AQUATIC ECO SYSTEMRoll No

11CO30 & 11CO41

WHAT IS AQUATIC ECO SYSTEM

An aquatic ecosystem is an ecosystem in a body of

water. Communities of organisms that are dependent on each other and on their

environment live in aquatic ecosystems..

Types of aquatic eco system

1)Ponds eco system 2)Fresh water eco

system3)Marine eco system

FRESH WATER

Freshwater ecosystems are a subset of Earth's aquatic ecosystems. They include lakes and ponds, rivers, streams and springs, and wetlands. They can be contrasted with marine ecosystems, which have a larger salt content.

PONDS ECO SYTEM

These are a specific type of freshwater ecosystems that are largely based on the autotroph algae which provide the base trophic level for all life in the area. The largest predator in a pond ecosystem will normally be a fish and in-between range smaller insects and microorganisms. It may have a scale of organisms from small bacteria to big creatures like water snakes, beetles, water bugs, frogs, tadpoles, and turtles. This is important for the environment.

Marine eco system

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. They are distinguished from freshwater ecosystems by the presence of dissolved compounds, especially salts, in the water. Approximately 85% of the dissolved materials in seawater are sodium and chlorine. Seawater has an average salinity of 35 parts per thousand (ppt) of water. Actual salinity varies among different marine ecosystems.

Function of Aquatic eco system

Aquatic ecosystems perform many important environmental functions. For example, they recycle nutrients, purify water, attenuate floods, recharge ground water and provide habitats for wildlife.Aquatic ecosystems are also used for human recreation, and are very important to the tourism industry, especially in coastal regions.

The health of an aquatic ecosystem is degraded when the ecosystem's ability to absorb a stress has been exceeded. A stress on an aquatic ecosystem can be a result of physical, chemical or biological alterations of the environment. Physical alterations include changes in water temperature, water flow and light availability. Chemical alterations include changes in the loading rates of biostimulatory nutrients, oxygen consuming materials, and toxins. Biological alterations include the introduction of exotic species. Human populations can impose excessive stresses on aquatic ecosystems.

Abiotic factors: in pond abiotic factors include minerals ,water ,air,soil,light,heat,organic as well as inorganic materials .

Biotic factors : Green plants as well as other organisms are the biotic factors of the pond . These biotic factors can be classified into there groups producer , consumer and decomposes. Aquatic plants like algae,  volvox, closterium, hydrilla. etc . are the producer of the pond small fish, tadepole larve ,earth worms and other small animals which depend on plants for their food are primary consumers. Similarly animals like snakes,heron which feed on secondary consumers are tertiary consumers. After the death of consumers and producers decomposes like bacteria ,fungi as well as other micro organism decompose the dead bodiesmix them into soil .These decomposed materials again become the source of nutrients for the producer. In this away ,this process goes on and pond ecosystem maintained .