1. Aquatic Ecosystems
Determined primarily by the depth, flow, temperature, and chemistry of the water.

2. Freshwater Ecosystems
Two types:
Flowing-water – creeks, rivers, streams
Standing-water – lakes and ponds

3. Standing-water Ecosystems
Plankton – free floating or weakly swimming organisms (live in fresh and marine)
Phytoplankton – single-celled algae, autotrophic, form the foundation of ecosystems (phyto = plant)
Zooplankton – animal like plankton, feed on phytoplankton

4. Wetlands An ecosystem where water covers the soil
Bogs, marshes, swamps
Help with:
flood control
removal of pollution
Removal of eroded soil

5. Estuaries Wetlands formed where rivers meet the sea (brackish water)
Primary producer is mostly detritus
Detritus = worn away
Vorare = devour
What is a detritivore
Salt marshes
Mangrove swamp

6. Mangrove Swamp

7. Salt Marsh

8. Marine ecosystems Photic zone – zone of sunlight penetration
Typically down about 200 meters
Aphotic zone – below the photic zone in permanent darkness