Freshwater BiomeFreshwater Biome

By: Anisa AkbarBy: Anisa Akbar

1010thth Grade Girl Grade Girl

CharacteristicsCharacteristics

Freshwater has a low salt concentration usually Freshwater has a low salt concentration usually less than 1%.less than 1%.

Plants and animals in freshwater regions are Plants and animals in freshwater regions are adjusted to the low salt content and won’t be adjusted to the low salt content and won’t be able to survive in areas that have high salt able to survive in areas that have high salt concentration such as the ocean.concentration such as the ocean.

There are different types of freshwater regions: There are different types of freshwater regions: ponds and lakes, streams and rivers, and ponds and lakes, streams and rivers, and wetlands. wetlands.

Ponds and LakesPonds and Lakes These regions range in size from just a few These regions range in size from just a few

square meters to thousands of square square meters to thousands of square kilometers.kilometers.

Many ponds are seasonal, lasting just a Many ponds are seasonal, lasting just a couple of months while lakes may exist for couple of months while lakes may exist for hundreds of years or more.hundreds of years or more.

Temperature varies in ponds and lakes Temperature varies in ponds and lakes seasonally. During the summer, the seasonally. During the summer, the temperature can range from 4° C near the temperature can range from 4° C near the bottom to 22° C at the top. bottom to 22° C at the top.

During the winter, the temperature at the During the winter, the temperature at the bottom can be 4° C while the top is 0° C. bottom can be 4° C while the top is 0° C.

During the spring and fall seasons, there is a During the spring and fall seasons, there is a mixing of the top and bottom layers, usually mixing of the top and bottom layers, usually due to winds which results in a uniform due to winds which results in a uniform water temperature of around 4° C.water temperature of around 4° C.

There is also a narrow zone called the There is also a narrow zone called the thermocline where the temperature of the thermocline where the temperature of the water changes rapidly. water changes rapidly.

This mixing also circulates oxygen This mixing also circulates oxygen throughout the lake. There are many lakes throughout the lake. There are many lakes and ponds that do not freeze during the and ponds that do not freeze during the winter which ,means the top layer would be a winter which ,means the top layer would be a little warmer.little warmer.

Lakes and ponds are divided into three Lakes and ponds are divided into three different zones which are usually determined different zones which are usually determined by depth and distance from the shoreline.by depth and distance from the shoreline.

Three Different ZonesThree Different Zones

1) Littoral Zone: Is at 1) Littoral Zone: Is at the lake's shoreline the lake's shoreline where sunlight can where sunlight can reach the bottomreach the bottom

2) Limnetic Zone: 2) Limnetic Zone: which is commonly which is commonly recognized as the recognized as the open waters open waters

3) Profundal (aphotic) 3) Profundal (aphotic) Zones: where sunlight Zones: where sunlight does not penetrate. does not penetrate.

Streams and RiversStreams and Rivers They are bodies of flowing water moving They are bodies of flowing water moving

in one direction.in one direction. They start at headwaters, which may be They start at headwaters, which may be

springs, snowmelt or even lakes.springs, snowmelt or even lakes. It then travels all the way to channels or It then travels all the way to channels or

the oceans. the oceans. The characteristics of a river or stream The characteristics of a river or stream

change during the journey. change during the journey. The temperature is cooler at the source The temperature is cooler at the source

than it is at the mouth (channel or ocean). than it is at the mouth (channel or ocean). The water is also clear and has higher The water is also clear and has higher

oxygen levels. oxygen levels. Towards the middle part of the Towards the middle part of the

stream/river, the width increases, as stream/river, the width increases, as does species diversity numerous aquatic does species diversity numerous aquatic green plants and algae can be found. green plants and algae can be found.

The water becomes murky from all the The water becomes murky from all the sediments that it has picked up sediments that it has picked up upstream, decreasing the amount of light upstream, decreasing the amount of light that can penetrate through the water. that can penetrate through the water. Since there is less light, there is less Since there is less light, there is less diversity, and because of the lower diversity, and because of the lower oxygen levels, fish thatoxygen levels, fish that require less require less oxygen, such as catfish and carp, can be oxygen, such as catfish and carp, can be found.found.

WetlandsWetlands

Wetlands are areas of standing water.Wetlands are areas of standing water. Marshes, swamps, and bogs are all Marshes, swamps, and bogs are all

considered wetlands. considered wetlands. They have the highest species diversity of They have the highest species diversity of

all ecosystems.all ecosystems. But wetlands are not considered But wetlands are not considered

freshwater ecosystems as there are some, freshwater ecosystems as there are some, such as salt marshes, that have high salt such as salt marshes, that have high salt concentrations.concentrations.

Adaptation of Animals and PlantsAdaptation of Animals and Plants

Mostly all of the animals and the plants that live in the Mostly all of the animals and the plants that live in the water or nearby had to adapt to all the conditions, water or nearby had to adapt to all the conditions, especially the temperature. especially the temperature.

They had to adapt to whenever it gets hot or cold. They had to adapt to whenever it gets hot or cold. Without adapting to these conditions, these plants and Without adapting to these conditions, these plants and

animals wouldn't be able to thrive here. animals wouldn't be able to thrive here. For example in animals, otters, minks, and fishes would For example in animals, otters, minks, and fishes would

have to adapt to the water in order to survive. The fishes have to adapt to the water in order to survive. The fishes would be most important since the otters, badgers and would be most important since the otters, badgers and minks eat the fish that live in the water. minks eat the fish that live in the water.

Plants like algae, duckweed, water lilies and cattails Plants like algae, duckweed, water lilies and cattails would have to adapt to the water temperature and the would have to adapt to the water temperature and the amount of light that gets into the water so they can live amount of light that gets into the water so they can live and oxygenate the waters.and oxygenate the waters.

OttersOtters Otters live near fresh water to clean the salt out of their fur. Otters live near fresh water to clean the salt out of their fur. They do this to keep it waterproof, otherwise they would die of They do this to keep it waterproof, otherwise they would die of

cold. cold. They live near rivers and ponds and the ocean because they They live near rivers and ponds and the ocean because they

are aquatic - they eat fish and shellfish and other water are aquatic - they eat fish and shellfish and other water animals.animals.

A swimming river otter is nearly impossible for a predator to A swimming river otter is nearly impossible for a predator to catch, though sea otters have more predators (like sharks) that catch, though sea otters have more predators (like sharks) that can catch them so it is better for them to live in freshwaters. can catch them so it is better for them to live in freshwaters.

MinksMinks

Mink live near creeks, rivers, streams, ponds, and Mink live near creeks, rivers, streams, ponds, and lakes. lakes.

They are fond of living near the watery areas. They are fond of living near the watery areas. Minks are more likely to follow ditches and streams Minks are more likely to follow ditches and streams

when strolling around. when strolling around. They are more adaptable to aquatic environment They are more adaptable to aquatic environment

although they can thrive in the wilderness as well. although they can thrive in the wilderness as well. Some minks enjoy sheltering along the seashores. Some minks enjoy sheltering along the seashores.

As long as there is enough water supply, life is As long as there is enough water supply, life is sustainable for minks.sustainable for minks.

Blue CatfishBlue Catfish

Blue catfish are freshwater fish, but they Blue catfish are freshwater fish, but they are occasionally found in brackish water are occasionally found in brackish water tributaries. tributaries.

They are most often found in the They are most often found in the backwaters and main channels. backwaters and main channels.

But they prefer water with a moderate or But they prefer water with a moderate or swift current and a sandy bottom.swift current and a sandy bottom.

algaealgae

Live in both fresh and salt water. Live in both fresh and salt water. Many exist as long filaments, or strings. Many exist as long filaments, or strings. It produces most of the oxygen we breath. It produces most of the oxygen we breath. Some species pollute public water Some species pollute public water

systems by poisoning the water and systems by poisoning the water and producing a foul smell.producing a foul smell.

Water liliesWater lilies

Water lily are another name for Lotus Water lily are another name for Lotus flowers. flowers.

They are aquatic plants They are aquatic plants The water lily is easy to grow. The water lily is easy to grow. A water lily needs deeper water and does A water lily needs deeper water and does

not like flowing or splashing water.not like flowing or splashing water. Which is a reason for growing in ponds.Which is a reason for growing in ponds.

CattailsCattails

Cattails are always found in or near water, in Cattails are always found in or near water, in marshes, ponds, lakes.marshes, ponds, lakes.

They are obligate wetland indicator plant They are obligate wetland indicator plant species. species.

Cattails tolerate perennial flooding, reduced soil Cattails tolerate perennial flooding, reduced soil conditions, and moderate salinity. conditions, and moderate salinity.

With influxes of nutrients or freshwater, cattails With influxes of nutrients or freshwater, cattails are aggressive invaders in both brackish salt are aggressive invaders in both brackish salt marshes and freshwater wetlands. marshes and freshwater wetlands.

Human ImpactHuman Impact There are many harmful things that are happening to these freshwaters. First of all, the water is becoming polluted by humans who dump garbage in the

waters. Also, the chemicals that go into the water by rainfall, taints the water. People who go fishing break the food webs of the animals that eat the certain

fishes. As well as global warming because water is evaporating faster and the plants

living around or in the water are dying because of it. Animals also slowly lose their food and their homes. Solutions: For the garbage that people dump, they shouldn't even dump the

garbage in the water in the first place. They should go and clean it up and pick out the garbage in the water.

For the chemicals that go into the waters, the people shouldn't pour the chemicals near the pure water at all.

People who fish too much and who don’t allow the other fishes to reproduce fast enough. They shouldn't fish every single day but maybe once a month allowing the fish to reproduce.

Global warming would be hard to stop but because people are driving a lot and the smoke that comes out of factories go up into the air and ruin the Ozone Layer. People should stop using cars as much and stop depending on gas as much as they do now. Factories should stop expelling out so much smoke that it can ruin the atmosphere.

Freshwater WebFreshwater Web

THE END THE END =D=D