Everything about Aquatic Ecosystem totally explained
An
aquatic ecosystem is an
ecosystem located in a
body of water.
Communities of
organisms that are dependent on each other and on their environment live in aquatic ecosystems. The two main types of aquatic ecosystems are
marine ecosystems and
freshwater ecosystems.
Types of aquatic ecosystems
Aquatic ecosystems can be divided into two general types: marine ecosystems and freshwater ecosystems.
Neritic (the relatively shallow part of the ocean that lies over the
continental shelf);
profundal (bottom or deep water);
benthic (bottom substrates);
intertidal (the area between high and low tides);
estuaries.
Marine ecosystems
Marine ecosystems cover approximately 71% of the Earth's surface and contain approximately 97% of the planet's water. They generate 32% of the world's net
primary production.
Marine ecosystems can be divided into the following zones:
oceanic (the relatively shallow part of the ocean that lies over the
continental shelf);
profundal (bottom or deep water);
benthic (bottom substrates);
intertidal (the area between high and low tides);
estuaries;
salt marshes;
coral reefs; and
hydrothermal vents (where
chemosynthetic sulfur bacteria form the food base).
There are three basic types of freshwater ecosystems:
- Lentic: slow-moving water, including pools, ponds, and lakes.
- Lotic: rapidly-moving water, for example streams and rivers.
- Wetlands: areas where the soil is saturated or inundated for at least part of the time.
Lake ecosystems can be divided into zones:
pelagic (open offshore waters); profundal; littoral (nearshore shallow waters); and
riparian (the area of land bordering a body of water). Two important subclasses of lakes are ponds, which typically are small lakes that intergrade with wetlands, and water
reservoirs. Many lakes, or bays within them, gradually become enriched by nutrients and fill in with organic sediments, a process called
eutrophication. Eutrophication is accelerated by human activity within the water
catchment area of the lake. Aquatic ecosystems are also used for human recreation, and are very important to the
tourism industry, especially in coastal regions.
The salinity of the water body is also a determining factor in the kinds of species found in the water body. Organisms in marine ecosystems tolerate salinity, while many freshwater organisms are intolerant of salt. Freshwater used for
irrigation purposes often absorb levels of salt that are harmful to freshwater organisms.
Heterotrophic organisms
Heterotrophic organisms consume autotrophic organisms and use the organic compounds in their bodies as energy sources and as raw materials to create their own
biomass.
[ Euryhaline organisms are salt tolerant and can survive in marine ecosystems, while stenohaline or salt intolerant species can only live in freshwater environments.][Further Information]
Get more info on 'Aquatic Ecosystem'.
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