Aquatic Habitats: Aquariums Inspired by Nature

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Wetland Ecosystem: The waters are present on the soil and will often saturate it, either seasonally or permanently. The European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization has published recommendations to European nations advocating the restriction or banning of the trade in invasive alien plants. [43] See also [ edit ] Nutrient levels are important in controlling the abundance of many species of algae. [30] The relative abundance of nitrogen and phosphorus can in effect determine which species of algae come to dominate. [31] Algae are a very important source of food for aquatic life, but at the same time, if they become over-abundant, they can cause declines in fish when they decay. [32] Similar over-abundance of algae in coastal environments such as the Gulf of Mexico produces, upon decay, a hypoxic region of water known as a dead zone. [33] Ponds and lakes are both stationary bodies of freshwater, with ponds being smaller than lakes. The types of life present vary within lakes and ponds. In the shallow, sunny waters there is an abundance of life, such as various species of fish. In the deep, dark waters, however, decomposers thrive.

All water bodies such as reservoirs, lakes, water streams, rivers, ponds, estuaries, wetlands, and sloughs, are considered aquatic habitations. There are two main types of habitats that are classified based on the level of saltiness or salinity. These include both habitats of freshwater and marine.Brown, A. L. (1987). Freshwater Ecology. Heinimann Educational Books, London. p.163. ISBN 0435606220. An aquatic ecosystemincludes freshwater habitats like lakes, ponds, rivers, oceans and streams, wetlands, swamp, etc. and marine habitats include oceans, intertidal zone, reefs, seabed and so on. The aquatic ecosystem is the habitat for water-dependent living species including animals, plants, and microbes. Smith, V. H. (1982). The nitrogen and phosphorus dependence of algal biomass in lakes: an empirical and theoretical analysis. Limnology and Oceanography, 27, 1101–12. Lotics: habitats with moving waters, often carrying sediment. Generally its waters are turbid which reduces the passage of light. They are the refuge of many species of animals and, in shallower areas, of plant species. In this other post you can learn more about lotic ecosystems: what they are and examples. Alexander, David E.; Fairbridge, Rhodes W., eds. (1999). Encyclopedia of Environmental Science. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Springer. p.27. ISBN 0-412-74050-8– via Internet Archive.

Freshwater habitat (or ecosystems) include the rivers, lakes ponds, creeks, streams, bugs, springs, swamps and wetlands. They have very low or insignificant salinity, and are much smaller in size when compared to the salt water habitat. Also, they are less deep than their saltwater counterpart. However, freshwater is more easily penetrated by sunlight, and will also contain more oxygen than marine water. These habitats also serve as a means of providing food source to native species. Whales are considered to be the biggest fish in aquatic habitations. They travel to the Gulf of Mexico in search of fish that they can prey on. a b c d "Invasive non-native aquatic plants". Northern Ireland Direct Government Services. 9 November 2015 . Retrieved 6 February 2022. They include all standing water habitats. Lakes and ponds are the main examples of Lentic Ecosystem. The word lentic mainly refers to stationary or relatively still water. These ecosystems are home to algae, crabs, shrimps, amphibians such as frogs and salamanders, for both rooted and floating-leaved plants and reptiles including alligators and other water snakes are also found here.Open sea: habitats with greater depth than the previous case, therefore with less incidence of light and colder. These habitats enable the development of herbivorous and omnivorous biodiversity. Vymazal, Jan (December 2013). "Emergent plants used in free water surface constructed wetlands: A review". Ecological Engineering. 61: 582–592. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2013.06.023. ISSN 0925-8574.

Examples of freshwater plants include spirogyra, water lettuce, algae, water lily, cattails, water weed, aspen, and willow trees. The animal community present in freshwater include alligators, snakes, frogs, lake trout, mayfly, hippopotamus, crocodiles, herons, kingfisher, crayfish, catfish, freshwater crab, and a variety of fishes and insects. Bottom: habitats at great depths with almost no penetration of light and, therefore, lower temperatures. These habitats are often a refuge for dark-adapted carnivorous and detritivorous species. We recommend you read these other articles about the Seabed: what they are, types and photos and the Abyssal Plains: what they are and characteristics. This habit may have developed because the leaves can photosynthesize more efficiently in air and competition from submerged plants but often, the main aerial feature is the flower and the related reproductive process. The emergent habit permits pollination by wind or by flying insects. [26]Aquatic mammals: Like reptiles, they have a pulmonary respiratory system, so they must come to the surface to breathe. Being mammals, they have breasts with which they feed their young. As examples we can name whales, belugas, dolphins, manatees and more.

Plant that has adapted to living in an aquatic environment The flower of Nymphaea alba, a species of water lily Bud of Nelumbo nucifera, an aquatic plant. We will start this topic with the definition of aquatic habitat. This is any physical space located above the hydrosphere that is inhabited by a particular species. By hydrosphere we understand the portion of the Earth occupied by oceans, seas, rivers, lakes and other types of water masses.The longest freshwater river is the Nile River, with a length of about 6650 kilometers. It is present in Africa and flows through Egypt, Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Burundi, Sudan, and South Sudan. Lake Victoria is considered to be the source of river nile. Vaccari, David A. (8 November 2005). Environmental Biology for Engineers and Scientists. Wiley-Interscience. ISBN 0-471-74178-7.