Aquatic Ecosystems Composed By: Mrs. Perlowski & Mr. Bronico

The types of organisms in an aquatic ecosystem are mainly determined by the water’s Salinity What is Salinity ? The amount of dissolved salts that water contains

What are two types of Aquatic Ecosystems Freshwater EcosystemMarine Ecosystem

Examples of Freshwater ecosystems Lakes Ponds Freshwater wetlands (marshes,swamps) Rivers Streams

Biotic factors in an aquatic Ecosystem 1. Plankton: organisms that cannot swim against the current, so they are called drifters.

Phytoplankton Phytoplankton- Drifting plants that are the food base for most aquatic ecosystems; Most are microscopic

Zooplankton Zooplankton: Drifting animals, which man be microscopic or a large as jellyfish.

Nekton Free swimming organisms. This includes fish, turtles and whales to name a few.

Benthos Bottom dweller organisms Mussels, worms & barnacles Many benthic organisms live attached to hard surfaces.

Organisms called decomposers are also present in aquatic ecosystems. They break down dead organisms

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Lakes & Ponds Structured into Horizontal and vertical Zones  Littoral Zones-Nutrient rich; aquatic life is diverse and abundant; plants are rooted in the mud underwater.  Benthic Zone: The bottom of the pond or lake; cooler water ; little sunlight, bacteria and decomposers live on dead plants and animals that drift down from above

How do nutrients affect a lake Eutrophication- is an increase in the amount of nutrients in an aquatic ecosystem. Algae and plants grow due to nutrients in the body of water. As the amount of algae and plants grow, so does the amount of bacteria and decomposer. These bacteria use the oxygen dissolved in the lake, eventually reducing the amount available for oxygen-loving organisms.

Freshwater wetlands They are covered with fresh water for at least part of the year. There are two types:  Marshes-contain non-woody plants such as cattails  Swamps- dominated by woody plants, such as trees and shrubs.

Marsh Swamp

Many Wetlands have been drained filled, or cleared for farms or residential/commercial development