Freshwater Environment

Freshwater is defined as having a low

salt concentration usually less
than 1%. Plants and animals in
freshwater regions are adjusted to
the low salt content and would not
be able to survive in areas of high
salt concentration (i.e., ocean).

Two distinct categories

Lentic (standing water) environments
include surface waters, such as,
lakes, ponds, and wetlands
Lotic (running water) environments
comprise rivers or streams

Lentic

Ponds and lakes

These regions range in size from just a few square
meters to thousands of square kilometers.
Scattered throughout the earth, several are
remnants from the Pleistocene glaciation. Many
ponds are seasonal, lasting just a couple of
months (such as sessile pools) while lakes may
exist for hundreds of years or more. Ponds
and lakes may have limited species diversity
since they are often isolated from one another
and from other water sources like rivers and
oceans

Taal Lake

Wetlands
Wetlands are areas of standing water
that support aquatic plants.
Wetlands have the highest species
diversity of all ecosystems. Many
species of amphibians, reptiles, birds
(such as ducks and waders), and
furbearers can be found in the
wetlands.

Lotic

Streams and rivers

These are bodies of flowing water moving in one direction.
The characteristics of a river or stream change during the
journey from the source to the mouth.
The temperature is cooler at the source than it is at the mouth.
The water is also clearer, has higher oxygen levels, and
freshwater fish such as trout and heterotrophs can be found
there.
Towards the middle part of the stream/river, the width
increases, as does species diversity numerous aquatic
green plants and algae can be found.
Toward the mouth of the river/stream, the water becomes
murky from all the sediments that it has picked up upstream,
decreasing the amount of light that can penetrate through the
water.
Since there is less light, there is less diversity of flora, and
because of the lower oxygen levels, fish that require less

Streams in Dumaguete

Enchanted River

5 Major threats to freshwater

biodiversity
Overexploitation primarily affects
vertebrates, mainly fishes, reptiles and
some amphibians
Water pollution
Flow modification
Destruction or degradation of habitat it
may involve direct effects on the aquatic
environments such as excavation of river
sand
Invasion of exotic species

Marine Systems

Marine ecosystems are home to a host of

different species ranging from planktonic
organisms that form the base of the marine
food web to large marine mammals. Many
species rely on marine ecosystems for both
food and shelter from predators. They are
very important to the overall health of both
marine and terrestrial environments.
Marine ecosystems support a great
diversity of life and variety of habitats.

Location
Conventionally, the ocean has been
divided into four major ocean basins:
Atlantic, Pacific, Indian and Arctic
oceans. Specific marine ecosystems
such as coral reefs, estuaries, salt
mashes, mangrove forests are found
throughout
the
world,
but
are
characteristic
of
certain
areas,
depending on climate, geography,
water temperature, and other physical

Plants
Marine habitats are the home to
seaweeds, or marine algae (brown,
green, red), sea grasses, which are the
only marine flowering plants, and
mangroves, located on muddy tropical
shores.

Animals
Marine ecosystems are homes to
protozoans,
marine
invertebrates
(echinoderms, mollusks, segmented
and non-segmented worms, jellies,
coral, sea anemones, hyroids) marine
vertebrates (fishes, birds, mammals),
and plankton (phyto and zooplankton).

Climate

Monsoon
Tropical
Subtropical
Temperate
Polar
Subpolar

Physical Factors
The hydrosphere connects all freshwater and
saltwater systems. Salinity, or high salt content,
and global circulation make marine ecosystems
different from other aquatic ecosystems.
Other physical factors:
Geology
Temperature
Tides
Light availability
Geography

Marine ecosystems include:

the abyssal plain (areas like deep sea coral, whale falls, and
brine pools)
polar regions such as the Antarctic and Arctic
coral reefs
the deep sea (such as the community found in the abyssal
water column)
hydrothermal vents
kelp forests
Mangroves
open ocean
rocky shores
salt marshes and mudflats
sandy shores

The Abyssal plain

Polar Regions

Kelp Forests

Mangroves

Rocky Shores

Threats
Fishing activities: overfishing, destructive practices and
illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities (IUU)
Bycath or incidental mortality of non-target species
Storms and tidal emersions
El Nio: increased sea surface temperatures, decreased sea
level and increased salinity from altered rainfall
Noise pollution such as powerful sonar systems and airguns
Shipping: noise, accidental spills of oil, discharge of
garbage, oily wastes, sewage, chemical residues and
ballast water, anti-fouling products
Submarine cables and pipelines

Threats (cont.)

Pollution
Climate change and ozone depletion
Land development
Tourist facilities
Deforestation
Use of pesticides and fertilizers
Eutrophication
The introduction of alien species

References
http://
www.defenders.org/marine/basic-facts
http://
www.marbef.org/wiki/marine_habitats
_and_ecosystems
http
://education.nationalgeographic.org/me
dia/marine-ecosystem-illustrations-gra
des-3-5/