fresh water

Fresh Water Ecosystems and Marine Ecosystems

Enviroment Enviromental Education For JTET/CTET

The unit of biosphere having all the components producers, consumers and decomposers and the abiotic components together with physical factors in dynamic relationships is called as ecosystem.

The ecosystem may be on land or in water. Land ecosystems are called as terrestrial ecosystems where as water ecosystems are called as aquatic ecosystems. The aquatic ecosystem may be in fresh water like in ponds, rivers, streams etc. This type of ecosystem is called as Fresh Water Ecosystem. The ecosystem found in salt lakes or in marine water of sea or ocean. Such type of ecosystem is called as Marine Ecosystem. Thus, aquatic ecosystem comprises fresh water ecosystem and marine ecosystem.

Fresh Water Ecosystem

This ecosystem comprises running water systems (Lotic) and stagnant water systems (Lentic).

Producers in running or lotic type of ecosystem comprise species of algae, and plants that grow on embankments.

Various varieties of mollusks, tadpoles, and insects are primary consumers whereas fish, crabs, and crustaceans are secondary consumers of this ecosystem. Numerous species of bacteria and few species of fungi act as decomposers in this ecosystem.

The Lotic type of fresh water ecosystem comprises rivers, ponds, lakes and ditches.

A pond may be divided into three distinct zones- Littoral, Limnetic, and Profundal. The Littoral is the shallow water zone and principal producers of this zone are rooted plants like Sagitaria, Ranunculus, and Cyprus. Some mollusks and insects are primary consumers whereas snakes, frogs etc. are secondary consumers of this zone.

The Limnetic zone is a well lighted and open zone. Phytoplankton, algae and free-floating plants are principal producers of this zone. Varieties of insects and tadpoles act as primary consumers of this zone. Profundal is the darkest zone of a pond or lake and it usually does not contain producers. Tortoises and big fishes go for rest in this zone. However, this zone teams up with vast varieties of decomposers who decompose dead body parts of plants and animals deposited in the sediment of the bottom.

Fresh Water Ecosystem of a river

Marine Ecosystem

Ecosystems of oceans and salt lakes are called as Marine Ecosystems.

 These are Open Sea Ecosystem, Coastal Ecosystem, and Estuarine Ecosystems.

The open sea ecosystem is found in the area of sea beyond the shore region or beyond the continental shelf. Some important producers of this region are diatoms, brown and red algae. Crustaceans, small fishes and mollusks are remarkable primary producers of this region. Big fish species are secondary consumers of this region. Decomposers are mostly found in the ocean floor.

The Coastal Ecosystem covers the area of continental shelf. It is sub-divided into intertidal, littoral and neritic zones.

The intertidal zone is the area where sea waves come and go regularly. The littoral zone is the floor of the ocean whereas the neritic zone is the shore area which is always covered with shallow water. Major producers of the coastal ecosystem are phytoplankton, red-algae and sea-weeds. Consumers of this area are Zooplankton, unios, and small fish. Seal, crustaceans, turtles, and visiting big fish are other consumers seen in this region.

Numerous species of sea-birds act as top consumers in this region. Species of bacteria, fungi and insects, and also some species of birds act as decomposers in this ecosystem.

The open sea ecosystem is found in the area of sea beyond the shore region or beyond the continental shelf. Some important producers of this region are diatoms, brown and red algae. Crustaceans, small fishes and mollusks are remarkable primary producers of this region. Big fish species are secondary consumers of this region. Decomposers are mostly found in the ocean floor.
Marine Ecosystem of an Ocean

Estuaries are ecosystems found in the junction areas of soft and marine waters. This ecosystem remains full of producers, consumers, and decomposers. Various species of sea-weeds, algae and other plants function as producers whereas zooplankton, small crustaceans, larvae, tadpoles, crabs, tortoises, various fish species etc. are principal consumers of this region. Many species of sea-birds act as top consumers whereas numerous species of bacteria, fungi and insects act as decomposers in an estuary.

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