Aquatic Habitats: Aquariums Inspired by Nature

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Chapman, J.L.; Reiss, M.J. (10 December 1998). Ecology. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-58802-2.

a b Mommer, Liesje; Wolters‐Arts, Mieke; Andersen, Charlotte; Visser, Eric J. W.; Pedersen, Ole (2007). "Submergence-induced leaf acclimation in terrestrial species varying in flooding tolerance". New Phytologist. 176 (2): 337–345. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2007.02166.x. ISSN 1469-8137. PMID 17888115. Historically, aquatic plants have been less studied than terrestrial plants. [10] Distribution [ edit ]Ostroumov, S. A. (2005). "On the Multifunctional Role of the Biota in the Self-Purification of Aquatic Ecosystems". Russian Journal of Ecology. 36 (6): 414–420. doi: 10.1007/s11184-005-0095-x. ISSN 1067-4136. S2CID 3172507. Some aquatic plants are used by humans as a food source. Examples include wild rice ( Zizania), water caltrop ( Trapa natans), Chinese water chestnut ( Eleocharis dulcis), Indian lotus ( Nelumbo nucifera), water spinach ( Ipomoea aquatica), and watercress ( Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum).

The community of plants present in the saltwater habitat are termed as halophytes. Simply put, a halophyte is a salt-tolerant plant that thrives in saline soil (or waters). They include seaweeds, algae, planktons, seagrass, mangrove trees, kelp and sargassum. The saltwater habitat is often termed as a marine habitat. On average, they have a salinity of 35ppt to 37ppt (ppt means parts per thousand). In simple terms, salinity refers to the amount of dissolved salt within a body of water. You can think of it as the concentration of salt in water.Turner, R. E. and Rabelais, N. N. (2003). Linking landscape and water quality in the Mississippi River Basin for 200 years. BioScience, 53, 563–72. Components or abiotic factors of the aquatic habitat: refers to physical, non-living factors that dictate habitat conditions, including temperature, pressure, luminosity, turbidity, salinity, and so on. Different habitats all around the world that are made up of water combine to form the aquatic biosphere. As we mentioned at the beginning, aquatic habitats are home to a great diversity of species. Here, in particular, we will mention some aquatic habitat animals. Vertebrate animals The longest freshwater river is the Nile River, with a length of about 6650 kilometers. It is present in Africa and flows through Egypt, Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Burundi, Sudan, and South Sudan. Lake Victoria is considered to be the source of river nile.

Submerged macrophytes completely grow under water with roots attached to the substrate (e.g. Myriophyllum spicatum) or without any root system (e.g. Ceratophyllum demersum). Helophytes are plants that grow partly submerged in marshes and regrow from buds below the water surface. [28] Fringing stands of tall vegetation by water basins and rivers may include helophytes. Examples include stands of Equisetum fluviatile, Glyceria maxima, Hippuris vulgaris, Sagittaria, Carex, Schoenoplectus, Sparganium, Acorus, yellow flag ( Iris pseudacorus), Typha and Phragmites australis. [28] Floating-leaved [ edit ] Brown, A. L. (1987). Freshwater Ecology. Heinimann Educational Books, London. p.163. ISBN 0435606220. Alexander, David E. (1 May 1999). Encyclopedia of Environmental Science. Springer. ISBN 0-412-74050-8. Just as organisms of the terrestrial habitat, aquatic organisms can be classified in three main groups. These are the producers, consumers and decomposers. Prevent the discharge of pollutants into the aquatic habitat by not allowing chemical plants, industries, and thermal power plants to set up near water resources

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Decomposers in aquatic habitat include the bacteria, fungi, echinoderms, marine worms, trumpet snails, mushrooms, certain crustaceans and molluscs. They bring about the decomposition of dead aquatic organisms. Water supports many lives. Organisms which survive in water are called aquatic organisms. They depend on water for their food, shelter, reproduction and all other life activities. Free-floating macrophytes are found suspended on water surface with their root not attached to the substrate, sediment, or bottom of the water body. They are easily blown by air and provide breeding ground for mosquitoes. Example include Pistia spp. commonly called water lettuce, water cabbage or Nile cabbage. [29] Morphological classification [ edit ] These habitats also serve as a means of providing food source to native species. Whales are considered to be the biggest fish in aquatic habitations. They travel to the Gulf of Mexico in search of fish that they can prey on.