Aquatic EcosystemsAquatic Ecosystems

Unit 4 (Ch 4)Unit 4 (Ch 4)

WatershedsWatersheds

A region drained by or contributes to a A region drained by or contributes to a stream, lake, or other body of waterstream, lake, or other body of water Also called a drainage basinAlso called a drainage basin

Large watersheds are broken into smaller Large watersheds are broken into smaller sub-watershedssub-watersheds

Anything that happens on the land in a Anything that happens on the land in a watershed can affect the quality of the watershed can affect the quality of the water that it empties intowater that it empties into As well as the organisms that live there As well as the organisms that live there

PA PA WatershedsWatersheds

All the freshwater in PA eventually drains All the freshwater in PA eventually drains into the Atlantic Ocean into the Atlantic Ocean

There are 5 major watersheds in PA which There are 5 major watersheds in PA which are broken down into 104 sub-watershedsare broken down into 104 sub-watersheds

Great Lakes BasinGreat Lakes Basin

Only 1% of this lies in PAOnly 1% of this lies in PA The Conneaut, Elk and Walnut Creeks (in The Conneaut, Elk and Walnut Creeks (in

PA) all empty into Lake EriePA) all empty into Lake Erie

PA areas

Ohio River BasinOhio River Basin 22ndnd largest watershed in largest watershed in

PAPA Covers ~16,000 square Covers ~16,000 square

miles of the statemiles of the state Contains the Ohio and Contains the Ohio and

Allegheny Rivers along Allegheny Rivers along with some others in the with some others in the western part of PAwestern part of PA

Susquehanna/Chesapeake BasinSusquehanna/Chesapeake Basin

Largest watershed in PALargest watershed in PA Contains the Susquehanna River (which Contains the Susquehanna River (which

starts in NY) starts in NY) Empties into the Chesapeake Bay which Empties into the Chesapeake Bay which

flows into the Atlantic Oceanflows into the Atlantic Ocean

Potomac BasinPotomac Basin Only about 1% of Only about 1% of

the state is in this the state is in this watershed even watershed even though the though the Potomac River is Potomac River is notnot

The Shenandoah The Shenandoah River is a tributary River is a tributary (feeder) into the (feeder) into the PotomacPotomac

Delaware BasinDelaware Basin Covers 6,500 Covers 6,500

square miles in PAsquare miles in PA 33rdrd largest largest

watershed in PAwatershed in PA Much of the water Much of the water

from the Delaware from the Delaware River and its River and its tributaries empty tributaries empty into the Hudson into the Hudson basin which basin which provides most of the provides most of the drinking water for drinking water for New York City New York City

Freshwater EcosystemsFreshwater Ecosystems

Divided into two groupsDivided into two groups Lotic: relatively fast moving waterLotic: relatively fast moving water

• Rivers, streams, brooks, creeks and human-made channelsRivers, streams, brooks, creeks and human-made channels Lentic: relatively slow moving waterLentic: relatively slow moving water

• Lakes, ponds, and wetlandsLakes, ponds, and wetlands

What is the difference between a lake and a What is the difference between a lake and a pond? pond? LakesLakes larger, too deep for plants to root larger, too deep for plants to root PondPond smaller, shallow enough for rooted plants to smaller, shallow enough for rooted plants to

grow across the bottomgrow across the bottom

Streams Streams

Streams are classified by their sizeStreams are classified by their size Sometimes called creeks or brooksSometimes called creeks or brooks

First order stream- smallestFirst order stream- smallest Second order – form when two first order Second order – form when two first order

streams meetstreams meet This area of meeting is called a This area of meeting is called a confluenceconfluence

Third order – a confluence of two second order Third order – a confluence of two second order streamsstreams

This process continues until the stream empties This process continues until the stream empties into a larger body of water into a larger body of water

Arrows show areas of confluence- where streams meet to make larger streams before emptying into larger bodies of water

FloodplainsFloodplains

Areas of flat land along a stream or river Areas of flat land along a stream or river that is periodically flooded that is periodically flooded

These areas contain organisms that are These areas contain organisms that are adapted to living in wetter ecosystemsadapted to living in wetter ecosystems Amphibians, algae, insects thrive in these Amphibians, algae, insects thrive in these

ecosystems ecosystems

Aquatic HabitatsAquatic Habitats Surface Film Surface Film place where water meets the air place where water meets the air

Organisms found here are mostly insectsOrganisms found here are mostly insects Open Water Open Water area where rooted plants do not area where rooted plants do not

reach the surface of the waterreach the surface of the water Organisms include large fish, turtles, and birdsOrganisms include large fish, turtles, and birds

Bottom Bottom are of rocks, sand or mud that is the are of rocks, sand or mud that is the habitat for small organismshabitat for small organisms Bacteria, snails, worms, sponges, crayfish and larvae Bacteria, snails, worms, sponges, crayfish and larvae

or insectsor insects Water’s Edge Water’s Edge where water meets the land where water meets the land

Greatest number of plants and animals found here Greatest number of plants and animals found here

Surface Film

Bottom Open Water

Water’s Edge

CheckpointCheckpoint

What characteristic is used to classify a What characteristic is used to classify a body of water as a lake or a pond?body of water as a lake or a pond?

Which aquatic habitat would contain the Which aquatic habitat would contain the largest variety of organisms?largest variety of organisms?

How does a watershed form? How does a watershed form?

AnswersAnswers

1.1. Depth and the ability of plants to take Depth and the ability of plants to take rootroot

2.2. The water’s edge. It would have plants The water’s edge. It would have plants and animals from the land and aquatic and animals from the land and aquatic ecosystemecosystem

3.3. A watershed forms where ever the A watershed forms where ever the majority of water in an area drains into. majority of water in an area drains into.

Marine EcosystemsMarine Ecosystems

Water with high salt contentWater with high salt content

Life depends on temperature and amount Life depends on temperature and amount of sunlight of sunlight

Zones of the Oceans

EstuariesEstuaries

Salt water wetlandSalt water wetland Place where fresh water from rivers meets Place where fresh water from rivers meets

salt water from oceanssalt water from oceans Delaware Bay, Chesapeake BayDelaware Bay, Chesapeake Bay Most bay areas and harbors Most bay areas and harbors

Adaptations Adaptations

Estuaries are very productive (lots of organic Estuaries are very productive (lots of organic matter)matter) Lots of sunlight and nutrients availableLots of sunlight and nutrients available

Large populations of plants that are rooted into Large populations of plants that are rooted into the mudthe mud

Lots of phytoplankton (microscopic plants) and Lots of phytoplankton (microscopic plants) and zooplankton (microscopic animals)zooplankton (microscopic animals)

Organisms are able to tolerate variations in Organisms are able to tolerate variations in salinity (salt content) and depthsalinity (salt content) and depth Some animals- dolphin, manatees, oysters, clams, Some animals- dolphin, manatees, oysters, clams,

variety of fishvariety of fish

                                 

          

ThreatsThreats

Pollution- sewage, industrial waste, Pollution- sewage, industrial waste, agricultural runoffagricultural runoff

Ship waste, oilShip waste, oil Development- adds to pollution and Development- adds to pollution and

overfishing overfishing

Coral Reefs Coral Reefs

Coral ReefsCoral Reefs

Corals- small marine animals that live on a Corals- small marine animals that live on a limestone skeleton they createlimestone skeleton they create

Small polyps anchor to an area, release Small polyps anchor to an area, release limestone (calcium carbonate) and form limestone (calcium carbonate) and form amazing reefsamazing reefs

Found only in warm, tropical salt waterFound only in warm, tropical salt water Have a mutualistic relationship with some Have a mutualistic relationship with some

algae that helps maintain reefs algae that helps maintain reefs They need light for photosynthesisThey need light for photosynthesis

AdaptationsAdaptations

There are very few plants in coral reefs- they There are very few plants in coral reefs- they need shallow water and warm temperaturesneed shallow water and warm temperatures

Corals are predators- they have stinging Corals are predators- they have stinging tentacles that catch plankton or fish that tentacles that catch plankton or fish that swim too closeswim too close

Other animals are adapted to specific Other animals are adapted to specific habitats with in the reefhabitats with in the reef

There are many mutualistic relationships in There are many mutualistic relationships in reefsreefs

Bulldozer shrimp and goby fish – mutualistic relationship

Sea anemone and clownfish

ThreatsThreats

Pollution Pollution Change in water temperature (global Change in water temperature (global

warming)warming) SedimentationSedimentation

Too much sediment from rivers, block sunlight Too much sediment from rivers, block sunlight so algae die and smother coralsso algae die and smother corals

Dead coral reef in Indonesia

The OceanThe Ocean

Ocean cover about 75% of the earth’s Ocean cover about 75% of the earth’s surfacesurface

Most ocean life is in shallow waters near Most ocean life is in shallow waters near coastscoasts There, sunlight is plentiful and lots of nutrients There, sunlight is plentiful and lots of nutrients

from land and river runofffrom land and river runoff

Plant AdaptationsPlant Adaptations

Plants are only found around shores and Plants are only found around shores and where sunlight reacheswhere sunlight reaches

Phytoplankton is main source of food for Phytoplankton is main source of food for herbivores in open oceanherbivores in open ocean

Animal AdaptationsAnimal Adaptations

Smallest herbivores- zooplanktonSmallest herbivores- zooplankton Include jelly fish, tiny shrimp, fish larvaeInclude jelly fish, tiny shrimp, fish larvae

Dozens of fish feed on zooplanktonDozens of fish feed on zooplankton Fish bodies are shaped for movement Fish bodies are shaped for movement

through the waterthrough the water CamouflageCamouflage Deep ocean- mutualistic relationship with Deep ocean- mutualistic relationship with

bacteria for bioluminescence to occurbacteria for bioluminescence to occur

Threats to the OceansThreats to the Oceans

PollutionPollution OverfishingOverfishing Global warmingGlobal warming

Polar RegionsPolar Regions

Ice covered polar caps of the North and Ice covered polar caps of the North and South PolesSouth Poles

Nearly all food is provided by Nearly all food is provided by phytoplanktonphytoplankton No plantsNo plants

The Arctic (N)The Arctic (N)

No landNo land The arctic is made up of massive frozen The arctic is made up of massive frozen

part of the Arctic Ocean surrounded by part of the Arctic Ocean surrounded by floating icebergsfloating icebergs

Food web relies on phytoplankton which Food web relies on phytoplankton which provides food for many fishprovides food for many fish

Whales, seals, penguins and polar bears Whales, seals, penguins and polar bears are some organisms that make their homes are some organisms that make their homes herehere

Antarctic (S)Antarctic (S)

Only continent never settled by humansOnly continent never settled by humans Is governed by an international Is governed by an international

commission and is only used for researchcommission and is only used for research Plankton is base of food webPlankton is base of food web Fish, whales, penguins and other birds are Fish, whales, penguins and other birds are

some organisms found here some organisms found here

ThreatsThreats

Mineral and Oil extraction Mineral and Oil extraction