1. What are fresh water ecosystems?

2. Unit Standards
5.L.4A.1
Analyze and interpret data to summarize the abiotic factors (including quantity of light and water, range of temperature, salinity, and soil composition) of different terrestrial ecosystems and aquatic ecosystems.
5.L.4A.2
Obtain and communicate information to describe and compare the biotic factors (including individual organisms, populations, and communities) of different terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

3. What are freshwater ecosystems?
Not all freshwater ecosystems are the same. Rivers and streams are running-water ecosystems.

4. What are freshwater ecosystems?
Lakes and ponds are standing-water systems.

5. What are freshwater ecosystems?
Swamps, bogs, and marshes are freshwater wetlands.

6. What are freshwater ecosystems?
Moving bodies of fresh water can vary from small, fast-moving brooks to large, slow-moving rivers.

7. What are freshwater ecosystems?
Faster-moving bodies of water trend to have more oxygen, because the air mixes in as the water flows.

8. What are freshwater ecosystems?
Other nutrients are washed into the water from the land.
Organisms that live in fast-moving streams or rivers have adapted to prevent them from being swept away.

9. What are freshwater ecosystems?
Some grow attached to rocks. Other, such as salmon, have strong muscles that enable them to swim against strong currents.

10. What are freshwater ecosystems?
Slower-moving waters have less oxygen and are less dependent on the land for nutrients.

11. What are freshwater ecosystems?
More producers, such as algae, are able to survive in slow-moving water.

12. What are freshwater ecosystems?
Mussels, minnows, and other organisms can also live here.

13. What are freshwater ecosystems?
Standing-water ecosystems-
The typical freshwater lake or pond is divided into three zones: shallow water zone, open water zone, and bottom.
Shallow water zone- along the shore and is where most of the organisms live.

14. What are freshwater ecosystems?
Cattails, sedges, arrowgrass, and other rooted plants grow here. These plants are home to a variety of microorganisms

15. What are freshwater ecosystems?
They are eaten by animals such as insects, worms, tiny fish, insect larvae, and crustaceans.

16. What are freshwater ecosystems?
These animals are eaten by larger organisms that include frogs, birds, and small sunfish.

17. What are freshwater ecosystems?
Finally, top predators, such as herons, bass, and turtles, eat the smaller predators.

18. What are freshwater ecosystems?
Open water zone- includes the water away from the shore.
This zone is too deep for rooted plants to survive.
Algae and plankton float near the surface.
Nekton, such as trout, whitefish, and pike are found here.

19. What are freshwater ecosystems?
Bottom- very little light reaches the bottom so producers cannot grow here.
As a result, there is very little oxygen.
Food must drift into this zone from other zones. Benthos, including worms and mollusks, are found in this zone.

20. What are freshwater ecosystems?
Freshwater wetlands- wetlands are marshes, swamps, and bogs, are regions that are wet for most of the year.

21. What are freshwater ecosystems?
They are found in areas that lie between land and water. In order to survive here, plants must be adapted to water-soaked soil.

22. What are freshwater ecosystems?
Grass like plants, moss, and some shrubs are found in wetlands. Beavers, muskrats, otters, birds, and fish live in wetlands.