This document provides an overview of different types of aquatic ecosystems including freshwater ecosystems like lakes, ponds, rivers, wetlands and streams as well as marine ecosystems like coastal wetlands, estuaries, salt marshes, mangrove swamps, coral reefs and oceans. It describes key characteristics of different habitats and zones within these ecosystems and lists factors that determine the types of organisms that can live there, as well as threats facing various aquatic environments.

1. AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM
NAME: SHRUTI M CHAVAN
DIV:A ROLL NO.:21

2. Key Vocabulary
 WETLAND- An area where land is periodically under water
 PLANKTON-Organisms that float near the top or surface of water, two
types: phytoplankton (microscopic plants) and zooplankton (microscopic
animals)
 NEKTON- Free swimming organisms like fish, turtles, and whales
 BENTHOS- bottom dwelling organisms such as mussels, worms and
barnacles
 LITTORAL ZONE-Area near the shore of fresh water, nutrient
rich, and abundant and diverse aquatic life
 BENTHIC ZONE- Bottom area of a pond or lake in fresh water,
includes
decomposers, insect larvae and clams

3.  ESTUARY- An area where fresh water from a river mixes with salt water
from an ocean
 SALT MARSH- Develop in estuaries where rivers deposit mineral rich
mud
 MANGROVE SWAMP-Swamps located along coastal areas of tropical
and subtropical zones
 BARRIER ISLANDS- Long, thin islands that run parallel to the shore
 CORAL REEFS- Limestone ridges built by coral animals called coral
polyps which secrete calcium carbonate, home to many different plants
and animals
 EUTROPHICATION- An increase in the amount of nutrients in an
aquatic ecosystem, associated with a lot of plant life

4. Factors Determining The Habitat
Of The Organisms In Aquatic
Ecosystem
The types of organisms that live in aquatic systems
is determined by the salinity of the water- amount of
dissolved salts in the water
Determining factors include temp., sunlight oxygen,
and nutrients
Types of organisms include plankton (plant and
animal), nekton ( free swimmers), and benthos (
bottom dwellers)

5. Freshwater Ecosystems
The freshwater ecosystem consists of:
LAKES
PONDS
RIVERS
WETLANDS
STREAMS

6. Lakes And Pond Have 2 Zones
Littoral Zones
Benthic Zones

7. Littoral Zones
Nutrient rich
Near the shore
Contains rooted plants underwater with leaves
emerged above water, floating leaves, submerged
plants, algae, and bacteria
Types of organisms present depends on amount of
sunlight

8. Benthic Zone
Bottom area of lake or pond consisting of
decomposers, larvae of insects, and clams

9. Freshwater Wetlands
Areas of land covered by water for part of a
year
2 types: marshes that contain nonwoody
plants and swamps that contain woody plants

10. Importance of Freshwater
Wetlands
Serve as filters or sponges, absorbing and filtering pollutants
which increases water quality
 Control flooding by absorbing extra water
 Serve as feeding and spawning ground for fish
 Provide habitats for wildlife & traps carbon
Used to produce commercial products

11. Marshes
Most U.S marshes in southeast , Florida
Everglades is the larges U.S. marsh
Occur on low flat land with little water
movement
Nutrient rich bottom sediment good for plants
Marsh types characterized by salinity (brackish
vs. salt)

12. Swamps
Occur on flat, poorly drained land, commonly near
streams
Woody shrubs or water loving trees
Mangrove swamps (salty) and freshwater swamps
Fresh provide habitat for amphibians, waterfowl,
and reptiles

13. Human Impact On Wetlands
Once considered wastelands
Many have been drained, filled or cleared for
farming and residential development
Protected by government b/c of importance as
habitats, purifiers , and flood prevention

14. Rivers
Many rivers originate from snow melt from mountains
Headwaters cold & full of oxygen, running swiftly
As river flows downward, it can widen, get warmer, slower,
and decrease in oxygen
Changes with land and climate
River location & characteristics determine life that lives
there

15. Rivers In Danger
Industries use river water for manufacturing and for waste
deposits
People have used rivers for sewage and garbage
These uses lead to pollution that kills and makes fish in edible
Run off from land puts pesticides and poisons into rivers
Dams also alter ecosystems

16. Marine Ecosystems
Coastal Wetlands
Oceans

17. Coastal Wetlands
Include estuaries and coral reefs
Provide habitats and nesting areas for fish and
wildlife
Absorb excess rain from flooding, filter pollutants,
provide recreational areas

18. Estuaries
Area where fresh water from river mixes with salt water from
ocean
Include horseshoe crabs, variety of plants, dolphin, manatee,
seals, oysters, barnacles ( organisms must be able to tolerate
variation in salinity)
Threats include wastes from sewage, industrial waste with
toxic chemicals, and agricultural run off
Major ports are built on estuaries, why?
A productive ecosystem

19. Salt Water Marshes vs.
Mangrove Swamps...
Salt water marshes Mangrove swamps
 S a l t m a r s h e s a r e
d o m i n a t e d b y m a r s h
g r a s s e s a n d d e v e l o p
i n e s t u a r i e s , c o m m o n
a l o n g G u l f o f M e x i c o
& A t l a n t i c . c o a s t
 Mangrove swamps are
dominated by mangrove
trees and develop in
tropical and subtropical
areas, dominated by salt
tolerant trees

20. Rocky and Sandy Shores
Barrier Reefs-long thin island runs parallel to
shore, protect mainland and coastal wetlands
Rock shores have more species, why?

21. Coral Reefs
Live in clear, warm,
shallow salt water
Limestone ridges built by
coral polyps
Home to thousands of
species of plants and
animals

22. Factors That Can Damage
Coral Reefs...
 Water that is too cold or too hot can kill coral
reefs
Muddy waters kill algae or promote growth
uncontrollably
Human activities endanger 27% of reefs
Oil spills, sewage, pesticides, silt run off destruct
reefs
Overfishing can disturb ecosystem balance

23. Plants and Animals of
Oceans
Phytoplankton grow where
there’s light for
photosynthesis
Zooplankton that feed on
phytoplankton, include
jellyfish, tiny shrimp, fish
larvae
Decomposers, filter feeders
and organisms that feed on
dead matter live in the
bottom

24. How Are Animals of Oceans
Threatened?
Pollution from land activities ( run off from
agriculture creates algal blooms), industrial
wastes, sewage discharge
Overfishing and fishing methods are
destroying fish populations

25. Arctic & Antarctic Ecosystems
Located at north and south
poles
Depend on marine life for
food
Supports plankton and huge
diversity of fish
Arctic rich in nutrients from
surrounding landmasses
Antarctic has never been
colonized by humans