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Aquatic Biome
By
Darnell Battle & T.J. Dombroski
Fall 2009
Introduction
SPLASH! A dolphin flies through the air and lands in
the seemingly endless ocean. A shark lurks in the
deep ocean searching for its prey. The aquatic
biome holds many animals and is the largest biome
on Earth. It covers over 70% of the Earth. There
are many bodies of water, including a place where
freshwater and saltwater meet. Most of the aquatic
biome is ocean, however a small part of the aquatic
biome consists of rivers, lakes, ponds, and
wetlands. We are students exploring the aquatic
biome. Come join us on our journey.
Geographical Characteristics
Oceans are very deep. Their depth ranges from over 3000 feet to almost
14,000 feet. Oceans are broken up into four zones. The inertial zone,
the pelagic zone, the abyssal zone, and the benthic zone. The inertial
zone is the zone closest to the shore. It is underwater at high tide and
above water at low tide . The intertidal zone is also well lit by the sun.
The pelagic zone is further away from the shore. It is mostly open
ocean. The benthic zone is deep but is not the deepest part of the
ocean. The abyssal zone is the deepest part of the ocean. It is dark and
very cold. Estuaries are where freshwater streams and rivers merge
with the ocean. A small part of the aquatic biome is rivers, streams,
lakes, ponds, and wetlands. Most rivers and streams flow down from
the tops of mountains. Ponds and lakes are broken up into three zones.
The highest zone is the littoral zone. That zone is nearest to the shore
and has shallow water. The water near the surface that is surrounded
by the littoral zone is the limonitic zone. That zone is well lit by the sun.
The deepest part of lakes and ponds is the profundal zone.
Climate
As we swim through the water the water suddenly gets colder and we
swim about two meters more the water gets warmer The temperature of
the surface waters of the ocean varies mainly with latitude. While the Polar
seas can be -2° C or 28.4° F, the Persian gulf can be 36° C or 96.8° F.
However the average surface temperature is 17° C or 62.6° F. There is a
boundary between the surface and the deep water. At that boundary the
temperature is around 0° C. Most of the ocean water near or below that is
between 0° and -3° C. The temperature of ponds and lakes is slightly
colder than that of the ocean. The top layer of ponds and lakes has a
temperature range between 65° and 75° F. The center of ponds and lakes
have a temperature that is usually between 45° and 65° F. Light doesn’t
penetrate the bottom, so it is very cold. The temperature there is between
39° and 45° F.
Our Diet
The aquatic biome is filled with many different kinds of fish. For
example if we explored the Atlantic ocean we would eat the delicious
Atlantic salmon. The Atlantic salmon darts around many parts of the
Atlantic Ocean, including waters from Greenland to Cape Cod, the
arctic coast of Russia and Northern to Southern Spain. We would eat
great barracuda if we explored any tropical ocean except the eastern
Pacific Ocean. The great barracuda is best in the Caribbean and the
western Atlantic Ocean. We would also eat skipjack tuna. skipjack
tuna dashes through every tropical ocean. There are also many kinds
of fish in the freshwater part of the aquatic biome. If we explored
ponds and lakes in southeastern Canada or the northern United
States we would dine on large mouth bass. Finally if we explored
small river beds in the northern United States and Canada we would
eat delicious rainbow trout.
Aquatic Survival
As we continue to explore the aquatic biome we discover that there
it can be a very dangerous place for humans. For example under
water, humans can’t breathe so we need oxygen tanks to
breathe underwater. Even with an oxygen tank there is a limit to
how much time we can stay underwater. There are also some
dangerous animals. For example there are jellyfish. Jellyfish have
powerful tentacles which can give us a nasty sting. There is also
the sting ray. The sting ray can kill us with its powerful stinger.
And we have not even mentioned sharks, whales and many
other mighty dangerous species in this biome. Finally, in the
deep ocean the temperature is always very low. In fact it is
always below 0°C. These are only some of the many dangers
lurking as we explore.
Shelter
Since we are exploring the aquatic biome we can’t stay in
the water for long. We need in a shelter to protect us
from the freezing waters. We have decided that we will
use a submarine with a single propeller for shelter. Our
submarine has a small propeller like a helicopter's rotors
at the rear of it. It also has a small engine room which
holds the motor generator. This generator powers the
propeller so that we can silently glide through the water.
It has a ballast tank which takes in water so we can
submerge. It also has a tower with a periscope and
radar antennas, and living quarters which we can sleep
in.
And the submarine will keep us dry, warm and safe in
our exploration!
Poem of the Aquatic Biome
The aquatic biome
Covers over 70 % of the Earth’s surface
A large variety of marine life
Call it home
And while it is an amazingly beautiful place
There is also danger
Plummeting
Through the ocean
You may meet jellyfish, stingray, great white sharks
But you will not care
When you discover what wonders
The aquatic biome
Has to share.