Exploring aquatic life

Aquatic ecosystems Ecosystem- natural unit consisting of all plants, animals, and micro-organisms (biotic factors) in an area functioning together with all the non-living physical (abiotic) factors of the environment Aquatic ecosystem- all that in or around water two types Marine Freshwater

Function Recycle nutrients- Carbon cycle, Nitrogen cycle, etc. Purify water Prevent flooding Recharge ground water Provide habitat for wildlife. Human recreation

Ecosystem Diversity 3 different types of ecosystems Swamp Saltmarsh Pond Control Biodiversity- the variation of species in that ecosystem High biodiversity may contribute to greater resilience of an ecosystem Focus on aquatic microorganism diversity Important for Nutrient cycling Food chain

Comparing aquatic ecosystems Swamp Pond Tree vegetation Natural Shallow Subject to natural impacts Subject to pollution Contain fish, algae, micro- organisms Grass and tree vegetation Natural or man made Varying depth Subject to natural impacts Subject to pollution Contain fish, algae, micro- organisms… etc I ntracoastal Control Grass and tree vegetation Man made Human impacted Subject to pollution High salinity Contains fish, algae, micro- organisms Tap water

Comparing aquatic ecosystems Create a hypothesis about how you think the three ecosystems will be different or similar. Compare the three ecosystems and the control ecosystem using the microfishing slides. Questions to think about: How are the microorganisms alike and how they are different? Is one ecosystem more diverse? Support your thought.

Hydras In the family with sea anemones, corals, and jellyfish One opening surrounded by tentacles. Takes in food and eliminates waste Tentacles contain nematocysts Move by use of foot Green hydra Color comes from algae living in body Brown hydra- tenticles three or four times the length of body

Rotifers Have cilia on the front of body that “rotate” Found in all types of quiet waters 1,700 species Attach to surfaces by secreting “glue” from foot Collotheca Sessile, long cilia that capture food Keratella Don’t have a tail, but are fast swimmers Kellicottia Lives in open waters, long spines help avoid predation Microscopy-UK

Crustaceans Mostly scavengers and herbivores, can be predators or parasites Marine and freshwater species Water fleas (Cladocera) Abundant in freshwater Jerky movements Eat algae, microscopic animals, and organic debris Bosmina longirostris Chydorus sphaericus Daphnia pulex Pictures courtesy of

Copepods Shallow and open water Females carry egg 5-6 nauplius stages before maturity Eat algae, bacteria and organic debris Calanoids- Diaptomus, live in plankton and filter feed Cyclopoid- cyclops, live in open water and seize prey Nauplius- larvae of Cyclops Pictures courtesy of