Additional Notes /
Biome / Topic Key Characteristics Abiotic Factors Zonation / Structure Typical Organisms
Importance
Light, temperature, DO, Aquatic = largest biome;
Aquatic Biomes Divided into Freshwater & nutrients, salinity, General: fish, algae, limiting factors differ from
Varies per biome
Overview Marine based on salinity turbidity, water current, invertebrates terrestrial (sunlight,
depth oxygen)
Organisms adapted to low
Low salinity (<1%), closely Covers 2.1% of Earth’s
Freshwater Input of nutrients and Lakes/ponds, rivers/streams, salt; in rivers:
connected to terrestrial surface; essential for
Biomes organic matter from land wetlands swim/anchor ability
zones biodiversity
needed
Littoral (shore, shallow),
Still water; varies in size; Phytoplankton, Eutrophication from excess
Light penetration, N & P, Limnetic (open water),
Lakes & Ponds subject to thermal zooplankton, fish, snails, nutrients can lead to algal
temp stratification Profundal (dark deep),
stratification decomposers bloom
Benthic (bottom)
Trophic Oligotrophic (low nutrients) Productivity and oxygen Eutrophication leads to O₂
Based on nutrient richness Phosphorus & nitrogen
Classifications → Eutrophic (rich) → levels vary by trophic depletion and algal
and biomass levels
(Lakes) Hypereutrophic (excessive) state overgrowth
Additional Notes /
Biome / Topic Key Characteristics Abiotic Factors Zonation / Structure Typical Organisms
Importance
Source (cold, oxygen-rich, Headwater: trout, algae Vital for ecosystems and
Moving water from O₂ level, clarity, flow rate,
Rivers & Streams fast), downstream (warm, on rocks; Downstream: humans; threatened by
headwater → ocean sedimentation
sediment-rich, slow) worms, aquatic plants pollution & overuse
Soil saturated seasonally or No defined zones like lakes; Crucial for flood control,
Nutrient filtering, runoff Amphibians, birds,
Wetlands permanently; shallow rooted vegetation emerges water purification,
buffer grasses, insects
waters above surface biodiversity
Major source of O₂
Marine Biomes High salinity (>1%); largest Depth, light, salinity, Seaweed, algae, sponges,
Varies by sub-biome production; stable yet
Overview biome (70% Earth) nutrient runoff fish, mollusks
threatened
Warm (some cold) shallow
25% of marine species in
marine habitats; coral Light, salinity, stable Fish, coral, sponges,
Coral Reefs Types: fringing, barrier, atoll only 1% of ocean; highly
polyps form CaCO₃ temp, low nutrients invertebrates
threatened
skeletons
Additional Notes /
Biome / Topic Key Characteristics Abiotic Factors Zonation / Structure Typical Organisms
Importance
Important for bird
Oceanic High variability: exposure, Alternates between exposed Crabs, mussels, sea stars,
Coastal zone between tides breeding; buffer zone for
Intertidal Zone temp, wave energy and submerged birds
waves
Oceanic Pelagic Open ocean away from Nutrients, DO, pressure, Epipelagic to Hadalpelagic (5 Phytoplankton, jellyfish, Largest habitat on Earth;
Zone shore & seabed salinity, light, temp depth zones) large fish, whales climate regulation role
Ocean floor, including Spawning ground, nutrient
Oceanic Benthic High pressure, cold, dark, Extends from shoreline to Crustaceans, benthic
trenches and continental recycling, indicator of water
Zone low light deep ocean floor worms, mollusks, bacteria
shelf health
Very productive; important
Where freshwater meets Variable salinity (0–3.5%), Salinity gradient from river to Mangroves, fish, birds,
Estuaries for filtering pollutants and
seawater; brackish water nutrient-rich sea crustaceans
storm protection