Aquatic ecosystems include oceans, lakes, rivers, streams and wetlands. Within these aquatic ecosystems are living things that depend on the water for survival, such as fish, plants, and microorganisms. These ecosystems are very fragile and can be easily disturbed by pollution. Aquatic ecosystems perform numerous valuable environmental functions. They recycle nutrients, purify water, attenuate floods, augment and maintain streamflow, recharge ground water, and provide habitat for wildlife and recreation for people. Factors that affect aquatic ecosystems include water flow rate, salinity, acidity, oxygen, light levels, depth, and temperature, light levels affect photosynthesizing plants and predation. The largest water ecosystem is the marine ecosystem, covering over 70 percent of the earth's surface. Oceans, estuaries, coral reefs and coastal ecosystems are the various kinds of marine ecosystems.

Hima Xavier

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