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Aquatic systems are not called biomes, however they are divided into distinct life zones, with regions of relatively distinct plant and animal life. The major differences between the various aquatic zones are due to salinity, levels of dissolved nutrients, water temperature, depth of sunlight penetration.
S.No | Aquatic ecosystem | Characteristics |
1. | Fresh Water | Fresh water ecosystem are classified as lotic (moving water) or lentic (still or stagnant water). Lotic water system includes freshwater streams, springs, rivulets, creeks, brooks, and rivers. |
Ecosystem | Lentic water bodies include pools, ponds, some swamps, bogs and lakes. They vary considerably in physical, chemical and biological characteristics. | |
2. | Marine Ecosystem | Nearly three - quarter of earth’s surface is covered by ocean with an average depth of 3,750 m and with salinity 35 ppt, (parts per thousand), about 90 per cent of which is sodium chloride. |
3. | Estuaries | Coastal bays, river mouths and tidal marshes form the estuaries. In estuaries, fresh water from rivers meet ocean water and the two are mixed by action of tides. Estuaries are highly productive as compared to the adjacent river or sea. |
4. | Coral reef | |
5. | Mangrove |