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Questions and Answers

What is a lentic ecosystem?

A slow moving body of water such as ponds, lakes, and reservoirs.

What is the euphotic zone?

Upper layer of a body of water through which sunlight can penetrate and support photosynthesis.

What is the aphotic zone?

Dark layer of the oceans below the photic zone where sunlight does not penetrate.

What is the limnetic zone?

A zone of open water in lakes and ponds where rooted plants can no longer survive. Signup and view all the answers

What is the littoral zone?

The shallow zone of soil and water in lakes and ponds where most algae and emergent plants grow. Signup and view all the answers

What is the emergent zone?

Where plants are rooted into the lake bed but emerge out of the water. Signup and view all the answers

What is the floating plant/leaf zone?

Where plants are rooted into the bottom but the water is deeper; leaves float at or near the surface. Signup and view all the answers

What is the submergent zone?

Where plants are rooted into the bottom but water is too deep for leaves to emerge. Signup and view all the answers

What is the benthic zone?

The bottom layer of the aquatic ecosystem, no photosynthesis. Signup and view all the answers

Which zone is a 'nursery' for baby aquatic life?

Littoral zone. Signup and view all the answers

In which zone does the most photosynthesis occur?

Euphotic zone. Signup and view all the answers

Which area of the lake is most prone to long-term pollution problems?

Benthic zone. Signup and view all the answers

In which zone does no photosynthesis occur?

Aphotic zone. Signup and view all the answers

In which zone does the most decomposition occur?

Benthic zone. Signup and view all the answers

What is eutrophication?

Excessive richness of nutrients in a lake or other body of water, frequently due to runoff from the land. Signup and view all the answers

What is resident/retention time?

The amount of time it takes a body of water to completely refill with new, incoming water. Signup and view all the answers

What is the resident time formula?

RT = V/O. Signup and view all the answers

What is the hydrological cycle?

Water cycle, allows lentic ecosystems to cleanse themselves. Signup and view all the answers

What do lentic ecosystems need to cleanse themselves?

<ol> <li>The source of pollution needs to be eliminated. 2) The water needs time (resident time) to cleanse itself.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What group of producers produces the greatest amount of food and oxygen in an aquatic system?

Phytoplankton. Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of succession?

Changes in the types of organisms in a community over time. Signup and view all the answers

What is the formula for volume?

V = RT x O. Signup and view all the answers

What is the formula for outflow?

O = V/RT. Signup and view all the answers

What can have an effect on a body of water and the life within it, as well as how it recovers from pollution?

The size and flow rate. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Lentic Ecosystems Overview

Lentic ecosystems consist of slow-moving water bodies, including ponds, lakes, and reservoirs.

Zones in Lentic Ecosystems

Euphotic Zone: Upper layer of water that receives sunlight, supporting photosynthesis.
Aphotic Zone: Dark depths of oceans below the photic zone, where no sunlight penetrates.
Limnetic Zone: Open water area where rooted plants cannot survive due to depth.
Littoral Zone: Shallow zone with soil and water where most algae and emergent plants thrive.
Emergent Zone: Plants rooted in lake beds that rise above water, benefitting from sunlight and nutrients.
Floating Plant/Leaf Zone: Plants rooted at the bottom with leaves floating on the surface for sunlight capture.
Submergent Zone: Plants rooted at the bottom with water too deep for leaves to surface, critical for light penetration.
Benthic Zone: Bottom layer of the aquatic ecosystem, characterized by no photosynthesis and composed of sediments.

Ecosystem Functions and Dynamics

Littoral Zone as a Nursery: Acts as a crucial habitat for baby aquatic life.
Euphotic Zone for Photosynthesis: Most photosynthesis occurs here due to light availability.
Benthic Zone Pollution Risks: More susceptible to long-term pollution and high decomposition rates.
Aphotic Zone's Lack of Photosynthesis: No photosynthesis occurs in this zone due to absence of light.

Eutrophication and Water Quality

Eutrophication: Result of nutrient excess in water bodies, typically from land runoff, leading to excessive plant growth and decreased oxygen levels for aquatic life.
Cleansing Process: Lentic ecosystems require:
- Elimination of pollution sources.
- Sufficient resident time for self-cleansing.

Hydrology and Ecology

Resident/Retention Time: Time required for a water body to refill completely with new water.
Hydrological Cycle: Essential for ecosystem self-renewal and cleansing capabilities.
Phytoplankton: Major group of producers, contributing significantly to food and oxygen production in aquatic systems.