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Aquatic Biome Zonation
AP Environmental Science · Unit 1 The Living World
Learning Objectives
Salinity: Differentiates Freshwater vs Marine biomes.
Depth & Light: Photic zone (photosynthesis possible) vs Aphotic zone (no light).
Water Flow: Distinct zonation exists in Lentic (standing water like lakes) and Lotic (flowing like rivers).
Tags
MarineFreshwaterZonationPhotic
  • 🖱️ Hover over the zones to learn about their specific characteristics in the panel.
Select Environment
Hover over a zone on the diagram to see its details.
AP Exam Tip
KNOW THE ZONES: In lakes, the Littoral zone is the shallow edge with rooted plants. In oceans, the Intertidal zone experiences extreme daily changes in temperature and salinity due to tides. Benthic always means the very bottom, regardless of depth!