Aquatic Ecosystem - Types, Function & Defination

An aquatic ecosystem is a wide range of diverse habitats existing within a water body, be it ocean, river, lake, or wetland. They are connected with varied types of flora and fauna and thus play an essential role in maintaining ecological balance. The two broad types of aquatic ecosystems are lentic and lotic ecosystems. Knowledge of the different types of aquatic Ecosystems and their specific characteristics is included in the class 12 chapter Ecosystem. This article is helpful for students preparing for competitive exams with Biology as a major subject like NEET, AIIMS, Nursing and Paramedical Exams.

What is an Aquatic Ecosystem?

An aquatic habitat can be described as a complex community of living organisms, that include both plants, animals, and microorganisms, interacting in all directions both between themselves and with their physical environment, within a water body. These ecosystems are important in terms of maintaining global biodiversity and support an enormous variety of species that depend on aquatic environments for survival.

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Types of Aquatic Ecosystems

Aquatic ecosystems may be classified into the following broad categories based on their characteristics:

Freshwater Ecosystems: All freshwater lakes, rivers, streams, and wetlands fall under this category. Freshwater ecosystems are home to a rich variety of species, which makes them an essential source of water for drinking and irrigation purposes.

Marine Ecosystem: This portion of the Earth's surface is taken up by marine ecosystems. It is mainly composed of oceans, coral reefs, and estuaries. They are very rich in terms of species diversity and also play a critical role in regulating weather.

Lentic Ecosystem: These are ecosystems that result from still or standing bodies of water, such as lakes and ponds. They show distinct zones, such as the littoral, limnetic, and benthic zones, hosting different species adapted to their respective environments.

Lotic Ecosystem: In contrast, lotic ecosystems refer to flowing water bodies, such as rivers and streams. The dynamics of an ecosystem are characterized by changing parameters, thus hosting species adapted to the current conditions of the flow.

Examples of Aquatic Ecosystems

There are many examples of aquatic ecosystems, which depict their diversity:

Ponds and Lakes: Freshwater ecosystems harbour different organisms, from fish and amphibians to aquatic plants.

Rivers and Streams: Lotic ecosystems often support species such as salmon and various aquatic invertebrates.

Coral Reefs: The marine ecosystems are mostly well known for biodiversity, housing numerous species of fish and other marine creatures.

Wetlands: Transitional areas between land and water, with unique communities of plants and animals.

Aquatic Ecosystems and Their Importance

Aquatic environments play a critical role for several reasons:

Biodiversity: They support an incredibly wide variety of species, which add to global biodiversity.

Ecosystem Services: The key areas of importance of aquatic ecosystems are the filtration of water, regulatory functions of the climate system, and nutrient cycling.

Human Use: Many communities find food, recreation, and economic sources in aquatic ecosystems, such as commercial fisheries and tourism.

Tips, Tricks, and Strategies for Studying Aquatic Ecosystems for Exams

Here are some tips and tricks to prepare Aquatic Ecosystems for exams:

Learning Aids: Get to know the various diagrams and characteristics of aquatic ecosystems such as freshwater (lentic and lotic) and marine ecosystems. Take special notice of the different types of flora and fauna adapted for each environment. For example, there's the phytoplankton in freshwater, and in the marine setting, numerous species of coral thrive.

Mnemonics: Learn mnemonics for key features of aquatic ecosystems. One example is "FLAME" to remember Freshwater, Lentic, Aquatic, Marine, and Ecosystem.

Practice Diagrams: Draw neat labelled diagrams illustrating the different zones of aquatic ecosystems, namely the littoral, limnetic and benthic zones. Such practice usually helps in memorizing the topic, and examination questions usually require such diagrams.

Real-Life Examples: By applying theoretical concepts to real-life examples, you can learn about specific types of ecosystems. For example, both the study of the Amazon River, which is lotic, and the Great Barrier Reef, which is marine, will help reinforce your learning and add real-life context to the material.

Types of Questions and Weightage for Aquatic Ecosystems

The table below indicates the weightage and types of questions typically asked about aquatic ecosystems in various exams:

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