RNR 1001 Lecture : RNR Final Notes
Document Summary
71% of the earth"s surface is water, 69% saltwater. The oceans distribute heat, feed the hydrologic cycle, and are critical to the world"s. Support coral reefs similar to terrestrial rainforests. Coastal zone: high tide mark to the edge of the continental shelf. Estuaries: where rivers meet the ocean, have reduced salinity and high nutrient levels. Barrier beaches and barrier islands are important, however first hit by storms productive nurseries, access route for anadromous species (live in salt and fresh) Oceanic habitats differ primarily in salinity, light levels, nutrient concentrations, depth. Neritic zone: shallow w/ most fish, birds, mammals, commercial/recreational fishing. Euphotic zone enough light for photosynthesis, birds, fishes, whales. Bathyl zone separated from euphotic zone by compensation depth; dark, cold. Abyssal zone weird fishes, hydrogen sulfide instead of co2. Upwelling: where you have deep water upwelling into shallower water, due to. Waters of different densities do not mix well leads to little oxygen. Littoral zone ends where rooted plants end.
