Aquatic Communities Freshwater

Standard S7L4 Element e. Students will examine the dependence of organisms on one another and their environment. Describe the characteristics of the Earth’s major terrestrial biomes and aquatic communities.

Rivers and Streams Rivers and streams are examples of freshwater communities. They are bodies of water that are continuously moving in a single direction.

Rivers and Streams An important abiotic factor that characterizes freshwater ecosystems is how quickly the water moves. Fish, clams, and snails live in rivers and streams.

Rivers and Streams Plants and animals have adaptations that keep them from being washed away by the fast moving water.

Rivers and Streams:

Adaptations of Freshwater Organisms Producers, such as algae and moss, are attached to rocks to keep from being washed away. .

Adaptations of Freshwater Organisms Some consumers, such as tadpoles, use suction disks to hold themselves to rocks. Other consumers, such as insects, live under the rocks.

Ponds and Lakes Ponds and lakes are also examples of Freshwater ecosystems. There are 3 zones that characterize these ecosystems.

Ponds and Lakes:

3 Zones of Ponds and Lakes Littoral zone- the area closet to the edge of a lake or pond. Sunlight reaches the bottom of this zone which makes it possible for plants and algae to grow.

3 Zones of Ponds and Lakes Open-water zone -the area that extends from the littoral across the top of the water. The open-water zone goes as deep as sunlight can reach (bass, lake trout, and other fish live in this zone).

3 Zones of Ponds and Lakes Deep-water zone – this is beneath the open-water zone where no sunlight reaches (catfish, carp, worms, crustaceans, fungi, and bacteria live in this zone).

Wetland Ecosystems A wetland is an area of land that is sometimes underwater or whose soil contains a great deal of moisture. Marshes and swamps are examples of freshwater wetlands.

Marshes A marsh is a treeless wetland ecosystem where plants, such as grasses, grow. Plants: grasses, reeds, bulrushes, and wild rice Animals: muskrats, turtles, frogs, and birds.

Marshes

Swamps A swamp is a wetland ecosystem in which trees and vines grow. Trees: willows, bald cypresses, and oak Vines: poison ivy Plants: orchids, water lillies Animals: fish, snakes, and birds

SWAMP: