Biomes & Aquatic Ecosystems

Front

What is a biome?

Back

A biome is a large geographic biotic unit, a major community of plants and animals with similar life forms and environmental conditions.

Front

Define aquatic ecosystem.

Back

An aquatic ecosystem is a water-based environment that supports a community of organisms, including freshwater and marine ecosystems.

Front

What is the photic zone?

Back

The photic zone is the upper layer of a body of water where sunlight penetrates, allowing photosynthesis to occur.

Front

What is the aphotic zone?

Back

The aphotic zone is the layer of a body of water where no sunlight penetrates, preventing photosynthesis.

Front

What is net primary productivity?

Back

Net primary productivity is the rate at which energy is converted by photosynthetic and chemosynthetic autotrophs to organic substances, minus the energy used in respiration.

Front

What is the neritic zone?

Back

The neritic zone is the shallow part of the ocean that extends from the low tide mark to the edge of the continental shelf.

Front

What is the open ocean?

Back

The open ocean is the vast body of saltwater that lies beyond the continental shelf, characterized by deep waters and less nutrient availability.

Front

What is the benthic zone?

Back

The benthic zone is the ecological region at the lowest level of a body of water, including the sediment surface and sub-surface layers.

Front

What factors influence aquatic ecosystems?

Back

Factors include light availability, temperature, salinity, nutrient levels, and water movement.

Front

What is the difference between freshwater and saltwater ecosystems?

Back

Freshwater ecosystems have low salt concentration (like rivers and lakes), while saltwater ecosystems have high salt concentration (like oceans and seas).