1. Standing-Water Ecosystems
There are two main categories of freshwater ecosystems
What is the main
difference between these two ecosystems?

2. Standing water v. flowing-water ecosystems
Standing water—staying still, not moving
Flowing-water ecosystems—MOVING water
Organisms living in flowing water ecosystems have special adaptations. WHY? What are the challenges associated with living in a flowing water ecosystem?
Classify the following as standing or flowing water ecosystems
Pond --stream
river --lake
Swamp

3. Types of standing-water ecosystems
Lake—the deepest type, main producers are phytoplankton (floating algae)
Pond—More Shallow (less deep) than lakes. Main producers are plants that grow on the bottom
Marsh—VERY shallow, saturated (wet) soil, low oxygen in water, Plants that have roots on the bottom come out on the top (emergent). Mostly grasses.
Swamp—Shallow like a marsh, with oxygen poor soil (anoxic) but dominant vegetation is trees
Bog—Inland wetland with little movement of water in or out. Slow decomposition. Sphagnum moss is the dominant organism.

5. Plankton is any organisms that drift in the water.
Phytoplankton are like plants in that they carry out photosynthesis. (The prefix phyto means plant)
Zooplankton are like animals in that they cannot carry out photosynthesis, and are heterotrophs. (The prefix zoo means animal.

6. What are the types of wetlands that we’ve talked about?
Wetlands are ecosystems in which the roots of plants are submerged under water at least part of the year.
Emergent plants—roots are under the water but tops are out of the water

7. Benefits of Wetlands
Wetlands can have fresh or brackish water. What does that mean? They can have only standing water or some flowing water.
Wetlands are an endangered ecosystem because people don’t typically see as much value in them. They aren’t traditional places of recreation.
Sometimes they stink like methane, or are full of insects
BUT, wetlands act as natural filters, and breeding and resting grounds for aquatic organisms and waterfowl