Aquatic Ecosystems

Freshwater Ecosystems

Rivers and Streams - Animal

• they adapt to strong current
• hooks/suckers to help cling to rocks
• streamlined bodies (trout)

Rivers and Streams - Plants

• take root among the pebbles on the bottom
• few plants and algae can grow in strong current

Ponds and Lakes - Animal

• adapt to still water
• scavenger live on bottom
• decomposers feed on dead organism remains

Ponds and Lakes - Plants

• shallow water- sunlight reaches bottom (ponds)
• plants can grow (ponds)
• floating plants and algae

Marine Ecosystems

Estuary

• fresh water of river meets salt water of ocean
• plants - provide shelter and food for animals 
• animals - use the calm waters for breeding grounds.

Intertidal Zone - Animal

• must survive pounding waves, water levels, and temperature
• cling onto rocks/burrow into sand

Intertidal Zone - Plants

• almost same as animals
• surviving water levels, waves, and temperature.
• also clings onto rocks

Neritic Zone - Animals

• there are many living things
• mostly feeds on algae
• has homes in coral reefs

Neritic Zone - Plants

• photosynthesis can occur
• many different plants
• algae is the main producer
• coral reefs can form and provide homes to animals

Surface Zone - Animals

• most animals depend on algae to live (food)
• can only happen few hundred meters under the surface of the ocean

Surface Zone - Plants

• algae carries carries out photosynthesis
• mostly depended on for food - algae

Deep Zone - Animals

• animals eat remains of dead organisms 

Deep Zone - Plants

• there are no plants/algae