Aquatic Biomes Flashcards
What are the 3 types of aquatic biomes?
Freshwater, estuaries and marine
How much of the earth’s surface is covered in water?
75%
How much of the earth’s surface is covered in freshwater?
20%
How much of the available water is freshwater?
Around 3%
What are some key abiotic factors?
Salinity, pH, depth, light, speed of water flow, temperature, oxygen, nutrients
In freshwater systems, what factors determine stratification?
Light and temperature
In marine systems, what factors determine stratification?
Light, physical water movements,and thermal properties of the water
What is the world’s largest river by volume of water?
The amazon river
What is the source of the amazon river?
The Peruvian Andes
What are the characteristics of whitewater rivers?
High sediment load, neutral pH, high nutrient content
What are the characteristics of blackwater rivers?
Low sediment low, acidic pH, organic compounds, nutrient-poor
What are the 3 types of forest in the Amazon?
Terra firme, igapó, and várzea
How do floods affect biodiversity?
They lower biodiversity
What are the 3 great lakes of The African Rift Valley?
Lake Victoria, Lake Malawi and Lake Tanganyika
What unique species of fish lives on Lake Victoria?
Cichlids
