwater and freshwater influences?

    <p>Estuaries (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes the primary consequence of El Nino on marine life?

    <p>A collapse of food webs due to lack of upwelling. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements about the Profundal Zone is correct?

    <p>It is characterized by cold, sediment-rich conditions. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does La Nina affect tropical trade winds?

    <p>It enhances them, increasing their strength. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What climate condition is typically associated with South America during extra-strong tropical trade winds?

    <p>Cold and dry (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a potential climate consequence of La Nina in Australia?

    <p>Higher average temperatures leading to wildfires. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements about El Nino and La Nina is false?

    <p>La Nina has no influence on trade winds. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What effect does the displacement of warm water toward the coast during El Nino have?

    <p>It leads to the decline of nutrient availability in surface waters. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main consequence of sediment run-off for aquatic ecosystems?

    <p>Reduced photosynthesis (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does saltwater intrusion primarily occur?

    <p>Excessive irrigation depleting aquifers (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the effect of increased CO2 levels in the ocean?

    <p>Formation of carbonic acid (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What primary human activity is contributing to climate change?

    <p>Combustion of fossil fuels (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What occurs as a result of warmer ocean temperatures on coral reefs?

    <p>Coral bleaching (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens to plants irrigated with saltwater due to salt accumulation?

    <p>They die due to dehydration from salt (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What harmful effect does sediment entering fish gills cause?

    <p>Suffocation and death (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role do roots from vegetation play in soil stability?

    <p>They stabilize soil and reduce erosion (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What function do mangroves serve to prevent coastal issues?

    <p>Their enormous root systems prevent coastal erosion (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What has contributed to the decrease of wetland acreage in Florida over the last 150 years?

    <p>Urbanization and agriculture (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens to fish populations when mangrove ecosystems are destroyed?

    <p>The ocean food web collapses (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a significant consequence of overfishing as described?

    <p>Decrease in fish population by 90% or more since 1950 (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is meant by the term 'Tragedy of the Commons' in the context of fishing?

    <p>No single nation has the incentive to protect fish stocks (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What impact does the loss of a keystone species typically have on an ecosystem?

    <p>A trophic cascade of biodiversity loss (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characterizes an invasive species?

    <p>They are introduced by humans and tend to outcompete native species (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which is a consequence of bycatch in fishing practices?

    <p>Unwanted species, like turtles and dolphins, often get killed (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Flashcards

    Strong Tropical Trade Winds

    Trade winds blowing strongly from east to west in tropical regions.

    Upwelling

    The upward movement of cold, nutrient-rich water from the ocean depths to the surface.

    Biodiversity

    A diverse range of living organisms in an ecosystem.

    Estuary

    The transition zone between a freshwater river and the saltwater ocean, characterized by brackish water and sheltered habitats.

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    Watershed

    An area of land where all water runoff flows to a single point, like a river or lake.

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    Limnetic Zone

    The uppermost layer of a lake where sunlight penetrates, allowing for photosynthesis by algae and phytoplankton.

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    Profundal Zone

    The deeper, dark layer of a lake where sunlight doesn't reach, characterized by low oxygen levels and sediment.

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    Hydrosphere

    All the water on Earth, including oceans, lakes, rivers, and groundwater.

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    How do winds cause upwelling?

    The movement of warm surface waters away from the coast, causing an upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich deep water.

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    Where do upwellings usually take place?

    Areas along western coastlines where upwelling occurs.

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    El Nino

    El Nino is a climate pattern characterized by warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, impacting global weather patterns.

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    La Nina

    A climate pattern characterized by cooler-than-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, often resulting in opposite effects to El Nino.

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    What happens to upwelling during El Nino?

    During El Nino, trade winds weaken or reverse, moving warm water towards the coast and preventing upwelling. This results in a lack of nutrients and a disrupted food web.

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    Why does El Nino affect fish populations?

    Reduced upwelling during El Nino leads to a decline in nutrient supply, causing a collapse of food webs and impacting fishing industries.

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    How do upwellings affect global climate?

    Changes in wind patterns and upwelling affect weather across the globe. El Nino can cause excessive rainfall in South America and dry conditions in Australia.

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    Abyssal Zone

    The deepest zone of the ocean, characterized by extreme pressure, low light, cold temperatures, high nutrient levels, and abundant sediment.

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    Salinity

    The measure of all the salts dissolved in water.

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    Phytoplankton: Primary Producers

    Phytoplankton are microscopic algae that form the base of the food chain in the pelagic zone.

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    Zooplankton: Consumers

    Zooplankton are microscopic animals that feed on phytoplankton and other small organisms.

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    pH

    A measure of acidity in a solution. The higher the concentration of H+ ions, the more acidic the solution.

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    Ocean Acidification

    The process of increasing the acidity of seawater due to the absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

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    Coral Bleaching

    The process of coral losing its color and dying due to environmental stress, often caused by rising water temperatures.

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    Seasonal Turnover

    A natural process in lakes where cooler, denser water sinks to the bottom, forcing warmer water to rise, causing a mixing of the layers and the recycling of nutrients.

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    Saltwater Intrusion

    Salty water intrusion into freshwater aquifers. It occurs when groundwater is withdrawn faster than it can be replenished.

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    What is the impact of removing vegetation on soil?

    The removal of vegetation leads to less stable soil, resulting in increased sediment run-off into bodies of water.

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    How does sediment run-off affect aquatic ecosystems?

    Sediment run-off reduces light penetration in water, hindering photosynthesis and overall aquatic productivity.

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    What is saltwater intrusion?

    The overuse of groundwater for irrigation leads to a depletion of aquifers, allowing saltwater to seep in.

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    How does saltwater intrusion affect plants?

    Saltwater intrusion results in unusable water for plants, leading to their death.

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    What causes ocean acidification?

    The absorption of CO2 from the atmosphere causes the ocean to become more acidic.

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    How does ocean acidification affect marine life?

    Ocean acidification depletes carbonate, which marine organisms need to build their shells and skeletons.

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    What causes ocean warming?

    Increased atmospheric CO2 traps heat, leading to global warming and ocean warming.

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    How does ocean warming affect coral reefs?

    Ocean warming stresses coral reefs, causing bleaching and loss of biodiversity.

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    Mangrove root systems and coastal erosion

    Mangrove root systems provide stability to coastlines, preventing erosion caused by wind and waves.

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    Mangroves and flood prevention

    Mangroves have layers of organic sediment that absorb excess water, mitigating flooding risks.

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    Largest mangrove habitat

    The Florida Everglades is the largest mangrove habitat globally.

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    Wetland loss in Florida

    Urbanization and agricultural activities have led to a significant decrease in wetland areas in Florida, including mangrove habitats.

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    Mangrove destruction and fish populations

    Mangrove destruction disrupts the ocean food web, impacting fish populations and affecting fisheries.

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    What is overfishing?

    Overfishing occurs when fish populations are depleted due to excessive fishing, often caused by modern technologies and a lack of regulation.

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    Keystone species

    A keystone species has a disproportionate impact on its ecosystem, and its loss can cause a cascade of biodiversity loss.

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    Invasive species

    Invasive species, introduced by humans, can outcompete native species, disrupting food webs and biodiversity.

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    Study Notes

    Overview

    • The presentation covers ocean, climate, and human impact on it, including a lab component
    • Six factors contributing to climate and weather are highlighted
    • Earth's tilt and orbit around the sun are important factors impacting climate and weather

    Ocean Influences on Climate

    • Winds near bodies of water are influenced by temperature differences between land and water
    • Sea breezes form when land heats faster than water, creating a pressure difference
    • Land breezes occur during cooler parts of the day, as the land cools more quickly
    • Ocean currents distribute temperature, salinity, and nutrients globally
    • These massive circular currents are influenced by Earth's rotation (Coriolis effect)
    • Upwelling is an upward movement of cold, nutrient-rich water, driven by winds that displace surface water
    • Upwelling is critical for marine food webs
    • Changes in coastal upwelling greatly affect local climates and weather patterns.

    El Niño and La Niña

    • These are climate patterns that occur in the Pacific Ocean
    • El Niño involves a slowing or reversal of tropical trade winds, causing a build-up of warm water in the western Pacific and impacting weather worldwide
    • La Niña is the opposite of El Niño, characterized by strengthening of trade winds, cooler waters, and different weather patterns globally
    • Both have consequences for fisheries, weather patterns, and other ecological systems

    Freshwater Ecosystems

    • Includes streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, wetlands (marshes, swamps, bogs), and estuaries
    • Estuaries are transition zones between rivers and oceans, characterized by brackish water and unique habitats
    • Other aquatic ecosystems, such as mangroves, seagrass beds, and coral reefs, are also part of marine environments

    Marine Ecosystems

    • Marine ecosystems include intertidal zones, coral reefs, and open oceans, as well as wetlands
    • The hydrosphere encompasses all aquatic environments and their interconnections

    Layers of Aquatic Ecosystems

    • Lakes and oceans have distinct zones with varying light penetration, temperature, oxygen levels, and nutrient content
    • The littoral zone is the shallow, light-penetrated area near the shore with high biodiversity
    • The limnetic zone is the open water zone where light penetrates for photosynthesis
    • Pelagic zone is open ocean; benthic zones are the bottoms of water bodies, which are nutrient rich
    • Dissolved oxygen, salinity, and temperature dictate the life forms present per zone

    Aquatic Abiotic Factors

    • Light availability—important for photosynthesis by phytoplankton (critical primary producers)
    • Salinity – freshwater, saltwater and brackish water
    • pH – acidity levels of water bodies
    • Temperature- cold or hot water
    • Nutrients/gases – essential for organisms

    Human Impacts

    • Sediment pollution from land erosion

    • Saltwater intrusion into aquifers

    • Ocean acidification from increased CO2 levels

    • Climate change leading to ocean warming

    • Overfishing of fish populations

    • Loss of keystone species

    • Invasive species introductions

    • Deforestation and sediment runoff

    • Dams and their impact on sediment and water flow

    • Eutrophication caused by excess nutrient runoff

    Additional Topics

    • Other human-caused impacts include the creation of dams and irrigation practices which have drastic impacts on water ecosystems.
    • Presentation includes examples such as the Florida Everglades and the disruption of keystone species like otters in kelp forests.

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    Description

    Explore the fascinating elements of aquatic ecosystems with this quiz covering the abyssal zone, light availability, salinity, and more. Test your knowledge on key factors influencing productivity and the dynamics of aquatic environments. Perfect for biology students and enthusiasts alike!

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