Freshwater Ecosystems

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Freshwater Ecosystems
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The freshwater ecosystems

• Can be found in all biomes
• Have very low salt content
• Are classified according to
• A) the depth of the water
• B) the rate of water flow
• C) the amount of nutrients, light O2

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Lakes

• are large freshwater areas that have little to
  no flow.
• Some lakes are very deep.
• Lakes have a nutrient rich area near the shore
  called the LITTORAL ZONE.

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• Lakes also have a BENTHIC ZONE on the bottom
  where dead decomposing things collect.
• EUTROPHIC LAKES have a large amount of plant
  nutrients (they also have a lot of algae)
• Lakes can become EUTROPHIC because of runoff
  pollution.

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Lake plants

• Plants and other producers are located where
  light can penetrate.
• Some plants are fully or partially submerged.
• Some plants float on the surface.

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Lake animals

• Lots of diversity among the species.
• Some have special structures that allow them to
  inhabit the water.
• EX catfish, bluegill, frogs, insects, etc

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Ponds

• Ponds are similar to lakes except more shallow
  and usually smaller in size.

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Wetlands

• Areas of land that is covered with water for at
  least part of the year.
• The type of wetland depends on the types of
  plants.
• Wetlands are important areas for breeding for
  fish, birds and other animals.

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• Wetlands are important areas for biological
  filtering of pollution.
• Wetlands also prevent flooding.

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Types of Wetlands

• Marshes shallow wetlands with grasses and few
  trees. Marshes are classified by salinity.
• A) brackish marshes mixture of slightly salty
  water freshwater
• B) Estuary where freshwater rivers meet
  saltwater seas or oceans.
• EX Florida Everglades

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• 2) Swamps wetlands with more trees shrubs.
  Usually in flat poorly drained areas.
• EX Mangrove Swamps

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Wetland plants and animals

• Some are migratory.
• Lots of reptiles amphibians.
• Many are adapted to live in water on land!

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Threats to wetlands

• Draining development
• Pollution from land pollution runoff

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Rivers streams

• Rivers are flowing water systems.
• Usually start as small streams in the mountains.
• Steeper the mountain the faster the flow more
  oxygen.

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River plants and animals

• Many are adapted to fast moving water, have
  special structures.
• Fish are streamlined to help them get through the
  water.

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Threats to rivers streams

• Pollution sewage is dumped into rivers and land
  runoff
• Development industries built along rivers
• Damming stops or slows the flow of the river

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