Freshwater Environments

Types of Fresh Water

Above ground (surface water) Underground (ground water) Frozen water These systems are all linked together so

damage to one can cause damage to another How this ties into water system: Precipitation

falls Turns into groundwater (soaks into ground) Or run-off (doesn’t soak into ground or

evaporate)

Freshwater Environments

Classified by how water moves rivers (fast moving) lakes/ponds marshes/wetlands

(slow moving)

Wetlands – a lowland area saturated with moisture, a natural habitat for wildlife

Pond – sunlight shines to the bottom Lakes – no sunlight at bottom Lakes and ponds store run-off as a part of the water

cycle, provide habitat for plants and animals, and allow rooted plants to grow and filter water through natural processes

More Freshwater Environments Stream – small, fast-flowing body of water River – large body of moving water Marsh – up to 2 meters deep, floating plants Swamp – contains shrubs and trees and wet soil

that is frequently flooded Bogs – filled with decaying plant matter (peat),

has piled up in layers over the years. Ground is quite spongy, there is very little life due to acidic conditions

Sloughs – small, marshy pools or lake produced by rain or melting snow that fill a depression in the land. Small “pothole” sloughs cover the prairies and are the most important nesting area for ducks on the continent

Wetlands

Wetlands are found alongside other bodies of water

One quarter of all wetlands in the world are in Canada

Wetlands are very important: The vegetation removes pollutants from the

water They act as a reservoir to prevent flooding Many fish and animals live there Thick vegetation helps stabilize

surrounding soils Many endangered species live

parts of their lives there

Run-off and Erosion Deposition Run-off - water that is not absorbed by the

ground Erosion – the result of forces (including

gravity) that act on rocks and soil to change their shape

Deposition – when eroded material is dropped or left behind; both visible and not visible

Estuaries – formed when a river empties into an area of the ocean that is partially enclosed. They are ecologically very rich because rivers carry nutrients downstream

Rivers, Streams and Estuaries There are many plants and animals living in

these moving waters What can live in these moving waters

depends on: The temperature of the water The speed the water is moving The turbidity of the water

Changes in variety or productivity of species in waterways can reveal potential problems

Estuaries are nutrient-rich, brackish water