AQUA MARCH 11

• Aquatic Ecosystem


  • The ability of the sun’s rays to penetrate the water
  • The nature of the bottom substrate
  • The water temperature
  • The amount of dissolved materials
• Marine Ecosystems


  • Ocean
  • Coral Reefs
  • Estuaries
• Ocean Ecosystem


  • Intertidal Zone
  • Pelagic
  • Benthic Marine
  • Abyssal Marine
• Freshwater Ecosystems


  • Standing Water
  • Running Water
  • Wetlands
• Marine Water vs Freshwater

  • The amount of salt present is much less
  • The temperature in water can change greatly
  • The water is in the process of moving downhill
  • Oxygen can often be in short supply
  • The organisms that inhabit freshwater systems are different
• Standing Water Ecosystems


  • Lakes and Ponds
• Running Water Ecosystems


  • Rivers and Streams
• Wetlands Ecosystems


  • Marshes
• Overview of Inland Aquatic Ecosystems

  • Lentic - standing waters
  • Lotic - flowing waters
  • Limnology - science of inland water ecosystems, characteristics and mechanisms of function and the interaction between their physical, chemical, and biological components
• Lakes can be shallow (<5m average depth) or deep (>5m average depth) with areas that vary from 0.1 to thousands of square kilometers
• Lakes can circulate all the time or can stratify periodically or during short times
• The chemical composition of lake water is related to the hydrogeological characteristics of the watersheds
• Ponds are small natural depressions filled with water, shallow (<3m) with permanent vertical circulations and areas that range from 0.1 to 100 square meters
• Water in ponds can be fresh, saline, or brackish and they can be permanent or temporary bodies of water
• Wetlands are shallow areas with soil saturated with water, with depths ranging from <1m to 2 or 3m, and extensive areas of floating vegetation of aquatic plants or trees standing in water
• Wetlands can be associated with lakes (lentic) or associated with rivers (lotic)
• Bogs are shallow inundated areas with brown acidic waters and accumulation of organic matter covered by vegetation
• Artificial Reservoirs can be shallow (average depth <5m) or deep (average depth >5m) with small (0.1-100m2) or large (1-3000km2)
• Artificial Reservoirs are constructed by man in main rivers or their tributaries and differ in size, shape, volume, and discharge, connecting the water cycle in the watersheds
• Artificial Reservoirs are the largest flowing aquatic system, found on all continents for thousands of kilometers, and some can be temporary with flowing water only during parts of the year
• Interrupted streams flow alternately on and below the surface
• Ladybower Reservoir in Derbyshire, England, catches the power from two rivers. The River Ashop flows into the reservoir from the west, and the R
• Types of flowing waters

  • Temporary with flowing water only during parts of the year
  • Interrupted streams flow alternately on and below the surface
• Ladybower Reservoir in Derbyshire, England, catches the power from two rivers. The River Ashop flows into the reservoir from the west, and the River Derwent flows south, creating a three-mile-long Y-shaped reservoir. Entire villages were sacrificed to build the Ladybower Reservoir, which was constructed shortly after World War II. Ancient Derwent Hall, farms, and a church were among the structures submerged
• Springs
• Springs


  • Small flowing waters (a few meters wide, with reduced flow)
  • Resulting from the flow of groundwater
• Estuaries
• Estuaries


  • Region where freshwater from inland meets the coastal water from the sea, is an ecotone
  • Complex region with a mixing zone of freshwater and saline water with several intermediate zones of varying salinities and a gradient
  • Vary in size, area, morphometry, and extent
  • Physical, chemical, and biological features vary with the gradient of salinity
• Aquatic ecosystems are characterized by 3 interfaces: 1. The air-water interface 2. The sediment-water interface 3. The organism-water interface. Throughout these interfaces exchanges of energy, elements, and substances occur
• Lakes, reservoirs, rivers, wetlands, and estuaries are intensively used for the development of human activities
• The economic value of water is considered today as the fundamental criteria for the development of countries and regions. This economic value is direct and indirect
• The production of hydroelectricity is one of the most important indirect economic values of water
• The maintenance of ecosystem services of the inland aquatic ecosystems is of prime importance and their management should consider this sustainable approach as the basis for their conservation and recovery
• Human activities have affected global lake distribution and produced changes in morphometry, mean depth, and water quality. Examples of such drastic effects are the loss of 84% of the volume of the Aral Sea by excessive use in irrigation, increase in the total area of reservoirs that changed the stored water, and changes in hydrological cycles in all continents due to excessive land use and exploitation of the aquatic biota
• Another impact that is widespread and is causing several changes in the biodiversity and the food chains of the inland aquatic ecosystems is the accidental or on-purpose introduction of exotic species
• The usage of plastics is widespread, but there is a lack of awareness about microplastics (Alam et. al., 2018)
• Ashrafy et al.'s research focuses on the impact of microplastics on aquatic ecosystems, like oceans and freshwater bodies. The article emphasizes the need to understand and address microplastic pollution and provides insights for individuals to promote sustainable practices.
• Properties of microplastics


  • Physical properties (shape, size, density, color, surface area, crystallinity)
  • Chemical properties
  • Biological properties
• Aquatic ecosystems with microplastic distribution

  • Freshwater
  • Coral reefs
  • Brackish water
  • Marine
• Pathways of microplastic pollution in aquatic environments

  • Sewage discharge
  • Hydro-fluctuation belt
  • Rainfall runoff and storm effect
  • Fishing activities
  • Microplastics in wastewater treatment plants