Aquatic Biodiversity

Ecological services of coral reefs (0.1% ocean area): 1.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Coral_reef_in_Ras_Muhammad_nature_park_%28Iolanda_reef%29.jpg

3. Polyps Zooxanthellae (algae) Provides: Provides:

4. 1. 1. 2. 2. 3. 4. Coral Reefs

Economics: 1.

3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Coral_reef_in_Ras_Muhammad_nature_park_%28Iolanda_reef%29.jpg

20% of coral reefs lost. Causes: 4. 1. 3. 2. 4. Coral bleaching = coral becomes stressed, algae leave or die. Causes: 1. 2. On Google Maps: 1) What percent of the world is ocean?

2) Look for: Deserts, tropical forests, etc.

3) What else can you see? 71% of Earth is covered by water--mostly saltwater. Aquatic life zones are classified into 2 main types 1. Saltwater or marine 2. Freshwater *Salinity is a limiting factor for distribution of organisms Types of organisms: 1. plankton (can't swim against current, drifters) -phytoplankton (photosynthetic)

-zooplankton (animal plankton)

-ultraplankton (small!)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Phyllorhiza_punctata_%28White-spotted_jellyfish%29_edit.jpg 2. nekton 3. benthos 4. decomposers

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nerr0878.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Georgia_Aquarium_-_Giant_Grouper_edit.jpg Aquatic life layers can be broken up in to layers (surface, middle, bottom)

Layers vary in: 1.

4. Saltwater Life Zones! 1. Coastal Zone i. Estuaries and Wetlands ii. Rocky and Sandy Shores a. Intertidal zone b. Rocky shores c. barrier beaches (sandy shores) d. barrier islands iii. Coral Reefs 4. Open Sea i. euphotic zone ii. bathyal zone iii. abyssal zone Coastal Zone

Less than 10% of world's ocean, but contains 90% of all marine species. Characteristics: 1. 2. 3.

Where is it?

*Interacts with land -> with humans! Estuaries and Coastal Wetlands Estuaries-partially enclosed bodies of water where seawater and freshwater mix. Mixes with: 1. 2. Characteristics: Wetlands-land areas covered with water all or part of the year. Examples: 1. 4. 2. 5. 3. 6. Estuaries and Coastal Wetlands 1. Highly productive a. b. c. d. 2. Daily and seasonal changes in tides, flow of rivers, runoff, eroded soil sediment, pollution

Mangrove forest

Saltwater marsh Estuaries and Coastal Wetlands

Ecological services: 1. Filter 2. Reduce storm damage 3. Food, habitat, and nursery sites for aquatic species

Economic services: 1. Fishing (sustainable) 2. Fuelwood (sustainable) Rocky and Sandy Shores

Tides caused by • gravitational pull of moon + sun • inertia

Intertidal zone Area of shoreline between low and high tide Rocky and Sandy Shores

Challenges to living in Adaptation to challenges: intertidal zone: 1. 1.

2. 2.

3. 3. Rocky and Sandy Shores

Types of Intertidal Zones

1. Rocky shores

2. Barrier beaches/Sandy shores

3. Barrier islands Rocky and Sandy Shores

Example of Barrier Island: Atlantic City, New Jersey

http://wikitravel.org/en/Atlantic_City

http://home.comcast.net/~wwrivrrat/roundac.htm http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/11/nj_sand_dunes_protected_shore.html Coral reefs

Water: Economic services (100-600 thousand dollars per sq km): 1. 2. Distribution: 3. *Not including ecological value

Biodiversity:

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2011/feb/23/coral-reef-report-dying-danger Coral Reefs

Coral reefs are Causes of disturbance to vulnerable to damage: coral reefs: 1. 1.

2. 2.

3. 3.

example: Corals 4.

Some statistics: -2004: Estimated 20% of coral reefs so damaged, unlikely to recover. -by 2050: another 30-50% of the world's coral reefs could be lost. -Only 300 of 6,000 coral reefs are protects Open Sea

Divided into 3 vertical zones 1.

3. Open Sea

Light Nutrient Organisms DOC

Euphotic zone

Bathyal zone

Abyssal zone Open Sea

Topography:

Hawaii

Mid ocean ridge (mountain)

Trenches Open Sea

Trophic levels

1. NPP per unit area v. overall NPP

2. Marine snow

3. Deposit feeders

4. Filter feeders

*More ocean life as we move to poles than at equator, due to producers. Why? Open Sea

Human Impact:

45% of World population More than 50% US population Freshwater Life Zones 1. Lakes 2. Streams and Rivers 3. Freshwater Inland Wetlands

Two categories of freshwater life zones 1.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Aqueduct

*less than 1% of earth's surface Lakes

Large, natural bodies of standing freshwater.

Filled by: Causes of depressions: 1. 1.

2. 2.

3. 3. Lakes

4 zones: depth and distance from shore

1. Littoral zone

Distribution:

Light:

Productivity:

Biological diversity: Lakes

4 zones: depth and distance from shore

1. Littoral zone 2. Limnetic zone Distribution:

Light:

Productivity:

Biological diversity: Lakes

4 zones: depth and distance from shore

1. Littoral zone 2. Limnetic zone 3. Profundal Zone Distribution:

Light:

Productivity:

Biological diversity: Lakes

4 zones: depth and distance from shore

1. Littoral zone 2. Limnetic zone 3. Profundal Zone 4. Benthic zone Distribution:

Light:

Productivity:

Biological diversity: Lakes

Seasonal lake stratification

Summer and Winter

Fall and Spring

*Overturns move http://faculty.gvsu.edu/videticp/stratification.htm 1.

2. Lakes

Classification by nutrient content and primary productivity

Oligotrphic lake Eutrophic lake Nutrient Content: mesotrophic lakes

NPP:

Characteristics:

Source:

*Cultural eutrophication Streams and Rivers

Surface water: -Precipitation that does not sink into ground or evaporate Runoff: -surface water that flows into streams Watershed or drainage

basin: http://www.hydroguam.net/background-basic.php -Land area that delivers runoff, sediment, and dissolved substances to a stream Streams and Rivers

*Moving water shapes land -Mountains -Canyons -Sediment Streams and Rivers

Source Zone: Characteristics: Temperature: Movement: DOC: Productivity: Biodiversity: Streams and Rivers

Transition Zone: Characteristics: Temperature: Movement: DOC: Productivity: Biodiversity: Streams and Rivers Deltas: built up by deposits of sediments and nutrients

Floodplain Zone: Characteristics: Temperature: Movement: DOC: Productivity: Biodiversity:

* Ecological services of coastal deltas and wetlands, and inland flood plains Streams and Rivers

Nutrients: *Input of nutrients from land ecosystems* -Biomass washed into streams

-Fertilizer (cultural eutrophication) Inland Wetlands

Covered with freshwater all or part of the time (excludes lakes, reservoirs streams) and away from coastal areas.

Seasonal v. Year-round Include: 1. 4.

2. 5.

*Highly productive *Game fish, muskrats, otters, beavers, migratory waterfowl Inland Wetlands

Ecological services: Economic Services 1. 1.

2. 2.

5. Inland Wetlands

Human Impact 1. Dams, diversions, canals http://www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/pages/flooding_flood_risks/levees.jsp?cid=Fact_Sheet_FloodRisksLeveesForConsumers_012013_leveerisk

2. Flood control levees

3. Cities and farmlands

http://serc.carleton.edu/eslabs/drought/8b.html 4. Destruction of habitat

http://www1.american.edu/ted/ICE/china-dam-impact.html Inland Wetlands

In the United States: -Alaska -More than 1/2 wetlands lost (1600s) -80% lost to grow crops. Rest for mining, forestry, oil and gas extraction, highways, urban development. -Increased flood and http://myweb.rollins.edu/jsiry/New_Ecology.html drought damage