Aquatic Ecosystem

It is a water-based ecosystem in which different water-based

organisms interact with other biotic and abiotic components
surrounding them. These water-based organisms are
completely dependent on their water-based environment for
their food, shelter, reproduction, and other requirements.
They are broadly classified as freshwater and marine
ecosystem.
1. Freshwater ecosystems
i) Lentic (still water)
a) Lakes
b) Ponds
c) Wetlands
ii) Lotic (running water)
a) Rivers and Streams
2. Marine ecosystems
i) Oceans
ii) Estuaries
iii) Mangroves
 Lakes
Oligotrophic Lakes: These lakes are deep, clear, and nutrient-poor, with low
productivity. They often have high oxygen levels and support species adapted to
cold, low-nutrient environments, such as trout. (Lake Baikal in Russia)
Eutrophic Lakes: Eutrophic lakes are shallow, nutrient-rich, and have high
biological productivity. They often experience algal blooms, which can lead to
oxygen depletion and affect aquatic life. (Lake Victoria in Africa)
Mesotrophic Lakes: These lakes have moderate levels of nutrients and
productivity, falling between oligotrophic and eutrophic conditions. They support a
diverse range of aquatic life. (Lake Geneva in the border Switzerland and France)
Dystrophic Lakes: Also known as bog lakes, these are acidic, often
brown-colored due to high levels of organic matter (like peat). They are typically
nutrient-poor and support unique plant and animal communities. (Lake Vättern in
Sweden)
 Ponds
Seasonal Ponds (Vernal Pools): These ponds fill with water during
certain seasons, such as spring, and may dry up during others. They are
important breeding grounds for amphibians and other wildlife.
Permanent Ponds: Ponds that retain water year-round. They are
smaller and shallower than lakes but can support a variety of aquatic
plants, fish, and other organisms.
 Wetlands
Marshes: These wetlands are characterized by standing water and are dominated by
herbaceous (non-woody) plants like grasses, reeds, and sedges. Marshes are highly
productive and support a diverse range of wildlife.
Swamps: Swamps are wetlands dominated by woody plants such as trees and shrubs.
They can be found in both freshwater and saltwater environments and are important for
flood control and wildlife habitat.
Bogs: Bogs are acidic wetlands with a thick layer of peat (partially decayed plant material).
They are nutrient-poor and support unique plant species, such as moss, and certain types
of carnivorous plants.
Fens: Fens are similar to bogs but are less acidic and have higher nutrient levels. They are
often fed by groundwater and support a variety of grasses, sedges, and wildflowers.
 Oceans
Oceans cover about 70% of the Earth's surface, making them the largest ecosystem on the
planet. They are divided into different zones i.e. intertidal, neritic, pelagic and abyssal based
on depth and distance from shore, each supporting unique forms of life.
1. Intertidal Zone: The area between high and low tide, where the ocean meets the land.
This zone is constantly changing due to the tides. It includes rocky shores, sandy
beaches, and mudflats. Organisms in this zone must withstand both wet and dry
conditions, as well as changing temperatures and salinity. Common species include
starfish, crabs, and various algae.
2. Neritic Zone (Coastal Zone): It extends from the low tide mark to the edge of the
continental shelf. The area is shallow, well-lit and with abundant nutrients due to runoff
from land, making it one of the most productive parts of the ocean. This zone supports a
wide range of life, including phytoplankton, zooplankton, fish (like tuna and sardines),
coral reefs which support a wide variety of marine life, including fish, invertebrates,
sponges, sea urchins, and marine plants. They are often referred to as the "rainforests of
the sea.” Marine mammals like dolphins and seals also live in this area.
3. Pelagic Zone (Open Ocean): This is the open ocean, extending from the edge
of the continental shelf to the deep ocean. Species vary with depth, including
surface-dwelling fish, deep-sea creatures like giant squid, bioluminescent organisms,
jellyfish, and marine mammals like whales.
This zone is divided into several sub-zones based on depth:
○ Epipelagic Zone (Sunlight Zone): Surface to about 200 meters deep, where
sunlight penetrates and photosynthesis occurs.
○ Mesopelagic Zone (Twilight Zone): From 200 to 1,000 meters deep, with
dim light and colder temperatures.
○ Bathypelagic Zone (Midnight Zone): From 1,000 to 4,000 meters deep,
completely dark with very cold temperatures.
○ Abyssopelagic Zone (Abyssal Zone): From 4,000 meters to the ocean floor,
pitch dark and near freezing.
4. Abyssal Zone: The deep ocean floor, beyond 4,000 meters in depth.
There is extreme high pressure, the temperature is nearly freezing and
there is complete darkness Despite harsh conditions, life exists here,
including deep-sea fish, tube worms, and chemosynthetic bacteria.
Hydrothermal vents in this zone support unique ecosystems with
specialized organisms that rely on chemicals like hydrogen sulfide
instead of sunlight for energy.
5. Hadal Zone (Trenches): This zone, the deepest part of the ocean
exceeds 6,000 meters in depth and is less explored than the moon. This
dark, remote environment was once thought to be uninhabitable, but
deep-sea expeditions have revealed diverse life forms. For instance, the
Hadal snailfish thrives here by lacking air spaces like swim bladders and
having enzymes adapted to extreme pressure.
 Estuaries
Estuaries are transition zones where freshwater from rivers meets and mixes
with saltwater from the ocean, creating brackish water environments.
These ecosystems are nutrient-rich and highly productive, supporting a
variety of plant and animal species.
Estuaries serve as important breeding and nursery grounds for many marine
species, including fish and shellfish.
They act as natural filters, trapping pollutants and sediments, and improving
water quality before it reaches the open ocean.
They help protect inland areas from storm surges and flooding by absorbing
excess water and energy.
 Mangrove
Mangroves are coastal forests found in tropical and subtropical regions,
acting as buffers against storm surges, erosion, and flooding.
Mangrove trees have specialized root systems that allow them to thrive in
saline, waterlogged soils, and protect shorelines from erosion.
It also provide critical habitat for a wide range of species, including fish,
birds, and invertebrates, and serve as nurseries for many marine organisms.
They are highly effective at sequestering carbon, helping to mitigate climate
change by storing large amounts of carbon in their biomass and soils.
Lake Baikal in Russia
Lake Victoria in Africa
Lake Geneva
Lake
Vättern in
Sweden
Keibul Lamjao National Park (wetlands)
Inter tidal zones
Coral Reefs
Abyssal Zone
A Hadal Snail Fish found in the ocean
trenches.

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ones/hadal-zone/