Limnology: Study of Freshwater Ecosystems
Limnology: Study of Freshwater Ecosystems
exercises. Learning how to monitor the limnological units for effective management
Contents:
Theory:
Unusual and extreme habitats, hydrology, physiography and physical properties like
temperature, light, turbidity, currents, density, their interactions and relations with aquatic life.
Chemical properties like dissolved oxygen, carbondioxide, pH, alkalinity, hardness, inorganic
and organic substances, their distribution, dynamics and influence on aquatic ecosystem.
Status and forms of nutrients like nitrogen, sulphur, phosphorus and carbon in natural waters;
nutrients use and remineralization with special reference to processes controlling the levels of
of biota. Adaptations and characteristics of aquatic life. Quantitative and qualitative changes in
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Practical:
Water sampling and water preservation techniques for physico-chemical and biological
analyses
salinity
Collection, preservation and study of fauna and flora of various water bodies
Books Recommended:
1. Pauly D (2012) Gasping fish and panting squids: oxygen, temperature and the growth of
water-breathing animals. In: Kinne O (ed) Excellence in ecology. Book 23. International
2. Energizing Water: Flowform Technology and the Power of Nature, 2010. Jochen
Schwuchow, John Wilkes, Iain Trousdell Moss, B. R. , Rudolf Steiner Press, Guernsey
3. Ecology of Fresh Waters. John Wiley & Sons Inc., New York, USA Dodds, W. K. 2006.
Fresh Water Ecology: Concept and Environmental Applications. Academic Press, New
York, USA.
4. Limnology and Oceanography, 2013. (print ISSN 0024-3590, online ISSN 1939-5590).
5. Mishra, S. R. 1999. Limnological Research in New Delhi, India. Daya Publishing House,
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New Delhi, India.
7. Ward, H. B. and G.C. Whipple. 1989. Freshwater Biology. John Wiley & Sons Inc., New
York, USA.
8. Welch, P. S. 1988. Limnology. 4th Ed. McGraw Hill, New York, USA.
9. Wetzel, R. G. 2001. Limnology: Lake and River Ecosystem. 3 rd Ed. Academic Press, New
York, USA.
Limnology also called freshwater science, is the study of inland waters. It is often regarded as
geological, and other attributes of all inland waters (running and standing waters, both fresh and
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Limnology is closely related to aquatic ecology and hydrobiology, which study aquatic
organisms.
Aquatic ecosystem
dependent on each other and on their environment live in aquatic ecosystems. There are two
main types of aquatic ecosystems are marine ecosystems and freshwater ecosystems
1. Marine ecosystems cover approximately 71% of the Earth's surface and contain
approximately 97% of the planet's water. They generate 32% of the world's net primary
dissolved compounds, especially salts, in the water. Approximately 85% of the dissolved
materials in seawater are sodium and chlorine. Seawater has an average salinity of 35
parts per thousand (ppt) of water. Actual salinity varies among different marine
ecosystems
Marine ecosystems can be divided into many zones depending upon water depth and
shoreline features.
i. The oceanic zone is the vast open part of the ocean where animals such as whales,
ii. The benthic zone consists of substrates below water where many invertebrates
live.
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iii. The intertidal zone is the area between high and low tides; in this figure it is
iv. Other near-shore (neritic) zones can include estuaries, salt marshes, coral reefs,
v. In the deep water, hydrothermal vents may occur where chemosynthetic sulfur
corals, cephalopods, echinoderms, and sharks. Fishes caught in marine ecosystems are
2. Freshwater ecosystem.[
Freshwater ecosystems cover 0.80% of the Earth's surface and inhabit 0.009% of its total water.
They generate nearly 3% of its net primary production. Freshwater ecosystems contain 41% of
ii. Lotic: faster moving water, for example streams and rivers.
iii. Wetlands: areas where the soil is saturated for at least part of the time.
1. Lentic Ecosystem
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Lake
Lakes are inland depressions containing standing water. They may vary in size from small ponds
of less than a hectare to large seas covering thousands of square kilometers. They may range in
depth from a few centimeters to over 1666 meters. Ponds, however, are considered as small
bodies of standing water so shallow that rooted plants can grow over most of the bottom. Most
ponds and lakes have outlet streams and both are more or less temporary features on the
The aquatic habitats of lake and pond remain vertically stratified in relation to light intensity,
wave length absorption, hydrostatic pressure, temperature, etc. In a lake, for example there are
(i)Shallow water near the shore forms the littoral zone. It contains upper warm and oxygen
rich circulating water layer which is called epilimnion. The littoral zone includes rooted
vegetation.
(ii)Sub-littoralzone
extends from rooted vegetation to the non-circulating cold water with poor oxygen zone,
i.e.hypolimnion.
(iii) Limnetic zone is the open water zone away from the shore. It is the zone upto the depth of
effective light penetration where rate of photosynthesis is equal to the rate of respiration.
(iv) Profundal zone is the deep-water area beneath limnetic zone and beyond the depth of
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(v) Abyssal zone is found only in deep lakes, since it begins at about 2,000 meters from the
surface.
2. A eutrophic lake has high levels of primary productivity due to very high nutrient levels.
3. Dystrophic lakes have high levels of humic matter and typically has yellow-brown, tea-
coloured waters.
Ponds
Ponds are small bodies of freshwater with shallow and still water, marsh, and aquatic plants.
1. vegetation zone,
2. open water,
3. bottom mud
The size and depth of ponds often varies greatly with the time of year; many ponds are
produced by spring flooding from rivers. Spring Flood Outlooks are seasonal products
due to snow melt for river basins. Their Food webs are based both on free-floating algae
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and upon aquatic plants. There is usually a diverse array ( variety ) of aquatic life, with a
few examples including algae, snails, fish, beetles, water bugs, frogs, turtles, otters.
Otter herons
Top predators may include large fish, herons, or alligators. Since fish are a major
predator upon amphibian larvae, ponds that dry up each year, thereby killing resident
1. Ponds that dry up completely each year are often known as vernal pools.
2. Some ponds are produced by animal activity, including alligator holes are called as
River ecosystem
The major zones in river ecosystems are determined by the river bed's gradient or by the velocity
of the current. Faster moving turbulent water typically contains greater concentrations of
dissolved oxygen, which supports greater biodiversity than the still water pools. These
distinctions form the basis for the division of rivers into1. upland and 2. lowland rivers .
1. The low land river is common in its productivity because it contains a lot of suspended
2. The upland rivers can also be fast moving streams . Their water current and velocity can
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The food base of streams within riparian forests is mostly derived from the trees, but wider
streams and those that lack a canopy derive the majority of their food base from algae.
Anadromous fish are also an important source of nutrients. Environmental threats to rivers
include loss of water, dams, chemical pollution and introduced species. A dam produces negative
effects that continue down the watershed. The most important negative effects are the reduction
of spring flooding, which damages wetlands, and the retention of sediment, which leads to loss
of deltaic wetlands.
iii .Wetlands
Wetlands are dominated by vascular plants that have adapted to saturated soil. There are four
main types of wetlands: swamp, marsh, fen and bog (both fens and bogs are types of mire).
Wetlands are the most productive natural ecosystems in the world because of the proximity of
water and soil. Hence they support large numbers of plant and animal species. Due to their
productivity, wetlands are often converted into dry land with dykes and drains and used for
agricultural purposes. The construction of dykes, and dams, has negative consequences for
individual wetlands and entire watersheds. Their closeness to lakes and rivers means that they
are often developed for human settlement. Once settlements are constructed and protected by
dykes, the settlements then become vulnerable to land subsidence and ever increasing risk of
flooding.
Aquatic ecosystems perform many important environmental functions. For example, they recycle
nutrients, purify water, recharge ground water and provide habitats for wildlife. Aquatic
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ecosystems are also used for human recreation, and are very important to the tourism industry,
especially in coastal regions. The health of an aquatic ecosystem is degraded when the
ecosystem's ability to absorb a stress has been exceeded. A stress on an aquatic ecosystem can be
include changes in water temperature, water flow and light availability. Chemical alterations
include changes in the loading rates of biostimulatory nutrients, oxygen consuming materials,
and toxins. Biological alterations include over-harvesting of commercial species and the
introduction of exotic species. Human populations can impose excessive stresses on aquatic
ecosystems.
Extreme Environment
An extreme environment exhibits conditions which are challenging for most life forms. These
may be extremely high or low ranges of temperature, radiation, pressure, acidity, alkalinity, air,
An extreme environment is one place where humans generally do not live or could die there.
There are organisms referred to as extremophiles, that inhabit these spaces and are so well-
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3. Extremely Cold: broadly conceived habitats below 5°C. Includes mountain sites, polar
4. Extremely Hot: broadly conceived habitats includes sites with geological thermal
5. Hypersaline: (high salt) environments with salt concentrations greater than that of
seawater, that is, >3.5%. Includes salt lakes also called dead sea eg. Jurdon eastern Israel.
aquatic habitats deeper than 2000 meters and enclosed habitats under pressure. Includes
habitats in oceans and deep lakes. Peero in America 11000m deep ocean.
radiation outside the normal range of light. Includes habitats exposed to high UV and IR
8. Without Water: broadly conceived as habitats without free water includes hot and cold
9. Without Oxygen: broadly conceived as habitats without free oxygen includes habitats in
deeper sediments.
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The term hydrology is from Greek: ὕδωρ, hydōr, "water"; and λόγος, logos, "study".
Hydrology is the scientific study of the movement, distribution, and quality of water on Earth.
Branches
Ecohydrology is the study of interactions between organisms and the hydrologic cycle.
resources applications.
Hydrometeorology is the study of the transfer of water and energy between land and
Surface hydrology is the study of hydrologic processes that operate at or near Earth's
surface.
and flood-protection.
Applications
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Designing irrigation schemes and managing agricultural productivity.
Designing bridges.
Physiography
Physiography is the formation , structure and function of earth surface and it consists of
following fields.
Geomorphology is the field concerned with understanding of the Earth surface and the
processes by which it is shaped, both at the present as well as in the past. Geomorphology as
a field has several sub-fields that deal with the specific landforms of various environments
Hydrology is predominantly concerned with the amounts and quality of water moving and
accumulating on the land surface and in the soils and rocks near the surface and is typified
Glaciology is the study of glaciers and ice sheets, or more commonly is known as
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1. continental glaciers and 2. the former (glaciers) as alpine glaciers. Glaciology also has
a vast array of sub-fields examining the factors and processes involved in ice sheets and
Biogeography is the science which deals with geographic patterns of species distribution
and the processes that result in these patterns. The field can largely be divided into five
phytogeography
The freshwater of both kinds—lentic and lotic, has low percentage of dissolved salts and
is subjected to the influence of a wide array of physical and chemical factors. The rise
and fall of these factors very frequently affect the fauna, altering their number and
Physical Parameters
1. Temperature
The unique thermal properties of water are best demonstrated by freshwater environment.
Diurnal and seasonal variations of temperatures are very much evident in these
been recorded in a tropical pond, with an average depth of 3.0 meters. In shallow water
habitats, difference between day and night temperatures remain more conspicuous. For
example, in a polluted water with an average depth of 1.5 meters, the lowest night time
temperature was 26.6°C, the highest day time temperature was 32°C with a variation of
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5.4°C. Flowing lotic waters of streams and rivers lack such wide fluctuations in
temperature.
Thermal stratification which is meant by division of water bodies into different strata and
Thermal stratification has been reported most frequently in the lakes of tropical countries.
In fact, according to their temperature relations, lakes have been classified into three
types :
(1) Tropical lakes in which surface temperatures are always maintained above 4°C
(2) Temperate lakes in which surface temperature vary above and below 4°Cand
1. fall in metabolism,
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4. initiate hibernation, gonadial activitation
iii. Eurythermal or euthermal but some are euthermic with a wide range of
temperature tolerance.
2. Light
Light influences freshwater ecosystems greatly. The freshwaters often have a lot of
suspended material.
( suspended material ) more often obstruct the light that normally reaches
the water.
ii. The degree of such obstruction of light influence the productivity of the
freshwater ecosystems.
iii. A shallow lake receive light to its very bottom resulting in an abundant
plants in living or dead states form nice food for consumers of grazing
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iv. The running water contains little plant or animal plankton not due to the
away.
species eg. Planktons . and their nature of growth and it also causes the
3. Water Turbidity
*. The turbidity of a water sample is a measure of the extent to which the intensity of light
*. The turbidity of water is based upon a comparison of the amount of light passing through a
1. suspended and colloidal material, the effect of which is to disturb clearness and
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2. Turbidity may be caused by several factors such as microorganisms and organic
detritus, silica and other sands and substances including zinc, iron and manganese
The significance of excessive turbidity in water on fish and other aquatic life begins by
Bottom temperatures are generally lower in turbid lakes or ponds than in clear ones. In many
lakes, lower temperature means lower productivity. Turbidity also interferes with the penetration
of light. This reduces photosynthesis and thereby decreases the primary productivity upon which
Average turbidity, units are 25-100 for fish yield and volumes of net plankton.
The pressure imposed on a lake-dwelling organism is the weight of the column of water
above it plus the weight of the atmosphere. (Wt. of water column+ Wt. of atmosphere=
pressure)
In all freshwater environments maximum pressure is much less than in the ocean, and
The absence of animal life from deep water is ordinarily a consequence of low oxygen
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Factors affecting Pressure
The density of water varies inversely with temperature and directly with the
Water is most dense at approximately 4°C and becomes progressively less dense as it
cooled below +4°C. Ice also expands markedly the colder it gets.
It is because the coldest water is at the surface in winter that ice forms there, rather than
In summer, the coldest waters of deep lakes are at the bottom. Dissolved salts increase
the density of water; the density of most inland water-bodies is much less than that of the
ocean.
However, when great evaporation occurs in a lake having no outlet, the lake may come
to contain a higher percentage of salts (i.e., hypersalinity) than the ocean. The few species
are capable of living in these very salty lakes (e.g., the brine shrimp brine flies.
Law of Archimedes
According to the law of Archimedes, the buoyancy of an object is equal to the weight
Buoyancy
2. . Varies directly with the Viscosity, the measure of the internal friction of water,
Buoyancy Adaptations
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Most aquatic organisms have special adaptations to decrease the specific gravity of the
body and take advantage of any turbulence ( disturbance) in the water. For this purpose
mucous.
5. pH
The largest variety of freshwater aquatic organisms prefer a pH range between 7.5 to 8.5.
Factors Effecting pH
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1. With the increase in Temperature pH decreases eg at 40C pH is 6.7,
and bicarbonates.
6. Dissolved Oxygen
Chemically pure water is biologically uninhabitable and all freshwaters contains an array of
chemical substances. The oxygen, which is a most essential chemical component of life
Sources of DO
The aquatic environments which remain in close proximity with atmosphere contain an
circulation. Lotic (moving) water of streams and rivers often have a high
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vegetation of shallow water zones and floating phytoplankton of open waters also
produce oxygen.
Factors affecting DO
1. The amount of photosynthetically produced oxygen remain high at at greater light intensities.
The oxygen level in a tropical pond exhibits diurnal variation, it remains at peak between 2.00
2. .On the other hand, DO decreases with the increase in temp. Do is 5mg/l at
5C and at 0C is 12mg/l
microorganisms.
1. Surface area
2. Circulation by wind/current
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4. Primarily oxygen is utilized in the respiration of organisms and as BOD for
respiration and decomposition occur at all levels at the same time leading to DO
depletion.
5. In stagnant lentic pools with a lot of decaying vegetation oxygen content often
dissolved oxygen is magnified by the release of many gases eg Co2, H2CO3 and
5. Do below 4mg/l results gill clotting in fish and above 9mg/l gas bubble disease
6. Carbon dioxide
Aquatic vegetation and phytoplankton require carbon dioxide for photosynthetic activity. The
carbon dioxide of freshwater environments is produced as the end product of respiration and of
decomposition. Carbon dioxide also diffuses directly from the atmosphere and is readily
dissolved in water to result in carbonic acid (H2CO3) which affects the pH of water. It is also
present in the freshwater as carbonates and bicarbonate of calcium, magnesium and other
minerals. The growing plants and lime deposition bacteria and other animals may cause
a depletion in carbon dioxide resources. Photosynthesis is the major cause for its drain. The high
saturation levels of O 2and CO2 have been found to have toxic effects on aquatic biota.
7. Other Gases
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Streams and lakes contaminated by sewage and stagnant pools with decaying vegetation show an
abundance of the gas, hydrogen sulphide which is a decomposition product. This gas is highly
toxic to living organisms and results into complete destruction of bottom fauna. Methane and
carbon monoxide are other toxic gases which are the products of decomposition. Nitrogen,
hydrogen, sulphur dioxide and ammonia are some of the other gases which are found
dissolved in freshwaters. Oxygen the most essential chemical component is dissolved in fresh
waters.
Freshwater being efficient solvent contains many solutes in solution, but even then its salt
contents remain under 1/5% than marine water which contains about thirty-five parts per
thousand (%) dissolved salts. Different dissolved salts reach the water by erosion, inflow and
decay of aquatic forms. Dissolved substances have peculiar significance for floating aquatic
vegetation and phytoplankton, since these organisms do not depend on the substratum for the
supply of nutrients. Compounds of nitrogen, phosphorus and silicon are most important
substances found dissolved in freshwater. Nitrate, nitrites and ammonium salts are essential for
the food of aquatic vegetation such as algae and water weeds. Nitrate always remain available
due to nitrogen cycle occurring between nitrogen fixing bacteria and nitrogen consuming plants.
Ammonium salts in excess have a lethal effect on the fauna. Dissolved silicates of freshwater are
readily utilized by diatoms and sponges in constructing their body structures such as shell in case
of diatoms and spicules in case of sponges. All freshwater environments also contain small
amounts of phosphorus which more often acts as a limiting factor. Utilization of phosphorus by
plankton during the periods of abundance may result in a total elimination of other plants that
require the element (phosphorus). Many other elements such as calcium, magnesium,
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manganese, iron, sodium, potassium, sulphur, and zinc are found dissolved in water and
influence the fauna variously. Iron being a growth promoting element for plants exists as the
compound of oxygen (ferrous oxide) or sulphur (ferrous sulphide) in different freshwater bodies.
Its influence is often modified by the pH of water. Calcium is an essential element for plants.
The abundance and scarcity of carbonate of calcium determine the faunal composition.
Deposition of calcium carbonate in water called marlis produced by the activity of plants.
External coverings of arthropods and the shell of molluscs and tubes of some worms need
calcium carbonate. Snails are found to develop a heavy shell if the waters in which they lived
contained excess of calcium. Bryozoans, sponges, and cladocerans prefer an increased calcium
Due to low salinity of freshwater, animals face the problem of osmoregulation. Because the salt
concentration of body fluids of animals remain higher than the freshwater, hence, the water
continuously tend to enter the body which should be readily removed. Most aquatic animals
(e.g., Protozoa and fishes) have the means to excrete extra amount of water of body by
osmoregulation. For this purpose Protozoa employ contractile vacuoles and other multicellular
invertebrates and chordates use excretory organs, such as nephridia, kidney, etc.
10. Hardness
Hardness is also important to aquaculture. Calcium and magnesium are the most common
1. Calcium and magnesium are essential in the biological processes of aquatic animals, for
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2. The critical component of total hardness is the calcium concentration, or “calcium
precise levels of internal salts for normal heart, muscle and nerve function.
3. Calcium is also important in the molting process of shrimp and other crustaceans, and
The determination of whether water is acid, neutral or base is defined by pH. However, alkalinity
measures the total amount of base present and indicates a pond’s ability to resist large pH
changes, or the “buffering capacity.” The most important components of alkalinity are
carbonates and bicarbonates. The total alkalinity concentration should be no lower than 20 mg/L
CaCO3in production ponds. Pond pH can swing widely during the day, measuring from 6 to 10,
when alkalinity concentrations are below this level. Most aquatic organisms can live in a broad
range of alkalinity concentrations. The desired total alkalinity level for most aquaculture species
Biogeochemical cycles are pathways for the transport and transformation of matter
within four categorical areas as (biosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and the atmosphere) that
The Earth is a system open to electromagnetic radiation from the sun, while is closed system
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The transfer of matter involves biological, geological and chemical processes;
So the name biogeochemical cycles derives from above processes. Biogeochemical cycles may
also be referred to as cycles of nature because they link together all organisms with one another
Biogeochemical cycles facilitate the transfer of matter from one form to another and from one
Biogeochemical cycles are sometimes called nutrient cycles, because they provide nutritional
1. One is the sphere which has life and it is called the biosphere (it is the region occupied by
1. Sedimentary cycles:
These cycles involve the transportation of matter through the ground to water; that is
to say from the lithosphere to the hydrosphere. Common examples of cycles under
cannot be found in air in the gaseous state. Phosphorus is usually a liquid at standard
temperatures and pressures. For example for fresh water ecosystems the standard
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temp. is 16-24C. Phosphorus is mainly cycled through water and soil. The
phosphorus cycle is the slowest one of the sedimentary cycles because Phosphorus
moves slowly from deposits on land and in sediments, to living organisms, and much
ii. Sulphur cycle: Sulphur in its natural form is a solid. But minute amount of it occurs
wind ,rock weathering , erosion by water and geological events like volcanic
eruptions.
It is also found in compound forms such as sulphur dioxide, sulphuric acid, salts of
atmosphere, to land and then to the ocean through rainfall and rivers.
i. Carbon cycle: Carbon is one of the most important elements that sustain life
heat balance. It absorbs infrared radiation and hence may contribute to global
ii. Nitrogen cycle: Nitrogen gas is the most abundant element in the atmosphere
and all the nitrogen found in terrestrial ecosystems originate from the
atmosphere. The nitrogen cycle is by far the most important nutrient cycle for
plant life. Nitrogen, despite its abundance in the atmosphere it’s often the
most limiting nutrient for plant growth. This problem occurs because most
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plants can only take up nitrogen in two solid forms: ammonium ion
(NH4+)and the ion nitrate (NO3. Therefore, biogeochemical cycles enable the
iii. Oxygen cycle: The oxygen cycle describes the movement of oxygen within
and between its three main reservoirs: the atmosphere, the biosphere, and the
lithosphere. The main driving factor of the oxygen cycle is photosynthesis and
because of this, oxygen and carbon cycles are usually linked and the two
iv. Hydrological cycle: This is sometimes called the water cycle. Water is the
most important chemical of life for all living organisms on earth. Water in the
atmosphere is usually in form of vapor but condenses to liquid water and can
solidify when temperatures are 0C to form ice. Ninety three percent of water
on earth is in solid state mainly comprising the ice caps and glaciers of Polar
Regions. The water cycle is powered from solar energy, more than 85% of the
cooling by evaporation.
nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
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2. Macro elements – these are elements required by living organisms in
Each Biogeochemical cycle has its life span, ranging from several days to millions of years
1. In Hydrological cycle, water droplet of average size may stay in the atmosphere for
2. In carbon cycle, carbon atoms may reside in the earth crust for the age of the Earth.
3. In nitrogen cycle, nitrogen atoms may reside from 14 days -6weeks - several years.
temperature. After time they are eventually broken down into water, carbon dioxide,
sulfur, nitrogen.
5. The amount of time that a chemical is held in one place is called its resident time. The
difference between the amount of elements entering a reservoir or state and the amount
leaving the reservoir or state. This exchange of state is called exchanging pool.
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Source.
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Not all lakes are at the same stage of eutrophication; therefore, criteria have been established to
This criteria to determine nutrient status of lake or water body is called as stichiometery which is
Trophic state indices (TSIs) are calculated for lakes on the basis of total phosphorus,
TSI values range from 0 to upward, describing the condition of the lake in terms of its trophic
1. Oligotrophic (i.e., excellent water quality). clear, low productive lakes, with total
less than or equal to 2 mg/L, and Secchi disc transparencies greater than or equal to 4.6
2. Mesotrophic (i.e., good water quality. intermediately productive lakes, with total
2 and 8 mg/L, and Secchi disc transparencies between 2 and 4.6 meters (6 to 15 feet).
3. Eutrophic (i.e., very poor water quality) high productive lakes relative to a neutral level,
and Secchi disc measurements between 0.85 and 2 meters (2.7 to 6 feet).
4. Hypereutrophic i.e., very poor water quality). extremely productive lakes which are
highly eutrophic and unstable (i.e., their water quality can fluctuate on daily and seasonal
basis, experience periodic anoxia and fish kills due to possibly produced toxic
substances, etc.) with total phosphorus concentrations greater than 57 mg/L, chlorophyll
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concentrations of greater than 26 mg/L, and Secchi disc transparencies less than 0.85
The quantity or biomass of algae in a lake is usually limited by the water’s concentration of an
essential element or nutrient “the limiting nutrient” (for rooted aquatic plants, the nutrients are
derived from the sediments). It is based on the idea that plants require many nutrients to grow,
but the nutrient with the lowest availability, relative to the amount needed by the plant, will limit
plant growth. It follows then, that identifying the limiting nutrient will point the way to
Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are generally the two growth-limiting nutrients for algae in
most natural waters. Analysis of the nutrient content of lake water and algae provides ratios of
N:P. By comparing the ratio in water to the ratio in the algae, one can estimate whether a
particular nutrient may be limiting. Algal growth is generally phosphorus-limited in waters with
than 12
The trophic level of an organism is the position which is occupied by an organism in a food
chain. The word trophic derives from the Greek word (trophē) referring to food or feeding. A
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A food chain represents a succession of organisms that eat another organism and are, in turn,
eaten themselves.
1. Food chains start at trophic level 1 with primary producers such as plants,
5. apex predators at 5.
Ecological communities with higher biodiversity form more complex trophic paths
1. Producers
Are (autotrophs) are typically plants or algae. Plants and algae do not usually eat other
organisms, but pull nutrients from the soil or the ocean and manufacture their own food
using photosynthesis. For this reason, they are called primary producers. In this way, it is
energy from the sun that usually powers the base of the food chain. The same mechanism
involves in all types of plants eg Emergent plants, submerged plants, aquatic algae An
2. Consumers
Are (heterotrophs) are species that cannot manufacture their own food and need to
consume other organisms. Animals that eat primary producers (like plants) are called
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herbivores. Animals that eat other animals are called carnivores, and animals that eat both
3. Decomposers
Are (detritivores) break down dead plant and animal material and wastes and release
it again as energy and nutrients into the ecosystem for recycling. Decomposers, such
as bacteria and fungi (mushrooms), feed on waste and dead matter, converting it into
inorganic chemicals that can be recycled as mineral nutrients for plants to use again.
Trophic levels
can be represented by numbers, starting at level 1 with plants. Further trophic levels are
numbered subsequently according to how far the organism is along the food chain.
Level 1: Plants and algae make their own food and are called primary producers.
Level 4: Carnivores that eat other carnivores are called tertiary consumers.
Level 5: Apex predators that have no predators are at the top of the food chain.
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Second trophic level
Rabbits eat plants at the first trophic level, so they are primary consumers.
Foxes eat rabbits at the second trophic level, so they are secondary consumers.
Golden eagles eat foxes at the third trophic level, so they are tertiary consumers.
Decomposers
The fungi on this tree feed on dead matter, converting it back to nutrients that primary
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Biomass transfer efficiency
Biomass transfer efficiency is An energy pyramid that illustrates how much energy is needed
as it flows upward to support the next trophic level. This diagram shows that only about 10% of
The efficiency with which energy or biomass is transferred from one trophic level to the next is
Consumers at each level convert on average only about 10% of the chemical energy in their food
to their own organic tissue (the ten-percent law). For this reason, food chains rarely extend for
more than 5 levels. At the lowest trophic level (the bottom of the food chain), plants convert
about 1% of the sunlight they receive into chemical energy. It follows from this that the total
energy originally present in the incident sunlight that is finally embodied in a tertiary consumer
is about 0.001%
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1. It causes Increase in production and biomass of phytoplankton, attached algae, and
macrophytes.
2. It causes Shift in habitat characteristics due to change in assemblage and heavy load of
aquatic plants.
5. It increases the problems of public water supplies, including taste and odour problems,
6. It causes the Deoxygenation of water, especially after collapse of algal blooms, usually
7. It causes Infilling and clogging of irrigation canals with aquatic weeds resulting in the
8. It Loses recreational use of water due to slime, weed infestation, and noxious odour from
decaying algae.
11. Requirement for fertilizer plans. Because without awareness of their requirement in
agriculture fields ,farmers introduce continuously and as a result later on these fertilizers
are leached in water bodies by rain, wind and irrigation system resulting in the increase of
eutrofication.
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12. Preventing the leaching of nutrients after the growing season by increasing the area
under autumn/winter green cover, and by sowing crops with elevated nitrogen .
13. Promoting and subsidizing better application methods, developing new, environmentally
14. Severely limiting the use of fertilizers in e.g. water extraction areas and nature protection
areas.
1. Mud:-It contains amino acids together with microorganisms and organic product of
decay.
2. Detritus:- It is also known as plant debris. It may be defined as particulate organic matter
originating mainly from dead plants, nonliving fragments and excreta of living
organisms. It is usually found with silt, sand , bacteria, algae and unicellular organisms.
3. Plankton:- These are tiny organisms that live on the mercy of water for movement due to
These are as
ii. and ii. Zooplankton :-Animal origin such as protozoans, rotifers, copepods,
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iv. Hypalmyroplankton:- Estuarine plankton
duckweeds and some animals. Animal that spend their life on upper surface are called as
Epineuston. ( hydrometra) . Animal that spend their life under water are termed as
7. Nekton:- The animals that navigate on will. These are large animals found at all depths
8. Plants:- These are filamentous algae and higher aquatic plants as floating,
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Freshwater Animal & Plant Adaptations
Animal Adaptations
Many plants and animals have adapted to the freshwater biome and could not survive in water
having a higher salt concentration. As this ecosystem covers a vast portion of the world, the
Fish are able to obtain oxygen through their gills. Fish such as trout have adapted to living in
rivers and streams where the water is cooler, clearer and has a higher oxygen level. At the mouth
of these water sources, the sediments create a more murky environment with lower oxygen levels
and fish such as catfish and carp have adapted to exist in these areas.
The littoral zone (the topmost and warmest is home to snails, clams, insects, crustaceans, fishes
and amphibians and the eggs and larvae of dragonflies and midges). These resources provide
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The limnetic zone is close to the surface and consequently receives a good deal of light. This
The profundal zone is very dense and cold, with little light penetrating this region. Only
heterotrophs (animals that eat dead organisms) are found in this region
Mammals
Mammals (badgers, otters, mink) live near water and are capable of swimming to catch their
Amphibians
Amphibians and reptiles (toads, frogs, alligators, crocodiles, salamanders and newts start life
Insects
Insects such as skaters, water beetles, mosquitoes and dragonflies can skim over the surface of
ponds, playing a critical role in the food supply for other animals. Some spiders can actually take
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Birds
Swans
Many species of ducks, geese and swans also call the freshwater biome their home, feeding on a
number of different items including fish, while wading birds such as herons and egrets wander
Manatees have adapted to survive in warm water and migrate from hilly areas to south Punjab.
Some have found the warm water near power plants, and consequently do not have to migrate.
Beavers shape their environment more than most other animal species on Earth, utilizing their
ever-growing teeth to cut down trees and plants to create dams to create their dens (room ) .
Their actions are not always appreciated by nearby humans, but they are vital to the ecology,
causing a build-up of water which in turn creates a new wetland. Beavers also help to purify
water because the sediments and any toxins are trapped behind the dam.
Plant Adaptations
Various species of aquatic plants and algae have also adapted to exist in the wider parts of rivers
and streams where the water is clear enough to allow sunlight to penetrate.
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Zooplankton are microscopic organisms that live suspended in the water environment, moving
via convection or wind-induced currents. Plankton live for only a short period of time; when they
die they fall into the deep-water and provide food for larger animals.
Wetlands contain standing water and plant species that have adapted to this very moist and
humid environment include pond lilies, cattails, sedges, tamarack and black spruce, cypress and
gum.
Spatio-temporal Structure is the way in which species are distributed relative to each
other.
• Some species provide a framework that creates habitats for other species. These species,
• Example: Trees in a rainforest are stratified into several different levels, including a
canopy, several understories, a ground level, and roots. Each level is the habitat of a
distinct collection of species. Some places, such as the pools of water that collect at the
• Temporal structure is the timing of the appearance and activity of species. Some
communities, i.e., arctic tundra and the decay of a crops, have pronounced temporal
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• Example: Many desert plants and animals are dormant most of the year. They emerge,
or germinate, in response to seasonal rains. Other plants stick around year round, having
• Example of Amphibians:-
Frogs and toads undergo hibernation during winter for specific period of time but during
hibernation , their activities are not harbored and breeding is stopped during this period
of time. Moreover, they can not remain in hibernation throughout the year.
Examples of Fish:- Fish breeding season is from April to July and most of the fish
species become dormant and aestivate from Dec- Feb as a result of physic-chemical
parameters.
Examples of Plants:- Flowering occurs only during spring season and fall occurs only
during autumn as a result of abiotic factors. So each step occurs during the specified
course of time which is spatial and temporal change. So no one event occurs before the
other.
In most aquatic food chains, the community interactions are often controlled by abiotic factors or
predation at higher levels of food chain. The control of primary production by abiotic factors
such as nutrients is called “bottom-up control”. The control of primary production by the upper
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Bottom-up control
The bottom-up hypothesis requires that the biomass of all trophic levels is positively correlated
More available nutrients more algae more zooplankton more planktivorous fish
Top-down Control
The top-down hypothesis predicts, however, that the adjacent trophic levels will be negatively
correlated.
So the above two hypotheses determine the following characteristics of water body such as
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Factors Affecting Aquatic Biota
1. The presence and effects of common pollution issues (eutrophication, toxic organic
bioaccumulation),
5. Condition resulting from waste disposal and of the character and dispersion of
wastewaters,
6. The dispersion of atmospheric pollution (acidification arising from wet and dry
9. The toxicity of substances under controlled, defined laboratory conditions, (i.e. acute or
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PS1kEkVtuM4
GLACIER MELTING
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QVVzFPChAU
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