For the following aquatic ecosystems, describe what is found within their zones:
ID: 637508 • Letter: F
Question
For the following aquatic ecosystems, describe what is found within their zones:
(6 points)
Ecosystem
Zone
Description of Zone
Organisms Found within Zone
Ponds and Lakes
Littoral zone
Limnetic zone
Profundal zone
Benthic zone
Streams and Rivers
Headwaters
(orders 1st – 3rd)
Medium-sized rivers (4th – 6th)
Large rivers (7th – 10th)
Oceans
Epipelagic zone
Mesopelagic zone
Bathypelagic zone
Abyssopelagic zone
Hadalpelagic zone
Ecosystem
Zone
Description of Zone
Organisms Found within Zone
Ponds and Lakes
Littoral zone
Limnetic zone
Profundal zone
Benthic zone
Streams and Rivers
Headwaters
(orders 1st – 3rd)
Medium-sized rivers (4th – 6th)
Large rivers (7th – 10th)
Oceans
Epipelagic zone
Mesopelagic zone
Bathypelagic zone
Abyssopelagic zone
Hadalpelagic zone
Explanation / Answer
1) littoral zone
The littoral zone is the near shore area where sunlight penetrates all the way to the sediment and allows aquatic plant to grow. Light level of about 1% or less of surface values usually define this depth.
* organism found - anemones, barnacles, chitransh, crabs, green algae etc.
2 ) limnetic zone
This zone is the layer of open water where photosynthesis can occur. As one descends deeper in the limnetic zone the amount of light decreases until of depth is reached where the rate of photosynthesis becomes equal to the rate of respiration. At this level net primary production no longer occurs. The limiting zone is Shallow in turbid water then in clear and is a more prominent feature of lakes then of Ponds.
* organism found- variety of phytoplankton, consisting of algae and cyanobacteria, zoo plankton, small crustaceans, and fish.
3) profundal zone
The profundal zone is a deeper zone of an inland body of free standing water such as lake or pond located below the range of effective light penetration.
* organism found- leeches, Annelida worm, insect larva and few types of crabs and molluks, sea urchin, crustaceans etc.
4) benthic zone
The benthic zone is the ecological region at the lowest level of a body of water such as an Ocean or a lake including the sediment surface and subsurface layers. Organism living in this zone are called benthos.
* organism found- worms, bivalves, echinoderms, sea anemones, corals, sponges etc.
5) head water
Head water is a river or stream is the furthest place in that river or stream fromits estuary or Confluence with another river as measured along the course of the river.
* organism found- bluntnose minnow, Creek chub, fantail darter, mottled sculpin etc.
6) medium sized rivers
medium size river drain watersheds up to 1000 Sq. Mi. In size and have an average Bank full width of 131 feet. It is slower moving lower gradient sections of these rivers are expected to be more unconfined with higher sinuosity, broader floodplain valleys, more reparian wetlands.
* organism found - variety of species from insects, amphibians, reptiles, Turtles, ducks, Dragonfly, crocodiles etc.
7) large rivers
it is a it is a natural stream of water of fairly large size flowing in a definite course or channel or series of diverging and converging channels.
* organism found - whales, snakes, crabs, crocodiles, dolphin etc.
8) epipelagic zone
the uppermost layer of worlds ocean is bathed in sunlight during the daytime. This bright Ozone Layer is called the Sunlit zones are the euphotic zone or the epipelagic zone.
* organism found- swordfish, squid, Wolfish, cuttlefish etc.
9) mesopelagic zone
The mesopelagic zone is that part of the pelagic zone that extends from a depth of 200 to 1000 metres below the ocean surface.
* organism found - bristlemouth, swordfish, Wolf eels, cat shark etc
10) bathypelagic zone
it is the part of the pelagic zone that extends from a depth of 1000 to 4000 m below the ocean surface. It lies between the meso pelagic above and the abyssopelagic below.
* organism found- mollusks, crustaceans, jellyfish, sperm whales etc.
11) abyssopelagic zone
The abyssopelagic zone is a layer of the pelagic zone of the ocean. it Dept of a 4000 to 6000 metres. This zone remains in perpetual darkness.
*organism found- angler ish, deep sea jellyfish, deep sea shrimp, cookiecutter shark, tripod fish, abyssal octopus etc.
12) hedalpelagic zone
The hadal zone also known as the hadopelagic zone is the deepest region of the ocean lying within oceanic trenches.
* organism found- anglerfish, deep sea jellyfish, dumbo octopus, tripod fish etc.