ENVR 200 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Photic Zone, Aphotic Zone, Biome
Document Summary
In the euphotic zone (~200m), organic production is less than breakdown. Organic matter content is higher near the surface. Nutrients are more concentrated in deeper waters (released by decomposition) Oxygen is high in the depths due to temperature and deep currents. Distance from land determines nutrient deposition (dust, rivers, costal upwellings) Precipitation and temperature are less important in marine systems. Organism adaptations are similar, whereas terrestrial adaptations are more extreme. Protein breaks down more easily, resulting in high c flux.