10.2 Standing-10.2 Standing-Water EcosystemsWater Ecosystems

2 Types of Freshwater Biomes2 Types of Freshwater Biomes

Standing-water Standing-water ecosystemsecosystems

– lakes and lakes and ponds are ponds are most most commoncommon

Flowing-water Flowing-water ecosystemsecosystems

– rivers and rivers and streams are streams are most most commoncommon

Standing-Water EcosystemsStanding-Water Ecosystems

Lakes, ponds, Lakes, ponds, wetlands, bogs, wetlands, bogs, prairie potholes, prairie potholes, swamps (dominated swamps (dominated by trees and by trees and shrubs), freshwater shrubs), freshwater marshes (mostly marshes (mostly grasses and grasses and cattails).cattails).

Standing-Water EcosystemsStanding-Water Ecosystems

– Little net flow of Little net flow of water in or out.water in or out.

– However, water However, water does circulate does circulate through system.through system.

– This helps distribute This helps distribute warmth, oxygen, warmth, oxygen, and nutrition and nutrition throughout system.throughout system.

Most have levels: Most have levels: top level is warmer top level is warmer and has more and has more sunlight, middle sunlight, middle level is cooler and level is cooler and less sunlight, less sunlight, lowest level is lowest level is coldest and has coldest and has least sunlight.least sunlight.

Standing-Water EcosystemsStanding-Water EcosystemsPapyrus is grown Papyrus is grown

in wetlands of in wetlands of northern Africa northern Africa and the Middle and the Middle East. This is East. This is what ancient what ancient Egyptians used Egyptians used for paper.for paper.

OrganismsOrganisms Top level Top level

supports plankton supports plankton (organisms that (organisms that drift in the water, drift in the water, about size of dust about size of dust particle).particle).

*Two types of *Two types of planktonplankton

1. Phytoplankton1. Phytoplankton (carries (carries out photosynthesis). They out photosynthesis). They are main producers in are main producers in most aquatic biomes.most aquatic biomes.

2. Zooplankton2. Zooplankton ( do not ( do not carry out photosynthesis). carry out photosynthesis). Contains microscopic Contains microscopic animals and protists. They animals and protists. They are consumers. They feed are consumers. They feed on phytoplankton. In turn, on phytoplankton. In turn, small fish feed on small fish feed on zooplankton and bigger zooplankton and bigger fish feed on these fish and fish feed on these fish and so on. so on.

Phytoplankton Phytoplankton

Zooplankton Zooplankton

WetlandsWetlands Ecosystems in which the Ecosystems in which the

roots of plants are roots of plants are submerged under water at submerged under water at least part of the year.least part of the year.

Usually found where water Usually found where water and land come together.and land come together.

Examples are marshes, Examples are marshes, bogs and swamps.bogs and swamps.

Water is usually low in Water is usually low in oxygen because it is oxygen because it is standing water.standing water.

Water is fresh or brackish Water is fresh or brackish (salt).(salt).

Importance of WetlandsImportance of Wetlands They act as filters, they They act as filters, they

detoxify chemicals as the detoxify chemicals as the water flows through them.water flows through them.

Important for breeding, Important for breeding, feeding and resting feeding and resting grounds for migratory grounds for migratory waterfowl (ducks and waterfowl (ducks and geese).geese).

They act as flood They act as flood protection regions.protection regions.

They help to fill the They help to fill the aquifers.aquifers.

Destruction by HumansDestruction by Humans People do not find them attractive.People do not find them attractive. They are breeding grounds for They are breeding grounds for

mosquitoes and humans do not like mosquitoes and humans do not like this.this.

They may give off an unpleasant They may give off an unpleasant odor given off by the decaying odor given off by the decaying bacteria.bacteria.

Florida EvergladesFlorida Everglades Largest freshwater Largest freshwater

marsh wetland area in marsh wetland area in the U.S.the U.S.

Everglades was trying Everglades was trying to be saved, so a canal to be saved, so a canal was dug to bring in was dug to bring in water, but the water water, but the water came in too fast and too came in too fast and too often. This flooded the often. This flooded the gator holes and other gator holes and other animal habitats. In animal habitats. In 1983, “Save our 1983, “Save our Everglades” campaign Everglades” campaign started and the started and the Everglades were saved. Everglades were saved.

Home to huge number of Home to huge number of organisms.organisms.

Alligators are very Alligators are very common.common.

*They scoop out large *They scoop out large depressions in the ground depressions in the ground with their tails. These with their tails. These pools are called “gator pools are called “gator holes”. They are important holes”. They are important during the dry season. during the dry season. These holes still have These holes still have water in them during the water in them during the dry season and other dry season and other aquatic life can live here at aquatic life can live here at this time. Without gator this time. Without gator holes, aquatic life would holes, aquatic life would die during the dry season. die during the dry season.

Florida EvergladesFlorida Everglades