AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS

FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS

RIVERS/STREAMS

• Small fish and tadpoles live in streams but in rivers, the fish can get very large.
• Plants include algae and small freshwater plants.
• An example of a river would be The Ohio river.
• These are moving bodies of water.

PONDS/LAKES

• Ponds are much smaller than lakes and less deep.
• Plants that live here include algae and bigger plants like Lilly pads.
• You would find animals like big fish in lakes and ponds including bass.
• Ponds don't really have names, however lakes do and we live right next to a lake called Lake Erie.
• These are still bodies of water.

MARINE ECOSYSTEMS

ESTUARY

• This is where the rivers meet the ocean's tides.
• Small plants and algae grow here in between rocks.
• Some animals might find it hard to live here because of the current but some species of fish are strong swimmers and can live there.

INTERTIDAL ZONE

• This is the area where the tides come into the shore bringing things like rocks and sand.
• Small creatures like clams, barnacles, and sea stars live here because they can cling to rocks.
• Plants like algae live here and provide the small creatures with food.

NERETIC ZONE

• This is the area right by the shore that is shallow and houses many creatures.
• Those creatures include schools of fish like sardines because the reeves near the shore provide shelter.
• Plants that live heat include algae and things like kelp because there is lots of sunshine and that helps the plants with photosynthesis.

SURFACE ZONE

• This is the area of the surface floor where most of the sunlight reaches.
• Animals like schools of fish, Sharks, and octopi live here because it is usually safe and undisturbed.
• Plants are almost the same as all the other zones. There is algae and seaweed because there is enough sunlight.

DEEP OCEAN ZONE

• This is the deepest part of the ocean that is extremely dark.
• Barely any plants except algae live here because there is basically no sunlight.
• Many creatures do not live there since it is so dark but some creatures are able to give off their own light.

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