AQUATIC ECO
SYSTEM
What is Aquatic Eco System ?
An aquatic ecosystem is a community of plants,
animals, and microorganisms interacting with each
other and their physical environment in water.
Water may be freshwater (low salt) or marine (high
salt).
It plays a vital role in regulating the Earth’s climate,
water cycle, and biodiversity
Types of Aquatic Eco System
Fresh
water Eco
system
Marine Eco
System
Fresh Water Eco System
Lentic Eco Lotic Eco
Wetlands
System System
Marine Eco System
Oceans Coral reefs Estuaries
Mangrove
Forest
(inside
lake water)
Freshwater Ecosystems
This
contains low concentrations of salt (usually <1%).
Main sub-types:
Lentic Ecosystems – Still or standing water bodies.
Examples: Lakes, ponds, swamps.
Features: Stratification of water (epilimnion,
metalimnion, hypolimnion), nutrient cycling, varied
biodiversity.
Freshwater Ecosystems
Lotic Ecosystems – Flowing water bodies.
Examples: Rivers, streams.
Features:Constant water movement, high
oxygen content, organisms adapted to
currents.
Freshwater Ecosystems
Wetlands – Saturated land areas with standing
water for at least part of the year.
Examples: Marshes, bogs, floodplains.
Features: High productivity, act as natural water
filters, important for flood control.
Marine Eco Systems
Marine Ecosystems
Cover about 71% of the Earth’s
surface; high salt content
(~3.5%).
Main sub-types
Ocean Aquatic Eco System
Inter
Neritic Oceanic
tidal
Zone Zone
zone
Benthic Abyssal
Zone Zone
Ocean Aquatic Eco System
Oceans – Largest ecosystems, divided into zones:
Intertidal Zone – Area between high and low tide marks.
NeriticZone – Coastal waters, high in nutrients and
biodiversity.
Oceanic Zone – Open deep sea.
Benthic Zone – Ocean floor.
Abyssal Zone – Deep, dark, high-pressure areas.
Ocean Aquatic Eco System
CoralReefs – Biodiversity hotspots,
formed by coral polyps.
Examples: Great Barrier Reef.
Importance: Protect shorelines, support
fisheries, tourism
Ocean Aquatic Eco System
Estuaries – Transitional zones where
freshwater meets seawater.
Features:
Brackish water, nutrient-rich,
high productivity
Ocean Aquatic Eco System
Mangroves – Coastal forests growing in
saline/brackish water.
Importance: Prevent coastal erosion, act as
nurseries for fish
Abiotic Components - Physical
and chemical factors influencing
life
Temperatu Dissolved
Light
re Oxygen
Nutrients Salinity pH value
Abiotic Components
Physical and chemical factors influencing life:
Light – Determines photosynthetic activity; decreases with depth.
Temperature – Varies with depth and seasons; affects metabolic rates.
Dissolved Oxygen (DO) – Higher in flowing waters and surface layers.
Nutrients – Nitrates, phosphates essential for plant growth.
Salinity – Determines species composition; freshwater vs. marine.
pH – Influences chemical reactions and biological processes
Biotic Components - Living
organisms in aquatic ecosystems
Decompose
Producers Consumers
rs
Biotic Components
Living organisms in aquatic ecosystems:
Producers (Autotrophs) – Phytoplankton, algae, aquatic plants.
Consumers –
Primary consumers: Zooplankton, small fish.
Secondary consumers: Larger fish, amphibians.
Tertiary consumers: Predatory fish, aquatic birds, mammals.
Decomposers (Detritivores) – Bacteria, fungi that break down
organic matter.
Ecological Importance
Oxygen Climate Nutrient
Production regulation cycling
Transportati
Habitat
Food source on and
provision
Recreation
Ecological Importance
Oxygen Production – Phytoplankton contribute to ~50% of
global oxygen.
Climate Regulation – Oceans absorb CO₂ and heat.
Nutrient Cycling – Continuous movement of elements like
nitrogen and phosphorus.
Habitat Provision – Home to diverse species.
Food Source – Fisheries and aquaculture.
Transportation & Recreation – Economic activities
Threats to Aquatic Ecosystems
Habitat
Over
Pollution Destructi
fishing
on
Climate Invasive
change species
Conservation and Management
Pollution Protected Sustainable
control areas fishing
Public
Habitat awareness
restoration and
Education
Vertical Stratification (Zonation)
In
both marine and freshwater bodies, life and
physical conditions vary with depth.
EuphoticZone – Sunlight upper layer, high
photosynthesis.
DisphoticZone – Dim light, limited
photosynthesis.
AphoticZone – No light penetration, organisms
adapted to darkness.
Seasonal Variations in
Freshwater Bodies
Thermal Stratification in Lakes (especially
temperate regions):
Epilimnion – Warm surface water.
Metalimnion – Transition layer with temperature
drop.
Hypolimnion – Cold, deep layer.
Turnover – Seasonal mixing of water layers in
spring/autumn redistributes nutrients and oxygen
Special Adaptations of Aquatic
Organisms
Buoyancy Adaptations – Air bladders in fish, oil-rich
tissues in plankton.
Salt Regulation – Osmoregulation in marine/freshwater
fish.
Feeding Adaptations – Filter feeders (whales, clams),
bottom feeders (catfish).
Light Adaptations – Bioluminescence in deep-sea
organisms
Microbial Loop in Aquatic Food
Webs
A process where microbes recycle
dissolved organic matter, making it
available to higher trophic levels.
Importantin nutrient cycling, especially in
nutrient-poor oceans
Role in Global Biogeochemical
Cycles
Carbon Cycle – Oceans act as a major
carbon sink.
Nitrogen & Phosphorus Cycles –
Aquatic microbes fix nitrogen; sediments
store nutrients.
Sulphur Cycle – Involves bacterial activity
in sediments
Ecosystem Services
Apartfrom ecological importance, aquatic ecosystems
provide:
Regulating Services – Flood control, water purification.
Provisioning Services – Fish, seaweed, salt, medicines.
Cultural Services – Recreation, tourism, spiritual
significance.
Supporting Services – Primary production, nutrient
cycling
Special Types of Aquatic
Ecosystems
HypersalineLakes – High salt, unique microbial life (e.g.,
Sambhar Lake, Rajasthan).
GlacialMeltwater Streams – Cold, nutrient-poor, short-
lived ecosystems.
Deep-SeaHydrothermal Vents – Hot, mineral-rich,
chemoautotrophic life.
Seagrass Beds – Shallow marine meadows, nursery
grounds for marine life.
Human Interaction & Impact
Aquaculture & Mariculture – Controlled breeding for
food production.
Water Transport & Trade – Historical role in human
civilization.
CulturalHeritage Sites – Lakes, rivers, and coastal
areas as UNESCO sites.
International Conservation Efforts
Ramsar Convention (1971) – Wetland conservation
treaty.
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) – Designated
zones for biodiversity protection.
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) – Global
biodiversity commitments.
Indian Environment
Important Freshwater Ecosystems – Chilika Lake
(Odisha), Loktak Lake (Manipur).
Important
Marine Ecosystems – Gulf of Mannar,
Andaman & Nicobar Coral Reefs.
Ramsar Sites in India – Over 75 wetlands
recognized.
Emerging Concerns
Microplastic Pollution – Enters food chains.
Eutrophication – Nutrient overload causing algal
blooms.
Ocean Acidification – CO₂ absorption lowering pH,
harming corals.
Sea Level Rise – Loss of coastal habitats
Future Perspectives
Blue Economy – Sustainable use of ocean resources
for economic growth.
Restoration Ecology – Coral farming, artificial reefs.
ClimateChange Mitigation – Protecting mangroves
& seagrasses for carbon storage
