Chapter 7. Aquatic Ecology: Biodiversity in Aquatic Systems

1. Chapter 7. Aquatic Ecology: Biodiversity in Aquatic Systems Miller – Living in the Environment 13th ed.

2. Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?

3. Aquatic Life Zones Saltwater or Marine estuaries, coastlines, coastal marshes, mangrove swamps, and oceans Freshwater lakes and ponds, streams and rivers, inland wetlands

4. Aquatic Environments Saltwater and freshwater aquatic life zones cover almost three-fourths of the earth’s surface 50% 90%

5. Lakes Rivers Coral reefs Mangroves

6. Types of organisms Phytoplankton cyanobacteria and algae Zooplankton primary and secondary consumers Nekton Swimming consumers (fish, turtles, and whales) Benthos bottom dwellers Barnacles and oysters Worms Lobsters and crabs Decomposers bacteria

7. © 2004 Brooks/Cole – Thomson Learning Advantages Disadvantages Physical support from water buoyancy Fairly constant temperature Nourishment from dissolved nutrients Water availability Easy dispersal of organisms, larvae, and eggs Less exposure to harmful UV radiation Dilution and dispersion of pollutants Can tolerate a narrow range of temperatures Exposure to dissolved pollutants Fluctuating population size for many species Dispersion separates many aquatic offspring from parents

8. Factors Limiting Life in Aquatic Life Zones Temperature Access to sunlight Euphotic zone Dissolved oxygen 5 ppm Available nutrients Shallow water upwelling

9. 0 0 O2 CO2 Limiting Factors 500 © 2004 Brooks/Cole – Thomson Learning 2,000 O2 1,000 CO2 4,000 Depth (feet) Depth (meters) 1,500 6,000 2,000 1.5 3.0 4.5 6.0 7.5 90 94 98 102 106 110 Concentration of dissolved gas (parts per million by weight)

10. Natural Capital Marine Ecosystems Economic Services Ecological Services Climate moderation Food CO2 absorption Animal and pet feed Nutrient cycling Pharmaceuticals Waste treatment Harbors and transportation routes Reduced storm impact (mangroves, barrier islands, coastal wetlands) Coastal habitats for humans Recreation Habitats and nursery areas Employment Genetic resources and biodiversity Oil and natural gas Minerals Scientific information Building materials

11. The Coastal Zone: Where Most of the Action Is The coastal zone: warm, nutrient-rich, shallow water that extends from the high-tide mark on land to the gently sloping, shallow edge of the continental shelf. The coastal zone makes up less than 10% of the world’s ocean area but contains 90% of all marine species. Provides numerous ecological and economic services. Subject to human disturbance.

12. High tide Sun Open Sea Coastal Zone Sea level Low tide Photosynthesis Euphotic Zone Estuarine Zone Continental shelf Bathyal Zone Twilight The Coastal Zone Abyssal Zone Darkness Fig. 6-5, p. 130

13. What are estuaries and coastal wetlands? Estuary Coastal water where seawater mixes with fresh water and nutrients from rivers, streams, and runoff Coastal Wetlands Land areas covered with water all or part of the year

15. Coastal Wetlands River mouths Inlets Bays Sounds Mangrove forest swamps Salt marshes

16. Salt Marsh

17. Mangrove Forests Are found along about 70% of gently sloping sandy and silty coastlines in tropical and subtropical regions.

18. Estuaries and Coastal Wetlands: Centers of Productivity Estuaries and coastal marshes provide ecological and economic services. Filter toxic pollutants, excess plant nutrients, sediments, and other pollutants. Reduce storm damage by absorbing waves and storing excess water produced by storms and tsunamis. Provide food, habitats and nursery sites for many aquatic species.

19. Peregrine falcon Herring gulls Producer to primary consumer Snowy egret Cordgrass Primary to secondary consumer Short-billed dowitcher Marsh periwinkle Secondary to higher-level consumer Phytoplankton Smelt All producers and consumers to decomposers Zooplankton and small crustaceans Soft-shelled clam Salt Marsh Ecosytem Clamworm Bacteria

21. Rocky and Sandy Shores: Living with the Tides Organisms experiencing daily low and high tides have evolved a number of ways to survive under harsh and changing conditions. Gravitational pull by moon and sun causes tides. Intertidal Zone: area of shoreline between low and high tides.

22. Sea star Hermit crab Shore crab Rocky Shore Beach High tide Periwinkle Sea urchin Anemone Mussel Low tide Sculpin Barnacles Kelp Sea lettuce Monterey flatworm Nudibranch

23. Beach flea Sandy beach Peanut worm Tiger beetle Blue crab Clam Dwarf olive High tide Ghost shrimp Sandpiper Silversides Mole shrimp Low tide White sand macoma Sand dollar Moon snail

24. Barrier Islands Ocean Beach Intensive recreation, no building Trough Limited recreation and walkways Secondary Dune No direct passage or building Back Dune Most suitable for development Bay or Lagoon Intensive recreation Primary Dune No direct passage or building Bay shore No filling Grasses or shrubs Taller shrubs Taller shrubs and trees Long, thin, low off-shore islands that generally run parallel to the shore.

27. Polyps Soft bodies Calcium carbonate crust Zooxanthellae Algae Color Food Oxygen Coral Reefs

28. Importance of coral reefs Removing CO2 from atmosphere Natural barrier Waves and storms Allows oceans to replenish beach sand Supports marine life Source of global fish catch Provides food, jobs, and building materials for world’s poorest countries Supports fishing and tourism Scientific research

29. Gray reef shark Producer to primary consumer Sea nettle Green sea turtle Fairy basslet Primary to secondary consumer Blue tangs Parrot fish Sergeant major Brittle star Algae Banded coral shrimp Hard corals Secondary to higher-level consumer Phytoplankton Coney Symbiotic algae Blackcap basslet Zooplankton All consumers and producers to decomposers Moray eel Sponges Coral Reef Bacteria

30. coral bleaching caused by the loss of algae

31. Ocean warming Soil erosion Algae growth from fertilizer runoff Mangrove destruction Coral reef bleaching Rising sea levels Increased UV exposure from ozone depletion Using cyanide and dynamite to harvest coral reef fish Coral removal for building material, aquariums, and jewelry Damage from anchors, ships, and tourist divers

32. Biological Zones in the Open Sea:Light Rules Euphotic zone: brightly lit surface layer. Nutrient levels low, dissolved O2 high, photosynthetic activity. Bathyal zone: dimly lit middle layer. No photosynthetic activity, zooplankton and fish live there and migrate to euphotic zone to feed at night. Abyssal zone: dark bottom layer. Very cold, little dissolved O2.

33. High tide Sun Open Sea Coastal Zone Sea level Low tide Photosynthesis Euphotic Zone Estuarine Zone Continental shelf Bathyal Zone Twilight The Coastal Zone Abyssal Zone Darkness Fig. 6-5, p. 130

34. Effects of Human Activities on Marine Systems: Red Alert Human activities are destroying or degrading many ecological and economic services provided by the world’s coastal areas.

36. Freshwater Life Zones Salt concentration of less than 1% Standing bodies (lakes, ponds, inland wetlands) Flowing bodies (streams and rivers)

37. Natural Capital Natural Capital Freshwater Systems Ecological Services Economic Services Climate moderation Nutrient cycling Waste treatment Flood control Groundwater recharge Habitats for many species Genetic resources and biodiversity Scientific information Food Drinking water Irrigation water Hydroelectricity Transportation corridors Recreation Employment

38. Lakes: Water-Filled Depressions Lakes are large natural bodies of standing freshwater formed from precipitation, runoff, and groundwater seepage consisting of: Littoral zone (near shore, shallow, with rooted plants). Limnetic zone (open, offshore area, sunlit). Profundal zone (deep, open water, too dark for photosynthesis). Benthic zone (bottom of lake, nourished by dead matter).

39. Life Zones Found in Freshwater Littoral zone – consists of shallow water near the shore to the depth at which rooted plants quite growing. Limnetic zone – the open sunlite water surface away from the shore. The main photosynthetic body of the lake. Profundal zone – deep, open water, too dark for photosynthesis. Benthic zone – at the bottom of the lake. Cool temperatures and low oxygen levels.

40. Sunlight Painted turtle Green frog Blue-winged teal Muskrat Pond snail Littoral zone Limnetic zone Diving beetle Plankton Profundal zone Benthic zone Bloodworms Northern pike Yellow perch

41. Lakes: Water-Filled Depressions During summer and winter in deep temperate zone lakes the become stratified into temperature layers and will overturn. This equalizes the temperature at all depths. Oxygen is brought from the surface to the lake bottom and nutrients from the bottom are brought to the top.

42. 22˚ 4˚ 20˚ Epilimnion 4˚ 18˚ 4˚ 8˚ 4˚ 6˚ 4˚ Seasonal Changes in Temperate Lakes Hypolimnion 5˚ 4˚C 4˚C Thermocline Summer Fall overturn 4˚ 0˚ 4˚ 2˚ 4˚ 4˚ 4˚ 4˚ 4˚ 4˚ 4˚C 4˚C Winter Spring overturn Dissolved O2 concentration High Medium Low

43. Effects of Plant Nutrients on Lakes:Too Much of a Good Thing Plant nutrients from a lake’s environment affect the types and numbers of organisms it can support. Oligotrophic (poorly nourished) lake: Usually newly formed lake with small supply of plant nutrient input. Eutrophic (well nourished) lake: Over time, sediment, organic material, and inorganic nutrients wash into lakes causing excessive plant growth.

44. Effects of Plant Nutrients on Lakes:Too Much of a Good Thing Cultural eutrophication: Human inputs of nutrients from the atmosphere and urban and agricultural areas can accelerate the eutrophication process.

45. Sunlight Narrow littoral zone Little shore vegetation Oligotrophic lake Low concentration of nutrients and plankton Limnetic zone deeply sloping shorelines Sparse fish population oligo = little + trophic = nutrition Profundal zone Sand, gravel, rock bottom Sunlight Wide littoral zone Much shore vegetation Eutrophic lake High concentration of nutrients and plankton Limnetic zone Gently sloping shorelines Dense fish population eu = truly + trophic = nutrition Profundal zone Silt, sand, clay bottom

46. Water flows downhill Surface water Runoff Watershed Drainage basin River basin

47. Major Characteristics of FreshwaterStreams and Rivers Lake Rapids Glacier Rain and snow Waterfall Tributary Flood plain Oxbow lake Salt marsh Ocean Delta Deposited sediment Source Zone Transition Zone Water Sediment Floodplain Zone

48. Inland Wetlands Land covered with water all or part of the time Marshes Swamps Prairie potholes Floodplains Bogs and fens Wet arctic tundra

49. Freshwater Inland Wetlands: Vital Sponges Inland wetlands act like natural sponges that absorb and store excess water from storms and provide a variety of wildlife habitats.

50. Freshwater Inland Wetlands: Vital Sponges • Filter and degrade pollutants. • Reduce flooding and erosion by absorbing slowly releasing overflows. • Help replenish stream flows during dry periods. • Help recharge ground aquifers. • Provide economic resources and recreation.