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Chapters 8 and 11 Aquatic Biodiversity. Why are aquatic systems important?. Food Medicines Transportation Habitat Recreation Employment Oil, natural gas Minerals Building materials CO2 absorption Reduce storm impact (marshes, wetlands) Habitats Nutrient cycling Absorbs heat
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Why are aquatic systems important? • Food • Medicines • Transportation • Habitat • Recreation • Employment • Oil, natural gas • Minerals • Building materials • CO2 absorption • Reduce storm impact (marshes, wetlands) • Habitats • Nutrient cycling • Absorbs heat • Climate control
Aquatic Biomes (“life zones”) • Marine – oceans, bays, estuaries, coastal wetlands, shorelines, reefs, mangrove swamps) • Freshwater – lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands
Plankton – drifters, phytoplankton, zooplankton • Nekton – swimmers • Benthos – epifauna, infauna • Decomposers
Organisms’ locations limited by • Temperature • Salinity • Dissolved oxygen • Light • Food
Estuaries • Where the rivers meet the sea • Partially enclosed • Shallow • Salt + fresh = brackish • Highly productive • Dynamic – fluctuating temperature, salinity
4th largest in N. America • 62,000 ft3 per second
Euryhaline–ability to tolerate wide range of salinities (opposite of stenohaline) • Eurythermal– ability to tolerate wide range of temperatures (opposite of stenothermal)
Other ecosystems associated with estuaries • Salt marshes (temperate) • Mangrove (tropical) • Seagrass beds
Salt Marshes • Grasses • Intertidal • High nutrient levels • Protection from storms • Habitat: permanent and temporary residents • Filter • Recreation
Mangrove Swamps – coastal wetland of tropical latitudes; function same as salt marshes