AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS

Freshwater Ecosystems

-Aquifers -Springs -Ponds-Lakes -Creeks/Streams -Rivers-Wetlands

Makes up < 3 % of water on earth

Essential for Freshwater Ecosystem

o Dissolved Oxygeno Minerals and Nutrientso Species Diversity

Ponds and LakesZones:1. Littoral2. Photic 3. Benthic

Plankton:1.Zooplankton2.Phytoplankton

Decomposers

EutrophicationAn increase in aquatic plants or alga due to an increase in nutrients.

Large-Scale Eutrophication

Streams, Creeks, and Rivers

Stream Order:

Alabama’s Natural Setting• 1,438 miles of navigable channels• 77,000 miles of rivers and streams• 563,000 acres of lakes, ponds,

reservoirs• 33.5 trillion gallons of water flow

through river systems.• 16 major locks and dams on 6 river

systems

Geographic regions of Alabama

0 1 2 3 40.5Kilometers

0 1 20.5Miles

¶

#

Whi

tesi

des

Mill

Lake

High Rock Lake

Sweetwater Lake

ColemanLake

Pine Glen

Little Shoal Creek

Shoal Creek

Houch Creek

PendergrassCreek

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

89

10

1112

1314

1516

17

1819

20

21

22

What impact are these dams having on this creek system?

Shoal Creek

Accumulation of water and habitat division.

Human InfluenceExtensive pollution:-Industrial -Agricultural -pesticides -animal waste-Household waste -septic tanks-Oil spills-Nuclear waste

Why should aquatic ecosystems be a major concern for future

scientists?

Because the final consumers of water are. . .

Humans