Based on what you have learned about the aquatic environment and the life needs and adaptations of planktonic and benthic organisms found in it, What changes do you expect in abiotic conditions in or just above the sediments to those in the water column at the same site? How might the species of organisms and their abundance differ between those habitats, and might any differences be related to differences in abiotic conditions? What differences might you expect in the water column at a deep site versus a shallow site? Solution The variations in the abiotic components in a n aquatic ecosytem between the sedimentary zone and the water column basically lies in the difference in the functionality of the components of the ecosystem. These variations result due to the activity of the biotic components also. The sedimentation zones are analogous to the to soil of the terrestrial ecosystem and tthey are the sources of substrate nutrients.aquatic sediments are derived from and comprise of natural , physical,chemical and biologicaal components related to their water sheds. fast moving waters have coarse grained sediments while the quiscent or the still waters contain fine grained sediments. Organic matter are derived from the decomposing of the plant and the animal tissue and hence is rich in nutrients like the phosphates and nitrates . It is the zone where maximum decompositional activity takes place.. The dissolved chemicals reflect the nature of the organic and inorganic matter of the sediments. While the column of the water at the same site may not be rich in the sediments but may have floating sediments and the nutrients like the nitrates and phosphates may be at a lower concentration when compared to the sedimental zone due to lack of the decomposing matter. 2. DIversity of organisms and their abundance : The organisms that occur in the water column and the sedimental zone varies.This is mainly because of the differences in their habitat and nutritional requirements. The sedimental zone is rich in decomposing bacteria and other detritus organisms while the water column may support planktons both phyto and zoo plankton. free floating algae, the plankton diversity also varies according to their light requirement , oxygen requirement etc..