SALTWATER ENVIROMENT
Presentation by group 1
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Saltwater & Marine Ecosystems
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Characteristics of Aquatic Ecosystems
• Keep in mind that factors such as temperature, sunlight, oxygen, and nutrients determine which organisms live in
which areas of the water.
An example: sunlight reaches only a certain distance below the surface of the water, so most photosynthetic organisms
live on or near the surface.
• Organisms that live in aquatic ecosystems are grouped by their locations and their adaptations. There are three groups
of aquatic organisms: plankton, nekton, and benthos.
• Plankton are organisms that cannot swim against currents, so they are drifters. Drifting plants are called phytoplankton
and are the food-base for most aquatic ecosystems. Drifting animals, which may be microscopic, or as large as
jellyfish, are called zooplankton.
• Nekton are free-swimming organisms such as fish, turtles, and whales. Benthos are bottom-dwelling organisms, such
as mussels, worms, and barnacles. Many benthic organisms live attached to hard surfaces. Decomposers, which break
down dead organisms, are also present in aquatic ecosystems.
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Lakes and ponds.
Lakes & ponds can be structured into horizontal and vertical zones.
Two main zones of standing water:
Littoral zone—near shoreline, shallow, light, nutrient rich, diverse life—plankton and neckton
Benthic zone—bottom, dark, murky—bottom dwellers and decomposers
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Eutrophication
Build up of nutrients from decaying organisms which tends to deplete the oxygen supply to the free swimming
organisms.
Artificial Eutrophication occurs when humans add fertilizers from runoff and cause rapid algae blooms and then
they die, depleting the oxygen as they decompose.
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Wetlands Have standing water part of the year. 2 types:
Marshes—non-woody plants—cattails, water lilies, grass, etc. Florida Everglades is largest
marsh in US
Swamp—woody plants—trees and bushes; Okeefenokee Swamp
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Types of Saltwater Ecosystems
1. WETLANDS
Marine wetlands are “transitional areas” between the ocean and coastal lands, according to
the U.S. Geological Survey. Saltwater wetland ecosystems include mangroves and marshes.
Organisms adapted to living in wetlands habitats live part of their life outside the water and
must adapt to a cycle of changing water salinity. Mangrove trees are essential to coastal
marine ecosystems.
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Types of Saltwater Ecosystem
2. Estuaries
Estuaries are another important marine ecosystem where saltwater and freshwater meet to
make a brackish mix. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA), estuaries “provide habitat for over 75 percent of the U.S. commercial sea catch,”
including crabs, clams, oysters, shrimp and other fish species. Estuaries also provide an
important habitat for birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and insects, and estuary
vegetation helps to filter runoff and other pollutants. However, since most water drains
from the land to the ocean via estuaries, potential for pollution is high. Pollution diminishes
estuary ecosystems and impacts the humans who depend on estuaries for food.
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Estuaries
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Types of Saltwater
Ecosystem
3. Coral Reefs
Coral reefs are among the world's richest
ecosystems, second only to tropical rain forests
in plant and animal diversity,” according to the
EPA. Tropical coral reefs occur in shallow,
warm waters, typically off the coast of a land
mass or in areas where islands once existed.
Corals reefs are fragile ecosystems that are
sensitive to imbalances in water quality and
habitat species.
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THREAT TO
SALTWATER
GLOBAL WARMING
Global warming is alarmingly increasing
seawater levels, threatening the marine
ecosystem. ... The rise in seawater level means
more wetland flooding, destructive erosion and
agricultural land contamination and more
importantly a serious threat to the habitat of
several plants, fishes and birds.
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THANK YOU Insert Image
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