Question

The open water of the ocean pelagic in some ways resembles the terrestrial desert. In a short essay of between 100-150 words, compare and contrast these 2 biomes.

Answer 1

The ocean pelagic zone and the terrestrial desert are both environments where life faces scarcity of nutrients and water respectively, with low biodiversity and vast open spaces. Deserts are defined by temperature and moisture, while pelagic zones are classified based on salt content, sunlight penetration, temperature, and water movement. In both, nutrients are difficult for organisms to access, constraining their availability.

Step-by-step explanation:

The ocean pelagic zone and the terrestrial desert are biomes that, despite being markedly different in their nature—one aquatic and the other terrestrial—share some surprising similarities. Both are vast, open spaces where life must adapt to scarcity—deserts have a scarcity of water, whereas in the pelagic zone, it's a scarcity of nutrients. The richness in biodiversity is low compared to more hospitable environments like forests or coral reefs. Both biomes are also defined by abiotic factors; however, instead of temperature and moisture, the defining factors in the pelagic zone include sunlight penetration, water temperature, movement, and salt content.

In contrast, deserts have extreme temperature fluctuations and very little precipitation. Aquatic biomes like the pelagic zone don't fit neatly into this classification since their primary factor is not climate, but salt content. Moreover, while nutrients in deserts are mainly bound up in the soil, in the open ocean, they sink to the bottom, out of reach for most life unless brought up by currents.

Answer 2

Answer and Explanation:

Aquatic biomes are the water-based large geographical areas, while terrestrial biomes are land-based large geographical areas. Kelp forests, freshwater, estuaries, marine water, wetlands and coral reefs are forms of aquatic biomes. Tundra, forests, taiga, grasslands and desserts are the forms of terrestrial biomes. Aquatic biomes involve the formation of climate and water regulation and provide shelter for millions of kinds of fish. On the other hand, terrestrial biomes maintain the climate, provide food for living entities, absorb carbon dioxide from the air and release oxygen. Aquatic biomes are world’s largest biomes, while terrestrial biomes are smaller in size. Animals which live in the water are called aquatic animals, such as whale, dolphins, sharks, corals, sea horses and alligators. Aquatic animals breathe through their gills in order to absorb oxygen. Animals which live on land are called terrestrial animals, such as cats, tigers, lions, mice, oxen, bulls, dogs, spiders and many more. Terrestrial animals breathe through their mouths, noses and skin.