Freshwater
Biomes
Where
Fresh water is naturally occurring water on the Earth's surface in ice sheets, ice caps,glaciers, bogs, ponds, lakes, rivers and streams, and underground as groundwater in aquifers and underground streams. Fresh water is generally characterized by having low concentrations of dissolved salts and other total dissolved solids.
Sources Of Freshwater
The source of almost all fresh water is precipitation from the atmosphere, in the form of mist,rain and snow. Fresh water falling as mist, rain or snow contains materials dissolved from the atmosphere and material from the sea and land over which the rain bearing clouds have traveled.Rain is typically acidic because of dissolved oxides of sulfur and nitrogen formed from burning of fossil fuels in cars, factories, trains and aircraft and from the atmospheric emissions of industry. In some cases this acid rain results in pollution of lakes and rivers. Salt water in oceans, seas and saline ground water make up about 97% of it. Only 2.5-2.75% is fresh water, including 1.75-2% frozen in glaciers, ice and snow, 0.7-0.8% as fresh groundwater and soil moisture, and less than 0.01% of it as surface water in lakes, swamps and rivers.
Survival
Fresh water is an important natural resource necessary for the survival of all ecosystems. The use of water by humans for activities such as irrigation and industrial applications can have adverse impacts on downstream ecosystems. Chemical contamination of fresh water can also seriously damage ecosystems.Pollution from human activity, including oil spills, also presents a problem for freshwater resources. The largest petroleum spill that has ever occurred in fresh water was caused by a Royal Dutch Shell Tank ship in Magdalena, Argentina, on January 15, 1999, polluting the environment, drinkable water, plants and animals.[13]
Fresh and unpolluted water accounts for 0.003% of total water available globally
Fresh and unpolluted water accounts for 0.003% of total water available globally
Habbitants
Fish are, of course, a very common animal found in freshwater biomes. In rivers and streams, in lakes and ponds, anywhere there is fresh water, depending on the location, one is likely to find a myriad species of fish. Some of the most common fish species in freshwater biomes are trout, salamon, and bass, but there are many others as well. These fish may feed on other, smaller freshwater fish, or on insects and other types of small animal. Amphibians are perhaps the animal type that most thrives in freshwater biome Water-loving snakes such as water moccasins also make their homes in the freshwater biomes of our planet.Birds also make their home in the freshwater biome. Some are fairly common sightings, such as many species of ducks, geese, and swans.
Temperatures
Plants and animals in freshwater regions are adjusted to the low salt content and would not be able to survive in areas of high salt concentration (i.e., ocean). There are different types of freshwater regions.Temperature varies in ponds and lakes seasonally. During the summer, the temperature can range from 4° C near the bottom to 22° C at the top. During the winter, the temperature at the bottom can be 4° C while the top is 0° C (ice)