Types of Freshwater Ecosystems. Streams originate from underground water. Rivers form when streams join together. Freshwater Biome

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1 Definition Streams originate from underground water sources Types of Freshwater Ecosystems Streams Rivers Rivers form when streams join together Freshwater Lakes Ponds Basic Characteristics Directional Flow Streams are usually narrow, shallow, fast flowing water North of the Continental Divide flows from South to North Rivers are larger, deeper, slower flowing water South of the Continental Divide water flows from North to South

2 Streams Ponds Water is usually clear Oxygen levels are high Trout, salmon, crayfish, many insects Shallow & warm often high in nutrients Plants tend to surround shores Ex. Cattails, reeds, insects, crayfish, Frogs, fish, turtles Rivers Lakes Sometimes muddy Nutrient levels are higher than streams Snails, catfish large, deep Sunlight penetrates only top few feet Fewer organisms in deeper, colder water Little or no sunlight Fish: Perch, trout, bass, walleye

3 Definition Types of Wetlands Are aquatic ecosystems that have a thin layer of water covering soil that is wet most of the time May have freshwater, saltwater, or both (brackish) Wetlands Basic Characteristics Nutrient levels & biodiversity are high Biodiversity Water-tolerant plants Ex. Cattails & grasses Trap sediment & purify water Plants & microscopic organisms filter out pollution & waste materials Abundant insects Ex. Mosquitoes, flies, dragonflies, & butterflies Birds Ex. ducks, geese, herons, loons, warblers, & egrets

4 Definition A region along a coastline where streams or rivers flow into a body of salt water Estuary Purpose of Estuary Protect coastal land from flooding & erosion Filter out pollution & purify water Birds depend on them for breeding, nesting, & feeding Basic Characteristics Salinity depends on rainfall & amount of salt water pushed in by tides Biodiversity Plants: Mangroves, pickleweeds, seagrass Animals: worms, snails, oysters, shrimp, Nutrient levels & biodiversity are high crabs, clams striped bass, salmon, flounder, & many others lay eggs there

5 High salinity Definition Covers about 2/3 of the Earth Types of Saltwater Open ocean Coastal Oceans Coral Reefs Saltwater Human Impacts Overfishing Trash pollution Harvesting of coral reefs Oil spills Possible Fixes more responsible packaging more recycling of trash Change people s attitudes

6 Deep Ocean From edges of continental shelves to the deepest parts of the ocean Levels: sunlit zone, twilight zone, dark zone sunlit zone sunlit zone: photosynthesis takes place, more Deep Ocean twilight zone: many fish stay here during day & go to sunlit zone at night to feed dark zone: no light; sea cucumbers, brittle stars, decaying matter; many organisms live near cracks in ocean floor where lava erupts other organisms in this zone jellyfish, tuna, mackerel, & dolphins Coastal Oceans Coastal ocean- animals: mussels, fish, crabs, sea stars, dolphins, & whales Intertidal zone- the ocean shore between the lowest low tide & the highest high tide Sunlight reaches the bottom Coral Reef Coral reef- is an underwater structure made from outside skeletons of tiny, soft-bodied animals. Most are in shallow tropical oceans Coral reefs protect coastlines from storm damage & erosion

7 Nutrients are washed in from rivers/streams Intertidal-