AQUATIC BIOMES: FRESHWATER

Earth’s Aquatic Biomes- Marine | Freshwater

Berkeley Freshwater Biomes

Freshwater: generally have a low salt concentration (< 1%)

• Ponds and lakes: ponds are seasonal, while lakes can exist for 100+ years; they have limited diversity and are divided into 3 zones:

  • Littoral: the topmost zone closest to the shore; the warmest area that contains a diverse community

    • What type of plants and animals live in this zone?

  • Limnetic: the near-surface open water; well-lit and dominated by plankton

  • Profundal: the deepest area of a lake or pond; much colder and lower in oxygen with little species diversity

    • What type of plants and animals live in this zone?

• Streams and rivers: bodies of flowing water moving in one direction

• Wetlands: areas of standing water that support aquatic plants; have the highest species diversity of all ecosystems