The types of aquatic biomes you should be familiar with are Antarctic, marine,
lakes, wetlands, and rivers and streams. Here is some general information on
aquatic biomes: ■ Water provides buoyancy and reduces organisms’ need for
support structures such as legs and trunks.
■ Water has a high thermal capacity. Most aquatic organisms do not spend
much energy on temperature regulation.
■ Many organisms obtain nutrients directly from the water, such as filter
feeders that consume detritus, thereby reducing energy spent on searching
for food, e.g., barnacles, clams, and oysters.
■ Water allows for the dispersal of gametes and larvae to new areas.
■ Water screens out UV radiation.ANTARCTIC
Antarctica is the area surrounding the South Pole. Rainfall is generally less than
2 inches (5 cm) per year. The climate of Antarctica is the coldest on Earth and is
extremely dry (technically a desert), averaging about 6 inches (166 mm) of
precipitation per year. On most parts of the continent, the snow rarely melts and
is eventually compressed to become the glacial ice that makes up the ice sheet.
Winters have little light, no phytoplankton growth, and extremely cold
temperatures.
Figure 4.5 Antarctic climatograph