A freshwater biome is defines as having low salt concentration (usually less than 1%). There are three different types of freshwater biomes.

-Ponds and Lakes
-Streams and Rivers
-Wetlands

Ponds and Lakes

These are typically the largest types of freshwater biomes. A lot of ponds are seasonal, meaning they only last a couple of months before they dry up. Lakes on the other hand can last for hundreds or even thousands of years. Lake and ponds are divided into three main zones.

The top layear near the shore is the littoral zone. This is the warmest since it is the shallowest. There are a variety of species that occupy this zone. Some of these species are algae, aquatic snails, clams, fish, and aquatic plants. The next zone is the limnetic zone. It is near the surface and surrounded by the littoral zone. It is well-lighted and has a lot of plankton. The last zone is the profundal zone. This is the deep water part of a pond or lake. This zone is very cold and more dense than the other two. Very little light gets into this zone, so there are less species in it. The species that do live here eat dead organisms and use oxygen for cellular respiration.

Streams and Rivers

These are bodies of water that flow in one direction. They get their starts at springs, snowmelts, and even lakes. They can be very fast moving or very slow moving, depending on the stream or river. There are many different types of fish that live in streams and rivers, such as trout.

Wetlands

These are areas of standing water that support aquatic plants. Marshes and swamps are considered wetlands. There are very humid conditions in these areas. If you visit a wetland, you are almost gaurenteed to see pond lillies, cattails, or black spruce. There are also many different types of animals that live in these areas. Some of these are ducks, amphibians, and reptiles. Wetlands are just about the most diverse of all the ecosystems.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Freshwater Biome

The Freshwater Biome accounts for one fifth of the area of the Earth and provides half of the drinking water, one third of the water used for irrigation, and nearly ninety percent of the world's bathwater. The biome consists of inland lakes, streams, brooks, creeks, and rivers--as well as ditches, sloughs, gutters, puddles and canals.
These bodies of freshwater, known collectively as "liquid pathways," both keep our planet hydrated and provide a habitat for over 700 species of fish, some 1200 amphibians and a variety of mollusks and insect life. The earth's freshwater biome and the species it supports are being seriously threatened by pollution from farm runoff, industrial discharges, recreational boating, and fast food packaging. Because of the increasing pollution of the freshwater biome, bottled water has recently become more popular than freshwater as a beverage.
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)