Aquatic Ecosystems Quiz

Aquatic Ecosystems Overview

• The world's freshwater is primarily concentrated in a few large lakes, with the Great Lakes containing approximately 20% of the world's fresh surface water.
• Lakes and ponds share similarities with oceans on a smaller scale and can have river-like littoral and riparian zones.
• Presence of a thermocline in the metalimnion affects the permeability of water over long timescales, leading to pond succession.
• Abiotic factors in lakes and ponds include light variability, thermal stratification, limited water movement due to temperature stratification or freezing, low salinity, and variable oxygen levels.
• Seasonality causes turnover in lakes and ponds, influencing abiotic factors such as light, temperature, water movement, salinity, and oxygen.
• Human influence on lakes and ponds is overwhelmingly negative, resulting from pollution, agricultural runoff, toxic waste, and species introductions.
• Peatlands cover over 5% of the world's land, with 80% occurring at high latitudes, and 15% in Canada, and play a significant role in carbon sequestration.
• Bogs and fens are two types of peatlands, with bogs being fed by precipitation and fens potentially connected to other water bodies.
• Abiotic factors in peatlands, bogs, and fens include light variability, temperature dependence on vegetation and water depth, still water stability, low salinity, and critical pH levels.
• Dominant moss layers and carnivorous plants are common biotic factors in peatlands, with peat extraction posing serious challenges due to its destructive nature and the impact of climate change on carbon stores.
• Assigned reading covers the topics discussed, aiming to reinforce understanding of the concepts related to aquatic ecosystems.