Fresh Water Biome

By:Dwayne, Daanish, Cam'ron

Table of contentsSlide #1- Title

Slide #2- Table of Contents

Slide #3- Physical Landscape Background Info

Slide #4-#5- Physical Landscape Examples

Slide #6- Plant Life Background Info

Slide #7-#10- Plant Life Examples

Slide #11- Animal Life Background Info

Slide #12-#14- Animal Life Examples

Slide #15-#17- Physical Landscape Questions

Slide #18-#20- Plant Life Questions

Slide #21-#23- Animal Life Questions

Slide #24- THE END

Physical Landscape Freshwater biomes cover one fifth of our Earth and they are vital to our

survival. They provide half of our drinking water, a third of the water used for irrigation, and nearly 90 percent of the world's bathwater. Bodies of

freshwater, also known as “ liquid pathways” keep our planet hydrated and provides a habitat for over 700 species of fish, some 1200 amphibians and

a variety mollusks and insect life. Freshwater biomes consists of inland lakes, streams, brooks, creeks, rivers, ditches, sloughs, gutters, canals and puddles. The average precipitation in a freshwater biome per month is 30-60 inches or 76.2 cm -152.4 cm. The temperature in a freshwater biome varies in ponds and lakes seasonally. In the summer the temperature can

range from 4 degrees Celsius near the bottom to 22 degrees Celsius at the top. During the winter, the temperature at the bottom can be 4 degrees

Celsius while the top is 0 degrees Celsius or ice. In between the two layers, there is a narrow zone called the thermo cline where the temperature of the water changes rapidly. During the spring and fall seasons, there is a

mixing of the top and bottom layers, usually due to winds, which results in a uniform water temperature of around 4° C. This mixing also circulates

oxygen throughout the lake. Of course there are many lakes and ponds that do not freeze during the winter, which means the top layer will be a little

warmer.

Examples

As you can see there are a lot of physical landforms for example: a river, plant life and rocks. Plus there is other

animal and plant life which is what my partners are doing.

ExamplesAs you can see in this picture there is a lake, lots of

animal life and plant life.

Plant Life A freshwater biome is one that many people overlook the importance of. They are

much smaller bodies of water, but just as important. They all dump water into a marsh area, typically from the mouth of the rivers. Some that people never consider though

include ditches, gutters, canals, and even puddles. They too can be a freshwater biome due to the fact that life will use them for survival.The Freshwater biome consists of rivers, ponds, lakes, streams, creeks, and anything that is made up of fresh water.

Because of the purity of the water, the lack of the harsh salt, and the adaptability of the water, a good some of plant and animal life can be found in these areas. Because

this biome is all over the world, there is no average anything .Some wetlands are temporary and seasonal. They occur for a few weeks at a time and then disappear until they are refilled with water. Other wetlands are always under water.Throughout history, scientists have debated how to classify plants and animals. The classification system of

biomes was developed by scientist Victor Shelford. Shelford's system defines broad biotic units of plants and the animals that are associated with them. Freshwater biomes are further classified into two broad types: lentic and lotic. The difference is defined by water flow. Lotic systems include streams and rivers where water flows. Lentic systems

are still waters such as ponds and lakes. Almost any plant can live in this area. Most common are trees, shrubs, and grasses.Freshwater biomes cover 1/5 of the Earth and

they are vital to our survival. More than half of the drinking water for humans and animals comes from this resource. When you take your daily shower you often just turn

on the faucet and take it for granted. However, just about all of that water comes initially from a freshwater biome resource.

Examples

Water lilies, with their familiar heart-shaped leaves, are common, emergent plants. They can form dense colonies, providing habitat for macro-invertebrates and fish. Deer, beaver and other animals will eat the leaves and roots and shoots of water lilies.

Examples

Arrowhead or duck potato is a perennial, emergent plant found in the shallow waters of freshwater biomes. Emergent plants are rooted underwater, with stems and leaves that will emerge above the water surface. Arrowhead is an important wildlife plant. Waterfowl, beavers and muskrat will feed on the nutritious tubers

Examples

There are over 100 species of sedges. Sedges can be distinguished from grasses by their triangular stems. They can form thick tussocks, providing habitat for aquatic organisms. The entire plant provides food for wildlife, including its seeds, which are consumed by waterfowl and songbirds.

Examples

Cattails are identified by their characteristic cigar-shaped flowers called catkins. They are found in shallow shoreline areas. Roots and shoots provide food for muskrats and waterfowl. Cattails are typically found in lentic and slower-moving lotic systems.

Animal Life Fresh water fish are fish that spend some or all of their lives in fresh water,

such as rivers and lakes, with a salinity of less than 0.05%. These environments differ from marine conditions in many ways, the most obvious

being the difference in levels of salinity. To survive fresh water, the fish need a range of physiological adaptions.41% of all known species of fish are found in

fresh water. This is primarily due to the rapid speciation that the scattered habitats make possible. When dealing with ponds and lakes, one might use the same basic models of speciation as when studying island biogeography. Freshwater fish differ physiologically from salt water fish in several respects. Their gills must be able to diffuse dissolved gasses while keeping the salts in the body fluids inside. Their scales reduce water diffusion through the skin: freshwater fish that have lost too many scales will die. They also have well developed kidneys to reclaim salts from body fluids before excretion. Many

species of fish do reproduce in freshwater, but spend most of their adult lives in the sea. These are known as anadromous fish, and include, for instance, salmon, trout and three spined stickle back Some other kinds of fish are, on

the contrary, born in salt water, but live most of or parts of their adult lives in fresh water; for instance the eels. These are known as catadromous fish. Species migrating between marine and fresh waters need adaptations for both environments; when in salt water they need to keep the bodily salt

concentration on a level lower than the surroundings, and vice versa. Many species solve this problem by associating different habitats with different

stages of life. Both eels, anadromous salmoniform fish and the sea lamprey have different tolerances in salinity in different stages of their lives.

ExamplesSome types of fresh water fishes are, trench fish sturgeons.

This is a common fish in fresh water from all over the world

Examples Sturgeons are found in both anadromous and fresh

water stationary.

ExamplesAccording to the U.S Environmental Protection agency

about 40% of the American fresh water fish and amphibian species, including the red sided dace are

classified as being at risk

Questions: Physical Landscape1. What would happen if something were to change

the landscape of a particular biome?

If that happened in a biome, most of the animals in that biome would have to relocate to another biome which suits

its habitat. Also many plants would die and would not be able to produce oxygen for the animals in that biome to live.

2. What if the temperature were to raise or lower significantly?

If the temperature rose, some plants could get burned and not grow anymore. If the temperature lowered, some

freshwater biomes could freeze and animals that live in those biomes wouldn’t be able to live there anymore and would

die?

Questions: Physical Landscape3. What if a developer wants to build on the land; what

if an animal becomes extinct?

If a developer wants to build on a freshwater biome, many plants and animals would lose their homes and their habitat would be destroyed so they can’t build another home. If an

animal becomes extinct, the whole food chain would be messed up and some animals could die or become extinct.

4. What if a plant were destroyed, or if the rainfall greatly increases or decreases?

If a plant were destroyed many animals could lose their main food supply. Also, there would be a lack of oxygen in that

biome. If the rainfall increases the biome would be over-flooded with water and many animals would have to move to another biome to live. If the rainfall decreases, the lakes, rivers, etc.

would dry up and animals would die of dehydration.

Questions: Physical Landscape

The 2 questions that can be answered from my research are:

1.How much of the Earth’s surface do freshwater biomes cover?

2.Are freshwater biomes important to our lives? If so, then how are they?

Questions: Plant Life1. What would happen if something were to change the landscape of a particular biome?Well if something was to change the landscape of this biome I think that the plants and animals in

this biome would not have enough time to adapt to the changes and would die.

2. What if the temperature were to raise or lower significantly?

Same thing I think the animals and plants would not have enough time to adapt to those changes.

Questions: Plant LifeWhat if a developer wants to build on the land; what if an

animal becomes extinct?

I think that if a plant went extinct that it would end or just severally mess up the food chain killing a lot of animals and if a developer want to build on the land then he or she would end up draining the lake, pond stream or whatever it is killing all animal

and plant life in that biome.

What if a plant were destroyed, or if the rainfall greatly increases or decreases?

If a plant were destroyed then the animals that depend on it would die and the animals that depend on that animal would die to and

so on and so forth destroying the food chain. If rain were to increase or decrease it would affect the plants a lot maybe even killing them but then killing animals till the food chain is done.

Questions: Plant Life

2 questions that can be answered from my presentation are:

1.What are four examples of freshwater plants?

2. What do freshwater biomes provide for us as humans?

Questions: Animal Life

What would happen if something were to change the landscape of a particular biome?

If the water would decrease the freshwater fish would have to go deeper into the lake or die and animals

would not have enough water to drink.

What if the temperature were to raise or lower significantly?

Climate change, however, may counteract attempts to restore aquatic ecosystems. It adds additional threats

(such as increase in water temperature) and it interacts in complex ways with other stressor types, such as

eutrophication.

Questions: Animal Life

What if a developer wants to build on the land; what if an animal becomes extinct?

If a developer builds on a freshwater land, many fish would become extinct and many animals will have

to move to another biome.

What if a plant were destroyed, or if the rainfall greatly increases or decreases?

Depending in how much it increases or decreases the bodies of water may dry up there fore killing all life in

the bodies of water.

Questions: Animal Life

2 questions that can be answered from my research are:

1.Is there a such thing as freshwater fish?

2.Can freshwater fish survive in another biome?

THE END