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 Ecosystem Marine 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

Sit back and enjoy the show!

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