Aquatic Ecosystems

Water PlanetHow much of the planet is covered in water?How much of that water is freshwater?How do we classify fresh water?How do we classify salt water?

FreshwaterTypes:Flowing water

StreamsStanding water (stagnant)

Lakes, ponds, wetlands

What are the three types of wetland ecosystems?1. Bog2. Swamp3. MarshAre wetlands always wet?No! During certain times of the year, they might not be underwater.

SaltwaterOcean (largest body of water)Estuaries (where freshwater rivers meet saltwater

ocean)Temperate estuaries are called SALT MARSHES

Maryland’s Chesapeake BayTropical estuaries are called MANGROVE SWAMPS

Florida’s Everglades National Park

What is special about estuaries’ primary producers?In other ecosystems, the primary producers are eaten

by other organisms (consumers)In estuaries, the primary producers die and become

detritus, which is eaten by worms, clams, and sponges

SaltwaterMarine Ecosystems (not wetlands)Terms

Photic and aphoticIntertidal zone, coastal ocean, open ocean,

trench, benthic zone, coral reefs

Coastal Zone

Photo = Light

Aphotic = No Light

Coral Reef

Coral Reefs

Coral Reefs Coral reefs face numerous hazards and threats. As human populations and coastal pressures increase, reef resources are more heavily exploited, and many coral habitats continue to decline. Current estimates note that 10 percent of all coral reefs are degraded beyond recovery. Thirty percent are in critical condition and may die within 10 to 20 years. Experts predict that if current pressures are allowed to continue unabated, 60 percent of the world's coral reefs may die completely by 2050 (CRTF, 2000). Reef degradation occurs in response to both natural and anthropogenic (human-caused) stresses. Threats to coral reefs can be also classified as either local or global: local threats include overfishing, destructive fishing practices, nutrient runoff, sedimentation, and coral disease while global threats include mass coral bleaching produced by rising sea surface temperature (worsened by climate change), and ocean acidification. Together, these represent some of the greatest threats to coral reefs. -- http://www.coris.noaa.gov/about/hazards/

VideoThings to observe:

Photic and aphotic zonesCoral reefs Creatures in the ocean