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Aquatic ecosystems
An aquatic ecosystem is a group of interacting organisms dependent on one another and their water environment for nutrients (e.g., nitrogen and phosphorus) and shelter. Familiar examples are ponds, lakes and rivers, but aquatic ecosystems also include areas such as floodplains and wetlands, which are flooded with water for all or only parts of the year. Seemingly inhospitable aquatic ecosystems can sustain life. Thermal springs, for instance, support algae and some insect species at water temperatures near the boiling point; tiny worms live year-round on the Yukon ice fields; and some highly polluted waters can support large populations of bacteria.
Even a drop of water is an aquatic ecosystem, since it contains or can support living organisms. In fact, ecologists often study drops of water – taken from lakes and rivers – in the lab to understand how these larger aquatic ecosystems work.
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Aquatic Ecosystems Menu
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