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Table of Contents
A freshwater ecosystem is a type of aquatic ecosystem found on Earth. It is home to various species of fish, plants, and crustaceans. Approximately 41% of the world’s known fish species are found in freshwater habitats. This ecosystem has a smaller salt content than a marine ecosystem. It commonly occurs as inland bodies of water. Rivers, lakes, ponds, springs, streams, reservoirs, bogs, and wetlands are considered freshwater ecosystems.
See the fact file below for more information on the Freshwater Ecosystem, or you can download our 29-page Freshwater Ecosystem worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
DEFINITION
- A freshwater ecosystem is characterized by its low-salt content, which is a conducive habitat for various plants and species, as well as microorganisms.
- The size of a freshwater ecosystem can range from small to large.
- Freshwater ecosystems could be flowing, standing, or man-made.
DISTRIBUTION
- Around 70% of the Earth is made up of water, but only a small portion of this is freshwater as most of it is saltwater in oceans.
- 3.5% of the Earth’s water is freshwater, and more than half of this is in the form of ice in glaciers and polar caps.
USAGE
- Freshwater is a vital resource for humans and animals, as it is one of the primary sources for daily water use, such as drinking, and industrial purposes, such as agriculture, manufacturing, transport, waste disposal, reservoir systems, and more.
THE ORIGIN OF FRESHWATER
- The freshwater cycle begins with the water vapor that evaporates from the surface of the earth’s bodies of water, such as oceans and lakes.
- As the vapor rises into the atmosphere, it becomes “fresh” because salts and other contaminants are left behind on the surface.
- The vapor then cools and condenses in clouds, which eventually release the freshwater back to earth as rain or snow.
- Freshwater then flows across a watershed and into lakes, rivers, streams, springs, fishponds, wetlands, and reservoirs.
- Not only is freshwater found in these bodies of water, but it also seeps through soil and between permeable rocks that then become aquifers that contain groundwater.
- Freshwater can also be retrieved by drilling wells at the depth of the upper surface of an aquifer, which is also called the water table.
PARTS OF A FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEM
- A complete freshwater ecosystem consists of a variety of plants, animals, microorganisms, and rocks.
- Water, soil, and sunlight are fundamental factors that make up freshwater ecosystems.
- These are the elements explored and analyzed by limnologists, scientists who study freshwater ecosystems.
- Limnologists aim to characterize different ecosystems and describe the biodiversity that exists in each of them.
- Biodiversity depends on the ecosystem’s salt content, temperature, oxygen level, nutrients, and amount of light.
LENTIC FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEM
- A lentic freshwater ecosystem is found within bodies of stationary or still water such as lakes and ponds.
- The term “lentic” derives from the Latin word “lentus” meaning “sluggish.”
- It is also known as a lake ecosystem or a lacustrine ecosystem.
- The size of the lentic ecosystem varies greatly; some only span a few square meters, while others can go up to thousands of square kilometers.
- In general, lakes are deeper than ponds.
- Unlike lakes that may last for years, some ponds are seasonal and may exist only for several months.
- Depending on their distance from the shoreline and depth, a lentic ecosystem can be divided into three zones:
- The topmost zone near the shoreline of a lake or pond is called the littoral zone.
- This warm and shallow zone is home to algae, crustaceans, amphibians, clams, snails, and insects.
- Aquatic plants, such as reeds, cattails, seaweeds, rushes, mangroves, and beach grasses, are also found in the littoral zone.
- These plants, along with other fauna in the ecosystem, serve as food for ducks and turtles.
- The photic zone (also known as the limnetic zone) is the open water zone that receives sunlight, which is important for photosynthesis to occur.
- Plankton is mostly found in the photic zone, which includes phytoplankton and zooplankton.
- The deepest bottom zone, where sunlight does not penetrate and photosynthesis cannot occur, is called the profundal zone.
- Also called the aphotic zone, the profundal zone is colder than the other two.
- Animals that thrive in the profundal zone are heterotrophs, meaning they consume dead organisms for energy and nutrients.
LOTIC FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEM
- A lotic freshwater ecosystem is found within bodies of water that move in one direction, like rivers and streams.
- A lotic ecosystem is also called a river ecosystem.
- It is commonly a part of a larger water channel network, flowing from its origin and joining other water channels at its mouth.
- Just like the lentic ecosystem, the lotic ecosystem is divided into three zones:
- The source zone or headwaters zone is the narrow and fast-moving area where some freshwater fish like salmon and trout can be found.
- The middle deeper area refers to the transition zone where there are more nutrients for algae and aquatic plants.
- The mouth of a river or stream is known as the floodplain zone, which has the lowest dissolved oxygen level across three zones.
- Catfish and carp can be found in this zone.
WETLAND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEM
- A wetland freshwater ecosystem is within stationary bodies of water where vascular plants thrive.
- Wetland ecosystems include swamps, marshes, and bogs.
- Plants species called hydrophytes thrive in these kinds of moist and humid environments.
- Hydrophytes grow partially or completely submerged in water.
- Examples of hydrophytic plants in freshwater wetlands are cattails, tamarack, water lily, duckweed, pickerelweed, sedges, black spruce, royal fern, and water horsetail.
- Various insects, amphibians, reptiles, shellfish, and marsh birds inhabit freshwater wetlands.
- Alligators, frogs, salamanders, snails, turtles, worms, snakes, mollusks, beavers, otters, and swallows are some animals that commonly live in wetlands.
THREATS
- Human activities have decreased the quality of freshwater ecosystems resulting in the decline of populations of monitored freshwater species by 84%, and close to one-third of wetlands being wiped out since 1970, as reported by the World Wide Fund for Nature’s Living Planet Index.
- Pollution from agriculture and industrial processes leads to damaged freshwater habitats.
- Deforestation, overfishing, the creation of dams, and human-initiated projects, such as draining or filling, also disrupt these ecosystems.
- Climate change is also a major threat to the biodiversity of freshwater ecosystems.
- As the average temperature of water bodies increases, the effects of the other major threats to these ecosystems only worsen.
Freshwater Ecosystem Worksheets
This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about the Freshwater Ecosystem across 29 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about the Freshwater Ecosystem. A freshwater ecosystem is a type of aquatic ecosystem found on Earth. It is home to various species of fish, plants, and crustaceans. Approximately 41% of the world’s known fish species are found in freshwater habitats.
Complete List of Included Worksheets
Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.
- Freshwater Ecosystem Facts
- Words to Remember
- Body of Water Search
- Biodiversity Sketch
- Stream of Facts
- Wrong Water Words?
- Freshwater or Not?
- In the Zone
- Freshwater Cycle
- Conservation Campaign
- Knowledge Recap
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a freshwater ecosystem?
A freshwater ecosystem is a habitat or environment where freshwater is present, including rivers, lakes, ponds, wetlands, and streams. These ecosystems are home to a variety of plants and animals that have adapted to living in freshwater habitats.
What are some of the key components of a freshwater ecosystem?
Some of the key components of a freshwater ecosystem include the water itself, plants, algae, fish, invertebrates, and microorganisms. These organisms interact with each other and with the physical and chemical properties of the water to create a complex ecosystem.
How do human activities impact freshwater ecosystems?
Human activities such as agriculture, urbanization, and industrial development can have negative impacts on freshwater ecosystems. These activities can lead to pollution, habitat destruction, and changes in water quality and temperature, which can harm or even destroy the organisms that live in these ecosystems.
What are some ways to protect and conserve freshwater ecosystems?
There are several ways to protect and conserve freshwater ecosystems, including reducing water pollution by using eco-friendly products, conserving water by reducing usage and avoiding water waste, protecting wetlands and other natural habitats, and supporting conservation efforts through education and advocacy.
Why are freshwater ecosystems important?
Freshwater ecosystems are important for many reasons, including providing habitat for a wide range of plant and animal species, supporting human activities such as agriculture and recreation, and providing vital ecosystem services such as water purification and nutrient cycling. These ecosystems are also important indicators of overall ecosystem health and can help us better understand the impacts of human activities on the natural environment.
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Use With Any Curriculum
These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.