Questions and Answers
What is the photic zone?
What temperature does the deep sea hydrothermal vents water emerge from?
60 to 464C
Which organisms can be found in the midwater realm?
What are tide pools?
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Which of the following animals can be found in salt marshes?
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What is the average temperature of the deep sea bottom?
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What type of substrate is commonly found in rocky shores?
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What is the primary characteristic of the kelp bed?
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Which type of feeders dominate tidal flats?
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Name an animal found in sandy beaches.
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Study Notes
Photic Zone
- Shallow water layer supporting photosynthesis, extending down to 300 meters (1,000 ft).
- Warm and tropical temperatures, characterized by pelagic zones with rocky substrates.
Animals in Photic Zone
- Includes plankton, seals, corals, blue sharks, jellyfish, sea turtles, clams, and crabs.
Benthic Zone
- Refers to the lowest level of a body of water, includes habitats below the water surface.
Plankton
- Minute, plant-like organisms thriving in the uppermost section of the pelagic zone due to sufficient light for photosynthesis.
Midwater Realm
- Located below the photic zone, it is the largest habitat on Earth (700-1,000 m depth depending on clarity).
- Lacks photosynthesis and producers; characterized by temperate to seasonal cold temperatures.
Animals in Midwater Realm
- Inhabited by shrimp, squid, small fish, crustaceans, and swordfish.
Deep Sea Hydrothermal Vents
- Found near volcanically active areas and locations where tectonic plates separate.
- Characterized by pelagic and benthic zones, known as the "midnight zone," with water temperatures ranging from 2°C to 464°C near vent openings.
Animals in Deep Sea Hydrothermal Vents
- Home to unique species like worms and chemosynthetic bacteria.
Deep Sea Bottom
- Cold, dark habitat with no light except for bioluminescence, averaging around 4°C.
- Features pelagic and benthic zones with muddy substrates and no producers.
Animals in Deep Sea Bottom
- Includes sea cucumbers, vampire squid, brittle stars, frilled sharks, and giant spider crabs.
Tide Pools
- Coastal and intertidal areas found below the tide line, accessible during low tide.
- Water temperatures vary with location.
Animals in Tide Pools
- Hosts rock crabs, sea anemones, sponges, small fish, and hermit crabs.
Salt Marsh
- Coastal and intertidal environments protected from strong waves, receiving freshwater from rivers.
- Characterized by sandy/muddy substrates, temperate/seasonal water temperatures, and dominated by cord grass as a producer.
Animals in Salt Marsh
- Found species include sea gulls, flounders, oysters, clams, mud flats, and fiddler crabs.
Rocky Shores
- Coastal, intertidal, and subtidal environments where land meets the ocean, featuring hard substrates.
- Temperate/seasonal water temperatures and producers like algae.
Animals in Rocky Shores
- Includes clams, sea urchins, crabs, mussels, snails, sea stars, jellyfish, minnows, and barnacles.
Tidal Flats
- Coastal wetlands formed from mud deposits by tides or rivers, usually in sheltered areas.
- Producers include algae and seaweed, with sandy substrates and temperate/seasonal temperatures.
Animals in Tidal Flats
- Home to gaper clams, snails, and ghost shrimp.
Filter Feeders
- Organisms that extract food particles from the water column.
Deposit Feeders
- Species that feed on detritus, recycling nutrients within the ecosystem.
Sandy Beaches
- Coastal areas formed by sand particles carried by waves, featuring phytoplankton as primary producers.
- Benthic and coastal habitats with variable water temperatures.
Animals in Sandy Beaches
- Occupied by crabs, beetles, clams, and small birds.
Subtidal Soft Bottoms
- Coastal benthic areas with soft, muddy substrates and temperate/seasonal temperatures.
- Kelp and red/brown algae act as producers.
Animals in Subtidal Soft Bottoms
- Includes sand dollars, worms, angel sharks, pismo clams, and hermit crabs, along with filter feeders and scavengers.
Kelp Bed
- Also known as "underwater forests," featuring dense plant-like producers in cold/temperate waters.
- Located in the photosynthesis zone with sandy substrates.
Animals in Kelp Beds
- Diverse inhabitants include sea urchins, rockfish, sea lions, scavengers, sunflower stars, and sharks.
Seagrass Beds
- Highly diverse and productive ecosystems housing numerous associated species, characterized by muddy/hard benthic substrates along coastal regions.
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Description
Test your knowledge of various aquatic habitats with these flashcards. Learn about the photic zone, its definition, and the animals that inhabit it. Explore terms like benthic and plankton to understand marine ecosystems better.
