Endangered Biomes Assignment

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Major Global Ecosystems

Marine Systems

Marine Biomes Physical

Characteristics

Light Pressure

Temperature Nutrients Salinity

pH - Acidity 2

Major Marine Ecosystems

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Productive marine systems adjacent to areas of highest human densities.

Estuaries

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Estuaries

•  Coastal marine biome that is characterized by mixing of salt and fresh water. – Freshwater inputs from land drainage, streams, and rivers.

Estuaries

•  Coastal marine biome that is characterized by mixing of salt and fresh water. – Freshwater inputs from land drainage, streams, and rivers.

– High variation in salinity.

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Salinity Gradient in Aquatic Systems

Illustration by Peter Summerlin - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php? curid=13274737

Estuaries

•  Coastal marine biome that is characterized by mixing of salt and fresh water. – Freshwater inputs from land drainage, streams, and rivers.

– High variation in salinity. – High level of nutrients inputs.

Estuaries

•  Coastal marine biome that is characterized by mixing of salt and fresh water.

•  Influenced by daily tide cycles.

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Estuaries

•  Coastal marine biome that is characterized by mixing of salt and fresh water.

•  Influenced by daily tide cycles. – Wide daily swings in temperature. – Movement of nutrients out of system.

•  High levels of biodiversity and productivity.

Estuaries

•  Coastal marine biome that is characterized by mixing of salt and fresh water.

•  Influenced by daily tide cycles. •  High levels of biodiversity and productivity. – Important feeding and breeding habitat for many marine and terrestrial species.

Barrier Islands

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Barrier Islands

•  Areas that are net nutrient importers. Often nutrients come from estuaries or mangrove swamps.

•  Sand substrate and creates a rapidly shifting geography.

•  Marine organisms specialized for living in sand.

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Coral Reefs Coral Reefs

•  Ecological Constraints. – Temperature > 20oC (68oF).

20oC Isotherm – Coral Reef Geographical Distribution

Coral Reef Geographical Distribution

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Areas of cold water upwelling limit coral reef distribution. Coral Reefs

•  Ecological Constraints. – Temperature > 20oC (68oF). – Water depth and light penetration.

Coral Reefs

•  Ecological Constraints. •  Dominant Organism is Coral

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Coral Reefs

•  Ecological Constraints. •  Dominant Organism is Coral •  One of the most biologically diverse biomes on earth. – Less than 0.25% of marine systems. – Contain 25% of marine species.

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Mangroves Mangrove Biome

Geographical Distribution

Mangroves

•  Ecology – Coastal marine biome found in areas with relatively low wave energy.

– Dominated by Mangrove Trees •  Low oxygen •  High Salinity •  Water Loss

•  Important feeding and breeding areas for many marine species.