Aquatic Biomes

Question 1

Streams/Rivers

• Salinity
• Nutrient Availability
• Ecosystem Service
• Major Threat
• Biome Importance

Answer 1

• <0.5 ppt
• Nitrogen and phosphorus amounts are usually quite low; however, human caused runoff can greatly increase the amounts
• Transports human supplies, water, and energy, also many animals/plants rely on rivers/streams for water/food
• Human waste and other excess chemicals leak into rivers and streams upsetting natural ecosystems and killing animals
• Rivers and streams are extremely important. They provide clean sources of drinking water and host a wide variety of plants and animals.

Question 2

Lakes and Ponds

• Salinity
• Nutrient Availability
• Ecosystem Service
• Major Threat
• Biome Importance

Answer 2

• <0.5 ppt
• Phosphorus and nitrogen are the most important nutrients in ponds and lakes. can vary based on agricultural run-off
• Freshwater ecosystems give clean drinking water to species and store freshwater
• Major threats include increased nutrient load, contamination, acid rain and invasion of exotic species.
• Freshwater lakes serve as a source of freshwater for nearby animals and inhabitants

Question 3

Marshlands (Mangrove Swamps)

• Salinity
• Nutrient Availability
• Ecosystem Service
• Major Threat
• Biome Importance

Answer 3

• 18.0 and 35.0 ppt
• nutrient availability is extremely low
• mangroves act as barriers to prevent soil erosion, to protect inhabitants from storms, and to filter nutrients
• aquaculture, charcoal and lumber industries, rice, palm and oil production
• his biome is important because it provides a natural infrastructure to protect its inhabitants from poor weather events

Question 4

Marshlands (Salt Marshes)

• Salinity
• Nutrient Availability
• Ecosystem Service
• Major Threat
• Biome Importance

Answer 4

• 5 ppt - 40 ppt
• marshlands are rich in nitrogen and phosphorus and don’t promote much growth other than weeds
• salt marshes maintain healthy water, protecting us from flooding and erosion, providing nursery and essential habitat for commercial and recreational fisheries, and supporting recreational activities
• pollution is a major threat to marshlands ecosystem

Question 5

Marshlands (Intertidal Zones)

• Salinity
• Nutrient Availability
• Ecosystem Service
• Major Threat
• Biome Importance

Answer 5

• 5-40 ppt
• high concentration of nutrients from land
• habitat for organisms adapted to the land and the sea, helps avoid erosion caused by storms
• threats include trash, chemical pollution, oil spills, and rising sea levels
• protecting the shore from erosion, filtering nutrients and pollution, and providing a safer breeding grounds for fish

Question 6

Marine (Coral Reefs)

• Salinity
• Nutrient Availability
• Ecosystem Service
• Major Threat
• Biome Importance

Answer 6

• 32-42 ppt
• low nutrient availability because of high aquatic plants numbers
• Fish production, shoreline protection, tourism and recreation, water purification, carbon sequestration
• Physical damage, destruction from coastal development, dredging, quarrying, destructive fishing practices and gear, boat anchors and groundings and recreational misuse
• Coral reefs protect coastlines from storms and erosion, they provide jobs and they also are a source of food and medicine / Fishing,Diving and snorkeling provide a good source of income for local businesses

Question 7

Ocean

• Salinity
• Nutrient Availability
• Ecosystem Service
• Major Threat
• Biome Importance

Answer 7

• avg: 35 ppt
• oceans have very high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus, which are key in stimulating primary production within the ocean
• Fish production, oxygen production, CO2 consumption, transportation, recreational uses by the public
• pollution, trash and plastic, overexploitation of fishing resources, oil drilling, marine engineering, destruction of habitats, high levels of mercury, and global warming (rising sea levels).
• The ocean provides over half of the worlds oxygen and absorbs 50 times more carbon dioxide than our atmosphere. It provides food and ingredients in cooking supplies and even medicine. The ocean also serves as a place for transportation and recreational activities. The US ocean economy produces $282 billion in goods and services while ocean dependent businesses employ around 3 million people.

Question 8

Estuaries

• Salinity
• Nutrient Availability
• Ecosystem Service
• Major Threat
• Biome Importance

Answer 8

• 0.5 to 35 ptt
• stabilize shorelines, protect coastal areas, inland habitats, human communities from floods and strom surges from hurricanes; when flooding occurs estuaries act like huge sponges, soaking up the excess water
• threats include draining, filling, damming, or dredging; or any type of pollution done to the estuaries
• estuaries importance provide ideal areas for migratory birds to rest and for them to refuel during their journeys. They filter out sediments and pollutants from rivers and streams before they flow into the ocean, providing cleaner waters.