4.5 Aquatic Ecosystems

Question 1

What are the primary factors affecting life in aquatic ecosystems?

Answer 1

Depth of the water, temperature of water, flow of water, amount of dissolved nutrients, distance from shore

These factors significantly influence the types of organisms that can thrive in different aquatic environments.

Question 2

What is the sunlit region near the surface of the water known as?

Answer 2

Photic Zone

The photic zone extends as deep as 200 meters and is crucial for photosynthesis.

Question 3

What occurs in the photic zone due to sunlight?

Answer 3

Photosynthesis

This process is primarily carried out by photosynthetic algae, including phytoplankton.

Question 4

Which organisms are primarily responsible for photosynthesis in aquatic ecosystems?

Answer 4

Phytoplankton

Phytoplankton are microscopic algae that form the base of the aquatic food web.

Question 5

What type of plankton primarily feeds on phytoplankton?

Answer 5

Zooplankton

Zooplankton are small organisms that play a key role in the aquatic food chain.

Question 6

What is the primary characteristic of the aphotic zone?

Answer 6

Lack of sunlight

This zone is located below the photic zone and does not support photosynthesis.

Question 7

Fill in the blank: The intertidal zone requires specific _______ for organisms to survive.

Answer 7

adaptations

Organisms in this zone must withstand varying conditions such as tides and wave action.

Question 8

What are estuary ecosystems known for?

Answer 8

High nutrient levels and biodiversity

Estuaries serve as important habitats for many aquatic species and are highly productive.

Question 9

what are benthos

Answer 9

organisms that live on/in rocks and sediments on the bottom of lakes/stream/oceans

Question 10

what affects the temperature of aquatic ecosystems?

Answer 10

latitude, depth, currents

Question 11

What are the 3 categories of freshwater ecosystems

Answer 11

rivers and streams
lakes and ponds
freshwater wetlands

Question 12

rivers and streams:

Answer 12

originate from underground source, animals living in the water deped on terrestrial plants and anmals

Question 13

lakes and ponds:

Answer 13

food web based on plankton,algae, plants; water circulates distribting heat, nutrients, oxygen

Question 14

plankton includes:

Answer 14

phytoplankton and zooplankton

Question 15

freshwater wetlands:

Answer 15

nutrient rich, purify water,prevent flooding

Question 16

what is a wetland

Answer 16

an ecosystem in which water either covers the soil of is present at of near the surface for at least part of the year

Question 17

what are the 3 types of freeshwater wetlands

Answer 17

bog,marsh, swamp

Question 18

what is an estuary

Answer 18

special kind of wetland formed where a river meets the sea (mix of fresh and sea water)

Question 19

why are estuaries important?

Answer 19

serve as spawning and nursery grounds for many ecologically and commercially importnat fish/shelfish species like bluefish, striped bass, shrimp, crabs

Question 20

what are the ocean zone fron shallowest to deepest

Answer 20

intertidal zone, coastal ocean, open ocean

Question 21

describe intertiadal zone

Answer 21

organisms are submenrged at high tide and exposed at low tide

Question 22

describe coastal ocean

Answer 22

have kelp forests and coral reefs

Question 23

describe open ocean

Answer 23

has photic zone (low nutrient level but most photosynthessi occurs here) and aphotic zone (food webs based on organisms that fall from photic zone or chemosynthic organisms

90% of ocean is open ocean