Home Page Textbooks Prentice Hall Biology (California) Section 4.4: Aquatic Ecosystems

Prentice Hall Biology (California)

1st Edition

Kenneth R. Miller, Levine

ISBN: 9780132013529

Textbook solutions

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Section 4.4: Aquatic Ecosystems

Exercise 1

Solution 1

Solution 2

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Aquatic ecosystems are determined primarily by the depth, flow, temperature, and chemistry of the overlying water. (Only three of the factors were required in this question.)

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The structure of aquatic ecosystems can be characterized by certain factors. These include the **depth**, **flow**, **temperature**, and **chemistry** of the overlying water in the ecosystem.

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The depth of the overlying water refers to the distance of the water from the shore. This factor influences the amount of light that can penetrate the water and received by organisms.

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The chemistry of water generally refers to the amount of dissolved substances such as oxygen, nutrients, and salts. These materials are needed by aquatic organisms to survive.

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Furthermore, the flow and temperature of water can influence the variety of species that live in an aquatic ecosystem. Some species can only tolerate certain temperatures or flow rate.

Result

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Depth, flow, temperature, and chemistry

Exercise 2

Solution 1

Solution 2

Solution 3

Solution 4

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Flowing water ecosystem

1. They are fresh water ecosytems that flow over the land.Example-rivers, streams, creeks, brooks.

2.Since water is flowing and turbulent supports less plant life even though has plenty of dissolved oxygen.

3.. Organisms that live in this system are well adopted to the rate of water flow. for example catfish have suckers that anchor them to rocks, trout and many fishes have streamlined bodies.

Step 2

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Standing water ecosystem

1. They are still water systems with net flow of water in and out of this system.Example-lakes and ponds
2. Water circulation within the system for distribution of heat, oxygen, nutrients throughout the system.
3. Supports growth of Planktons, which usually get washed away in fresh water systems.

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Flowing- and Standing-Water ecosystems are both part of a freshwater ecosystem.

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In Flowing-Water ecosystems, the organisms are adapted to the rate of flow of water in rivers, streams, creeks, and brooks. They often originate in mountains or hills, usually from underground sources, where they flow downhill, eventually meandering slowly through flat lands.

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In Standing-Water Ecosystems, there is little flowing of water, and organisms in standing-water ponds or lakes are accustomed to it.

Result

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see explantion for result

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Standing water and flowing water ecosystems both have circulation to distribute heat, oxygen and nutrients and support organisms

The differences between the two is that Standing water has little water circulation and supports free floating organisms and flowing water ecosystems have a higher rate of water circulation and supports a wider range of organisms.

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**Flowing-water** ecosystems include rivers and streams where water freely flows over the land. Due to its turbulent flow, organisms found in flowing-water ecosystems are usually adapted to a high rate of flow. An example is the streamlined bodies of trout and many other fishes.

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On the other hand, **standing-water** ecosystems include lakes and ponds where water does not flow freely. Due to the relatively still waters, many species of plankton, including phytoplankton, are able to live in standing-water ecosystems without being washed away.

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Despite their differences, flowing- and standing-water ecosystems also have their similarities. Both of them have circulating water that helps to distribute oxygen, heat, and nutrients throughout their respective ecosystems. They also provide habitat for certain aquatic organisms.

Exercise 3

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Here are the list of six distinct ocean zones and the abiotic factors found for each zone

1. Photic zone – a zone until 200 meters deep where sunlight can be reached
a. presence of sunlight
b. warm temperature

2. Aphotic zone – deep and dark part of the ocean
a. there is an absence of sunlight
b. colder temperature

3. Intertidal zone – submerged in water for at least once or twice a day
a. exposed to regular temperature changes in the environment
b. exposed to sunlight
c. exposed to wind and water currents

4. Coastal ocean – it is found within the photic zone; located from the low-tide zone to the outer continental shelf; this is where kelp forests and coral reefs are found
a. exposed to sunlight
b. temperature varies
c. supports complex food webs which include marine organisms such as sea urchins, sea otters, fishes, seals and whales

5. Open ocean – referred to as the oceanic zone, wherein it begins at the edge of the continental shelf
a. exposure to high pressure
b. exposure to frigid temperature
c. exposure to total darkness

6. Benthic zone – the zone where the ocean floor and deep sea vents are found
a. there is an absence of light and photosynthesis
b. marine organisms in this zone depend on chemical energy
c. temperature is a bit warmer due to its closeness to the water vents; however, the temperature may drop to 2 degrees Celsius.
d. high pressure

Exercise 4

Solution 1

Solution 2

Solution 3

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[A] A wetland is an ecosystem in which water either covers the soil or is present at or near the surface of the soil.
Examples include bogs, marshes, and swamps. (Only one is required in this question.)

[B] An estuary is a wetland formed when rivers meet the sea.
Examples include salt marshes and mangrove swamps. (Only one is required in this question.)

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A wetland is an ecosystem where flowing or standing water cover the land at some points during the year.an example would be a swamp

Estuaries are formed when rivers meet the sea and contain a mixture of freshwater and saltwater. They are affected by the tide of the sea. An example would be a salt marsh

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A **wetland** is an ecosystem where the land is covered or flooded by water, either permanently or seasonally. Water that is present in a wetland can be fresh, salty or brackish. The water in wetlands may also be free-flowing or standing.

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An **estuary** is a type of wetland that forms at the mouth of a river that meets the sea. Thus, estuaries usually comprise a transition zone between river and marine environments, which also explains why they usually contain brackish water.

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Some examples of freshwater wetlands include **bogs**, **marshes**, and **swamps** which provide habitat for a wide variety of organisms. Some examples of estuaries include **salt marshes** and **mangrove swamps**, both of which are characterized by salt-tolerant organisms.

Exercise 5

Solution 1

Solution 2

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Less water flowing into it, which can change the mineral and salt composition of the water, cause changes in flow and temperature, and these in turn can dramatically change the types of plant and animal life in the area.

Result

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See explanation

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The damming of a river would prevent the flow of freshwater into an estuary at the river’s mouth. This would affect the water chemistry of the estuary, which in turn affects aquatic organisms.

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The lack of flow from a dammed river would also reduce the amount of water that is present in the estuary. This would lower the depth of water, which would also affect aquatic organisms.

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The damming of a river also prevents the discharge of sediments to the estuary and its adjacent coast. This results in the erosion of the coastal area since sediments are not replenished.

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Section 4.4: Aquatic Ecosystems

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