Three Aquatic Ecosystems
Lacie Boutwell and Mackenzie Metzger
Freshwater, Brackish Water, and Salt Water
Freshwater
A freshwater biome is a much smaller body of water. These freshwater biomes include lakes, rivers, streams, and creeks. They all dump water into a marsh area, typically from the mouth of the rivers. Freshwater biomes cover 1/5 of the Earth. When you take your daily shower you often just turn on the faucet and take as long as you want. However, just about all of that water comes from a freshwater biome resource. These bodies of water don’t have to be very deep. They can be as low as only one foot of water in them. They never have more than six feet of water in them. The Florida Everglades in the United States is the biggest freshwater biome in the world. The freshwater biome is a location where there is plenty of nutrition and minerals. There is sediment found at the bottom of a freshwater biome. The slow moving or still water of them allows for it to remain in place. Approximately 70% of the water that is used to irrigate crops comes from freshwater biomes.
Animals in Freshwater
Plants in Freshwater
Crinum (water lily)
eichhornia (anchored water hyacinth)
Nymphaea ampla (Dotleaf Waterlily)
Eriocaulon (pipewort)
Ludwigia inclinata (Tilted Red Ludwigia)
Mourera fluviatilis (Waterfall aquatic plants)
Brackish Water
Brackish water is water that is saltier than fresh water, but not as salty as sea water. It is the mixture of freshwater and seawater.This mixing can take place inside as well as outside of the dikes. Since conditions are not the best for neither freshwater or marine creatures, brackish waters often lack diversity. brackish water contains between 0.5 and 30 grams of salt. Brackish water commonly occurs when fresh water meets sea water. In many places around the world, Brackish Water appears naturally, and it forms an important habitat for some unique animal species. Estuaries are a common site of Brackish water. Many swamps and marshes where rivers meet the sea are brackish.
Animals in Brackish Water
Plants in Brackish Water
Salt Water
Saltwater most commonly refers to oceanic waters. The fish in salt water are usually more colorful than freshwater fish. Seventy percent of the earth is made up of water. 97 percent is seawater, which contains a significant amount of dissolved salts. Salt content is measured by the weight of salt in water. Salt water is water that contains dissolved salts. It is water from a sea or ocean. You do not want to drink salt water, you will get dehydrated. Salt water in nature is seawater in our oceans, our seawater is very salty because of all sorts of minerals and other elements. Sea salt is much healthier for us to consume then regular table salt.