Aquatic Biodiversity
An Indicator of an Ecosystem's Health
Ocean Diversity
There are several zones in the ocean. These include the intertidal zone, the continental shelf, and the oceanic zone which has the photic zone, the aphotic zone and the abyssal zone.
Lake Diversity
There are fewer zones in a lake than in the ocean, some of which are the same. The zones are the littoral zone, the limnetic zone and the profundal zone which has the photic and aphotic zones.
Intertidal Zone
- Along the shoreline of the ocean.
- Organisms have to be able to live in and out of water.
- The area between high tide and low tide.
Continental Shelf
- Is the shelf of land that extends out from the edge of a continent and is below the surface of the ocean.
- Water is warm, sunlight penetrates to the bottom, nutrients for many plants and animals.
Photic Zone
- The layer of water below the surface of a lake or ocean where sunlight reaches.
- Large variety of organisms.
- Plants are able to photosynthesis in this zone.
Aphotic Zone
- The layer of water below the photic zone.
- Plants are unable to photosynthesis in this zone.
- Sunlight does not reach into this zone.
- Fewer nutrients than in the photic zone.
Abyssal Zone
- The layer of water inside the aphotic zone and above the bottom of the ocean.
- Sunlight does not reach this zone.
Littoral Zone
- Is the area of a lake from the shore to where aquatic plants stop growing.
- There is plenty of light
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is an indicator of ecosystem health as an ecosystem is healthier with more types of organisms. Every ecosystem is a complex set of organisms that are connected to the lives of the other organisms within the ecosystem. When one organism is removed from the ecosystem, regardless of its size, some of the remaining organisms might suffer, while others might thrive.