User:Solarchitect03/Freshwater biology

Wetlands
Wetlands are a specific type of standing water habitats that include marshes, swamps, and bogs. Due to the waterlogged and submerged nature of the land, the anaerobic conditions of wetlands are unique and support the highest species diversity of all ecosystems. Wetlands slow the decomposition of organic matter, creating layers of rich organic material that provides important nutrients for species in the system. The fauna that reside in wetlands are called hydrophytes, meaning they are adapted to very moist and humid conditions. Wetlands are the home to a large number of bird, amphibian, insect, reptile, grass, and tree species that cannot inhabit any other system, making them at risk to endangerment, as wetlands are being destroyed for urban development and agriculture. Wetlands help combat pollution and climate change, as they filter pollutants and store a large amount of carbon from the biosphere in their moist soil and still water, despite the small amount of land they occupy. Additionally, wetlands provide flood and storm protection, as the system can absorb large amounts of excess water. Wetland's ability to absorb water also assists groundwater recharge, which is very important for human water use, as usable freshwater sources are dwindling. Wetlands are not only freshwater habitats and systems, as there are salt marshes and bogs that support different species.

'''Carolina Bays (also known as pocosins, meaning "swamp on a hill") are a unique form of wetland predominately found in the Carolinas, with a few being found outside of the Carolinas along the East Coast of the United States. Carolina Bays are characterized as elliptical shaped depressions that are surrounded by a sand rim and have a sandy bottom. This depression goes through wet and dry periods, filling with rainwater during the winter and spring months, and drying out in the summer. Carolina Bays often contain rare species, some endemic to the bays. '''

Freshwater organisms
Freshwater organisms are generally divided into the categories of benthic and pelagic organisms, as these are the two zones of life found in the freshwater biome. Freshwater organism can include invertebrates, insects, fish, amphibians, mammals, birds, aquatic plants, and planktons.

Invertebrates
Freshwater invertebrates include freshwater mollusks, insects, crustaceans, and worms. '''Freshwater invertebrates provide an important link in freshwater food chains, transporting the nutrients and energy from producers such as algae and aquatic plants to higher consumers such as fish and amphibians. Additionally, invertebrates can act as important bio-indicators for ecosystem health. '''

Fish
Freshwater fish include a are very diverse, consisting of more than 18,000 species and making up 1/4 of the world's vertebrate species. '''Around half of fish species live in freshwater environments, the other half living in saltwater. Some fish, such as salmon and some species of shark, are able to travel between the freshwater and saltwater environments, linking the two. These fish are referred to as diadromous fish, stemming from Greek and meaning "to run between", in reference to the fish running between freshwater and saltwater. '''

Amphibians
'''Amphibians, which include frogs, toads, salamanders, and caecilians, are a group that predominately exist in freshwater habitats. Amphibians are exotherms that possess thing skin, meaning that they rely on water to remain hydrated. Amphibians are Amphibians can act as an indicator of environmental health, as they are easily affected by changes in the environment, such as pollution or climate change.'''

Birds
'''Water birds are a group of birds that rely on aquatic habitats for hunting, resting, and sometimes nesting. Birds that rely on freshwater habitats include birds such as kingfishers, flamingos, and various types of waterfowl. Many species rely on the plants in these freshwater environments for nesting material, habitat, and food. Additionally, freshwater birds act as a control for fish and insects in freshwater environments. '''

Aquatic Plants
'''Aquatic plants act much like terrestrial plants, providing the basis for the food chain, removal of carbon dioxide, and production of oxygen. Aquatic plants can be divided into 3 categories: emergent, submergent, and floating. Emergent plants, such as horsetails and cattails, are rooted near the edge of freshwater ecosystems, and commonly stick up out of the water. Submergent plants, such as elodea and pondweed, are those that are completely under the water, and may be either rooted or unrooted. Floating plants, such as water-lilies or duckweed, are plants that may be rooted or unrooted, but whose leaves float to the top of the water. '''