17 Questions
What is the primary characteristic of Nekton organisms in aquatic biomes?
They are stronger swimming species that can swim between current systems
What is the primary function of Phytoplanktons in aquatic biomes?
To undergo photosynthesis
What is the main purpose of humans drawing water from freshwater biomes?
For drinking, irrigation, sanitation, and industry
What is the characteristic of Benthos organisms in aquatic biomes?
They are attached to the ocean floor or resting on the bottom
What is the main difference between Zooplanktons and Phytoplanktons?
Zooplanktons are animal planktons, while Phytoplanktons are photosynthetic plants
What determines the type of soil in a biome?
Average annual temperature and precipitation
What is the main difference between biomes near the equator and those farther from it?
Temperature and climate conditions
What is the driest and coldest type of biome?
Tundra
What is the primary factor that distinguishes different biomes from one another?
Average annual temperature and precipitation
What is the warmest and most wet type of biome?
Tropical rainforest
What is the level of ecological organization that is characterized by average annual temperature and precipitation?
Biome
What is the characteristic of the littoral zone in a lentic system?
Shoreline with rooted plants and light penetrating up to the bottom
What determines the direction and speed of water flow in rivers and streams?
The slope of the landscape
What is the term for areas with fast-moving water that keeps the bottom clear of materials in a lotic system?
Rapids
What is the characteristic of a mesotrophic lake?
Moderate nutrients and midrange levels of dissolved oxygen
What is the primary difference between lotic and lentic systems?
Flow of water
What is the term for the area where the water flows slowly and sediment builds up in a lotic system?
Pools
Study Notes
Aquatic Biomes
- Makes up the largest part of the biosphere and has high diversity
- Classified into two main types: Freshwater Biome and Marine Biome
Ecological Groups
- Nekton: stronger swimming species that can swim between current systems, e.g. fishes, squids, and whales
- Benthos: attached organisms or resting on the bottom, mostly filter feeders, e.g. starfishes, seaweeds, barnacles, lobsters, and sea anemones
- Plankton: organisms incapable of swimming or drifting with tides and currents, with two types:
- Phytoplankton: photosynthetic plants (algae and cyanobacteria)
- Zooplankton: animal planktons (Protozoa, larvae, and jellyfish)
Freshwater Biome
- Humans draw water from freshwater biomes for various purposes: drinking, irrigation, sanitation, and industry
- Plants and animals in this biome have adapted to low salt content and are unable to survive in areas of high salt concentration
- Classified into two main types: Lotic System and Lentic System
- Lotic System: running water, flowing, includes streams and rivers
- Characteristics:
- Water flows in one direction from the source (Headwater) to the mouth
- Slope of the landscape determines the direction and speed of the water flow
- Animals found in or around the river include fishes, crabs, snakes, beavers, crocodiles, snails, insects, and otters
- Two main zones: Rapids and Pools
- Characteristics:
- Lentic System: calm water, standing water, includes lakes and ponds
- Characteristics:
- Can be as small as a few square meters or as large as a thousand square meters
- Some ponds might be filled with water for only a few weeks or months each year, while some lakes have existed for hundreds of years
- Four different zones: Littoral Zone, Limnetic Zone, Profundal Zone, and Benthic Zone
- Characteristics:
Lake Classification
- Three types of lakes:
- Eutrophic lake: high levels of organic matter, abundant plant growth, poor clarity, stratified with oxygen-poor bottoms
- Oligotrophic lake: low levels of organic matter and nutrients, tend to be deep and clear
- Mesotrophic lake: moderate nutrients added to the water, midrange levels of dissolved oxygen with submerged aquatic plants
Explore the two distinct categories of freshwater biomes: lotic systems, characterized by running water, and lentic systems, characterized by calm water. Learn about the characteristics of rivers, streams, and lakes.
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