Climate

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Climate Biodiversity

• Environmental Science 1

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Blowing in the Wind

• Benefits of wind
• Hazards of wind
• Red tides
• Volcanoes and climate
• Everything is connected

Fig. 5-1, p. 78
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I. CLIMATE A BRIEF INTRODUCTION

• Weather is a local areas short-term physical
  conditions such as temperature and precipitation.
• Climate is a regions average weather conditions
  over a long time.
• 1. Latitude and elevation help determine
  climate.
• 2. Uneven heating of Earths surface
• 3. Coriolis Effect
• 4. Land and Sea Breezes Rain Shadow Effect

4
Earths Climatic Zones
Fig. 5-2, p. 80
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Animation
Climate and ocean currents map
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II. Terms that describe climate

• A. Tropical
• - Never freezes between 30?S and 30?N
• B. Temperate
• - Warm Summers and cold winters.
  Generally between 30? and 60? N and S
• C. Arctic (Polar)
• - Most of the year is below freezing.
  Latitudes above 60?

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Earths Rotation and Climate
60ºN
Cold deserts
Westerlies
Forests
30ºN
Northeast trades
Hot deserts
Forests
0º
Equator
Hot deserts
Southeast trades
30ºs
Forests
Westerlies
Cold deserts
60ºS
Fig. 5-3, p. 80
Fig. 5-3, p. 80
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Animation
Air circulation and climate animation.
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Global Air Circulation and Biomes
Cell 3 North
Cold,dry air falls
Moist air rises rain
Polar cap
Cell 2 North
Arctic tundra
Evergreen coniferous forest
60
Cool, dry air falls
Temperate deciduous forest and grassland
Cell 1 North
Desert
30
Moist air rises, cools, and releases moisture as
rain
Tropical deciduous forest
Tropical rain forest
0
Equator
Tropical deciduous forest
30
Desert
Cell 1 South
Temperate deciduous forest and grassland
Cool, dry air falls
60
Cell 2 South
Polar cap
Moist air rises rain
Cold,dry air falls
Cell 3 South
Fig. 5-4, p. 81
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Animation
Air circulation interaction.
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III. Effects of Water, Wind, and Land on Climate

• A. Ocean currents and wind England is warmer
  than British Columbia (Canada), but both are at
  the same latitude Land and Sea Breezes.

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Animation
Coastal breezes interaction
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Animation
Upwelling along western coasts animation
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III. Effects of Water, Wind, and Land on Climate

• A. Ocean currents and wind England is warmer
  than British Columbia, but both are at the same
  latitude Land and Sea Breezes.
• B. Gases in the atmosphere - Greenhouse gases
  and the Greenhouse Effect

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B. Natural Greenhouse Effect
(c) As concentrations of green-house gases rise,
their molecules absorb and emit more infrared
radiation, which adds more heat to the lower
atmosphere.
(b) The earth's surface absorbs much of the
incoming solar radiation and degrades it to
longer-wavelength infrared (IR) radiation, which
rises into the lower atmosphere. Some of this IR
radiation escapes into space as heat and some is
absorbed by molecules of greenhouse gases and
emitted as even longer wave-length IR radiation,
which warms the lower atmosphere.
(a) Rays of sunlight penetrate the lower
atmosphere and warm the earth's surface.
Fig. 5-5, p. 82
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III. Effects of Water, Wind, and Land on Climate

• A. Ocean currents and wind England is warmer
  than British Columbia, but both are at the same
  latitude Land and Sea Breezes.
• B. Gases in the atmosphere - Greenhouse gases and
  the Greenhouse Effect
• C. Topography and local climate Rain Shadow
  Effect

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C. Rain Shadow Effect
On the leeward side of the mountain range, air
descends, warms, and releases littlemoisture.
On the windward side of a mountain range, air
rises, cools, and releases moisture.
Prevailing winds pick up moisture from an ocean.
Dry habitats
Moist habitats
Fig. 5-6, p. 82
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III. Effects of Water, Wind, and Land on Climate

• A. Ocean currents and wind England is warmer
  than British Columbia, but both are at the same
  latitude Land and Sea Breezes.
• B. Gases in the atmosphere - Greenhouse gases and
  the Greenhouse Effect
• C. Topography and local climate Rain Shadow
  Effect
• D. Microclimates in urban areas Buildings
  asphalt

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IV. Biomes

• There are 12 major biomes
• Biomes are not uniform (mosaic of patches)
• Effects of latitude and longitude Walking up a
  mountain is like walking from the equator to the
  North Pole.

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Earths Major Biomes
Tropic of Cancer
Equator
Tropic of Capricorn
Semidesert, arid grassland
Arctic tundra (polar grasslands)
Desert
Boreal forest (taiga), evergreen conif forest
(e.g., montane coniferous forest)
Tropical rain forest, tropical evergreen forest
Mountains (complex zonation)
Tropical deciduous forest
Temperate deciduous forest
Ice
Temperate grassland
Tropical scrub forest
Dry woodlands and shrublands (chaparral)
Tropical savanna, thorn forest
Fig. 5-7, p. 83
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Precipitation and Temperature Affects Biome Type
Cold
Polar
Tundra
Subpolar
temperature
Temperate
Coniferous forest
Decreasing
Desert
Grassland
Deciduous forest
Tropical
Chaparral
Hot
Desert
Savanna
Wet
Rain forest
Dry
Tropical seasonal forest
Scrubland
Decreasing
precipitation
Fig. 5-8, p. 84
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Effects of Altitude and Latitude on Climate and
Biomes
Altitude
Mountain Ice and snow
Tundra (herbs, lichens, mosses)
Coniferous Forest
Deciduous Forest
Latitude
Tropical Forest
Tropical Forest
Deciduous Forest
Coniferous Forest
Tundra (herbs, lichens, mosses)
Polar ice and snow
Fig. 5-9, p. 85
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IV. Biomes Climates and Life

• A. Deserts Lowest NPP. Why?

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Temperate Desert Ecosystem
Red-tailed hawk
Producer to primary consumer
Gambel's quail
Yucca
Agave
Jack rabbit
Primary to secondary consumer
Collared lizard
Prickly pear cactus
Secondary to higher-level consumer
Darkling beetle
Bacteria
All producers and consumers to decomposers
Diamondback rattlesnake
Fungi
Kangaroo rat
Fig. 5-10a, p. 86
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Temperate Desert in Nevada, USA
Fig. 5-10b, p. 86
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Video Desertification in China
PLAY VIDEO
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Biomes Climates and Life

• A. Deserts Lowest NPP. Why?
• 1. Human Impacts See Figure 5-11 on page 87.

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Major Human Impacts on Deserts
Large desert cities
Soil destruction by off-road vehicles and urban
development
Soil sanitization from irrigation
Depletion of underground water supplies
Land disturbance and pollution from mineral
extraction
Storage of toxic and radioactive wastes
Large arrays of solar cells and solar collectors
used to produce electricity
Fig. 5-11, p. 87
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Biomes Climates and Life

• A. Deserts Lowest NPP. Why?
• 1. Human Impacts See Figure 5-11 on page 87.
• B. Grasslands Savannas, Prairies, Tundra
  (permafrost)
• 1. Animals include browsers and grazers

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Temperate Tall-grass Prairie Ecosystem
Golden eagle
Producer to primary consumer
Pronghorn antelope
Grasshopper sparrow
Coyote
Primary to secondary consumer
Grasshopper
Secondary to higher-level consumer
Blue stem grass
Prairie dog
Bacteria
All producers and consumers to decomposers
Fungi
Prairie coneflower
Fig. 5-12, p. 88
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Arctic Tundra in Winter and Summer
Fig. 5-14, p. 89
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Biomes Climates and Life

• A. Deserts Lowest NPP. Why?
• 1. Human Impacts See Figure 5-11 on page 87.
• B. Grasslands Savannas, Prairies, Tundra
  (permafrost)
• 1. Animals include browsers and grazers
• 2. Human Impacts Farming, Oil exploration.
  See Figure 5-15, page 89.

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Replacing Temperate Grassland with Farms
Fig. 5-13, p. 88
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Human Impacts on Grasslands
Natural Capital Degradation
Grasslands
Conversion of savanna and temperate grasslands to
cropland
Release of CO2 to atmosphere from burning and
conversion of grassland to cropland
Overgrazing of tropical and temperate grasslands
by livestock
Damage to fragile arctic tundra by oil
production, air and water pollution, and off-road
vehicles
Fig. 5-15, p. 89
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IV. Biomes Climates and Life

• A. Deserts Lowest NPP. Why?
• 1. Human Impacts See Figure 5-11 on page 87.
• B. Grasslands Savannas, Prairies, Tundra
  (permafrost)
• 1. Animals include browsers and grazers
• 2. Human Impacts Farming, Oil exploration.
  See Figure 5-15, page 89.
• C. Forests -
• 1. Structure
• a. Ground?Shrub?Understory?Canopy?Emergent
  Layer

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Stratification of Niches in a Tropical Rain Forest
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Emergent layer
Harpy eagle
40
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Toco toucan
Canopy
30
Height (meters)
25
20
Understory
Wooly opossum
15
10
Shrub layer
Brazilian tapir
5
Black-crowned antpitta
Ground layer
0
Fig. 5-17, p. 91
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IV. Biomes (cont)

• C. Forests
• 1. Structure
• a. Ground?Shrub?Understory?Canopy?Emergent
  Layer
• 2. Types of Forests
• a. Tropical Rain Forest
• b. Temperate Rain Forest

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Tropical Rain Forest Ecosystem
Harpy eagle
Blue and gold macaw
Ocelot
Producer to primary consumer
Squirrel monkeys
Climbing monstera palm
Primary to secondary consumer
Katydid
Slaty-tailed trogon
Green tree snake
Tree frog
Secondary to higher-level consumer
Ants
All producers and consumers to decomposers
Bromeliad
Bacteria
Fungi
Fig. 5-16, p. 90
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Animation
Rainforest food web interaction
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Temperate Rain Forest
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IV. Biomes (cont)

• C. Forests
• 1. Structure
• a. Ground?Shrub?Understory?Canopy?Emergent
  Layer
• 2. Types of Forests
• a. Tropical Rain Forest Rapid Nutrient
  Cycling
• b. Temperate Rain Forest Rapid Rich
  Nutrient cycling
• c. Temperate Deciduous Forest Rich Nutrient
  Cycling

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Temperate Deciduous Forest Ecosystem
Broad-winged hawk
Producer to primary consumer
Hairy woodpecker
Gray squirrel
Primary to secondary consumer
White oak
White-footed mouse
Metallic wood- boring beetle and larvae
White-tailed deer
Secondary to higher-level consumer
Mountain winterberry
Shagbark hickory
May beetle
All producers and consumers to decomposers
Racer
Long-tailed weasel
Fungi
Wood frog
Bacteria
Fig. 5-18a, p. 92
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Temperate Deciduous Forest in Fall and Winter
Fig. 5-18b-c, p. 92
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Video Owl Hunting
PLAY VIDEO
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IV. Biomes (cont)

• C. Forests
• 1. Structure
• a. Ground?Shrub?Understory?Canopy?Emergent
  Layer
• 2. Types of Forests
• a. Tropical Rain Forest Rapid Nutrient
  Cycling
• b. Temperate Rain Forest Rapid Rich
  Nutrient cycling
• c. Temperate Deciduous Forest Rich Nutrient
  Cycling
• d. Boreal Coniferous Forest Slower Poorer
  Nutrient
• cycling
• 3. Human Impacts Figure 5-20, page 94.

46
Boreal Coniferous Forest Ecosystem
Great horned owl
Blue jay
Producer to primary consumer
Marten
Balsam fir
Primary to secondary consumer
Moose
White spruce
Wolf
Bebb willow
Secondary to higher-level consumer
Pine sawyer beetle and larvae
Snowshoe hare
All producers and consumers to decomposers
Fungi
Starflower
Bacteria
Bunchberry
Fig. 5-19a, p. 93
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Boreal Coniferous Forest in Alaska
Fig. 5-19b, p. 93
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Human Impacts on Forests
Natural Capital Degradation
Forests
Clearing and degradation of tropical forests for
agriculture, livestock grazing, and timber
harvesting
Clearing of temperate deciduous forests in
Europe, Asia, and North America for timber,
agriculture, and urban development
Clearing of evergreen coniferous forests in North
America, Finland, Sweden, Canada, Siberia, and
Russia
Conversion of diverse forests to less biodiverse
tree plantations
Damage to soils from off-road vehicles
Fig. 5-20, p. 94
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Mountain Ecosystems are of special concern

• Islands of biodiversity
• Climate regulation
• Mountain glaciers and effects on sea level
• Impact on hydrologic cycle
• Human impacts on mountains

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Forests near Mt. Rainer, Washington
Fig. 5-21, p. 94
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V. Aquatic Ecology

• A. Organisms that live in Aquatic Environments
• 1. Phytoplankton (plants) Zooplankton
  (animals)

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ect/ocean/images/zooplankton1.jpg
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V. Aquatic Ecology

• A. Organisms that live in Aquatic Environments
• 1. Phytoplankton (plants) Zooplankton
  (animals)
• 2. Nekton Strong swimmers (fish, turtles,
  whales)
• 3. Benthos Sea Floor (barnacles, clams,
  oysters)
• 4. Decomposers bacteria
• B. Factors that limit life in Aquatic
  Environments
• 1. Temperature
• 2. Sunlight
• 3. Dissolved Oxygen
• 4. Nutrients

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V. Aquatic Ecology (cont)

• Types of Aquatic Ecosystems
• 1. Saltwater Oceans Saltwater Lakes

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Coral Reef and Mangrove Forest
Fig. 5-23b-c, p. 96
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V. Aquatic Ecology (cont)

• Types of Aquatic Ecosystems
• 1. Saltwater Oceans Saltwater Lakes,
  marshes
• 2. Freshwater Ponds, Lakes, Rivers,
  Streams, Marshes, and Swamps
• 3. Estuaries Where fresh and salt
  water meet or where a freshwater body is
  impacted by tidal flow

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New Jersey Meadowlands
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V. Aquatic Ecology (cont)

• D. Saltwater Life Zones
• 1. Coastal Intertidal
• 2. Pelagic (open water) Zones
• a. Euphotic Light zone of the open ocean
• b. Bathyl Twilight (1-10 light)
• c. Abyssal Darkness
• 3. Benthic

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Major Life Zones in the Ocean
High tide
Open Sea
Sun
Low tide
Coastal Zone
Sea level
Euphotic Zone
Photosynthesis
Estuarine Zone
Continental shelf
Bathyal Zone
Twilight
Abyssal Zone
Darkness
Fig. 5-26, p. 98
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Beach Organisms
Hermit crab
Shore crab
Sea star
Rocky Shore Beach
High tide
Periwinkle
Sea urchin
Anemone
Mussel
Low tide
Sculpin
Barnacles
Kelp
Sea lettuce
Monterey flatworm
Nudibranch
Fig. 5-29a, p. 101
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Beach Organisms
Barrier beach
Beach flea
Peanut worm
Tiger beetle
Blue crab
Clam
Dwarf olive
High tide
Sandpiper
Ghost shrimp
Silversides
Low tide
Mole shrimp
White sand macoma
Sand dollar
Moon snail
Fig. 5-29b, p. 101
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Primary and Secondary Beach Dunes
Ocean
Beach Intensive recreation, no building
Primary Dune No direct passage or building
Trough Limited recreation and walkways
Secondary Dune No direct passage or building
Bay or Lagoon Intensive recreation
Back Dune Most suitable for development
Bay shore No filling
Grasses or shrubs
Taller shrubs
Taller shrubs and trees
Fig. 5-30, p. 102
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Barrier Islands
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Coral Reef Ecosystem
Gray reef shark
Green sea turtle
Sea nettle
Producer to primary consumer
Fairy basslet
Blue tangs
Primary to secondary consumer
Parrot fish
Sergeant major
Brittle star
Banded coral shrimp
Hard corals
Algae
Secondary to higher-level consumer
Phytoplankton
Coney
Symbiotic algae
Zooplankton
Blackcap basslet
All producers and consumers to decomposers
Sponges
Moray eel
Bacteria
Fig. 5-31, p. 102
69
Major Threats to Coral Reefs
Natural Capital Degradation
Coral Reefs
Ocean warming Soil erosion Algae growth from
fertilizer runoff Mangrove destruction Coral
reef bleaching Rising sea levels Increased UV
exposure from ozone depletion Using cyanide and
dynamite to harvest coral reef fish Coral
removal for building material, aquariums, and
jewelry Damage from anchors, ships, and tourist
divers
Fig. 5-32, p. 103
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Human Impacts on Marine Ecosystems
Natural Capital Degradation
Marine Ecosystems
Half of coastal wetlands lost to agriculture and
urban development Over one-third of mangrove
forests lost since 1980 to agriculture,
development, and aquaculture shrimp farms About
10 of worlds beaches eroding because of coastal
development and rising sea level Ocean bottom
habitats degraded by dredging and trawler fishing
boats Over 25 of coral reefs severely damaged
and 11 have been destroyed
Fig. 5-33, p. 103
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V. Aquatic Ecology (cont)

• E. Freshwater Ecosystems and Life Zones
• 1. Are continously replenished by watersheds.
• 2. Zones of life
• a. Littoral Zone near the shoreline
• b. Limnetic illuminated, open water
• c. Profundal Twilight to dark, cooler
• d. Benthic bottom, nourished by detritus

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Animation
Lake zonation interaction
73
Zones in a Temperate Lake
Sunlight
Painted turtle
Green frog
Blue-winged teal
Muskrat
Pond snail
Littoral zone
Limnetic zone
Diving beetle
Plankton
Profundal zone
Benthic zone
Northern pike
Yellow perch
Bloodworms
Fig. 5-35, p. 105
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E. Freshwater (cont)

• 3. Freshwater ecosystems age naturally in a
  process called eutrophication. Lakes and
  streams age from Oligotrophic to Eutrophic over
  the course of time.
• ANIMATION

75
E. Freshwater (cont)

• 4. Overturn Each season, the water temperature
  goes through a cycle of becoming stratified
  (different layers) and then uniform (all the same
  temperature) again, which mixes nutrients and
  oxygen levels.

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E. Freshwater (..cont)

• 5. Stream Zones are characterized different
  environmental conditions. These environmental
  conditions affect the levels of nutrients,
  dissolved oxygen and flow rate of streams that,
  in turn, provides a variety of habitats for
  organisms with varying ecological niches.

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5. Stream Zones
Rain and snow
Lake
Glacier
Rapids
Waterfall
Tributary
Flood plain
Oxbow lake
Salt marsh
Ocean
Delta
Deposited sediment
Source Zone
Transition Zone
Water
Sediment
Floodplain Zone
Fig. 5-36, p. 106
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V. Aquatic Ecology (cont)

• F. Estuaries these systems are the filters of
  the worlds water.

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Salt Marsh Ecosystem
Herring gulls
Peregrine falcon
Producer to primary consumer
Snowy egret
Cordgrass
Short-billed dowitcher
Primary to secondary consumer
Marsh periwinkle
Secondary to higher-level consumer
Phytoplankton
Smelt
All producers and consumers to decomposers
Zooplankton and small crustaceans
Soft-shelled clam
Clamworm
Bacteria
Fig. 5-28a, p. 99
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Salt Marsh in Lake Titicaca, Peru
Fig. 5-28b, p. 99