BIOME :
BIOME A biome is a large group of ecosystems with similar climates and organisms
Grouping ecosystems into biomes helps ecologists describe the world
BIOME :
BIOME Water Biome
Land Biome
WATER BIOME :
WATER BIOME About three quarters of the earth's surface is covered with water
The water biome is divided into freshwater (water with little salt in it, in ponds, rivers, streams) and marine, or salt water (ocean)
ESTUARY
SALTWATER :
SALTWATER water biome that has high salt content
divided into three zones
shallow ocean zone
ocean surface zone
Deep ocean zone
SALTWATER :
SALTWATER marine or saltwater regions cover about three-fourths of the Earth's surface
marine algae supply much of the world's oxygen supply and take in a huge amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide
the evaporation of the seawater provides rainwater for the land
FRESHWATER :
FRESHWATER have a low salt content
plants and animals in freshwater regions are adjusted to the low salt content and would not be able to survive in areas of high salt concentration (i.e., ocean)
ESTUARY :
ESTUARY Areas where freshwater streams or rivers merge with the ocean
This mixing of waters with such different salt concentrations creates a very interesting and unique ecosystem
ESTUARY :
ESTUARY Microflora like algae, and macroflora, such as seaweeds, marsh grasses, and mangrove trees (only in the tropics), can be found here
Estuaries support a diverse fauna, including a variety of worms, oysters, crabs, and waterfowl