User:Tvu27/New sandbox

Functions (my edits in **)
Aquatic ecosystems perform many important environmental functions. For example, they recycle nutrients, purify water, attenuate floods, recharge ground water, and provide habitats for wildlife. **The biota of an aquatic ecosystem contribute to its self-purification, most notably microorganisms, phytoplankton, higher plants, invertebrates, fish, bacteria, protists, aquatic fungi, and more. These organisms are actively involved in multiple self-purification processes, including organic matter destruction and water filtration. It is crucial that aquatic ecosystems are reliably self-maintained, as they also provide habitats for species that reside in them. **

** In addition to environmental functions**, aquatic ecosystems are also used for human recreation, and are very important to the tourism industry, especially in coastal regions. **They are also used for religious purposes, such as the worshipping of the Jordan River by Christians, and educational purposes, such as the usage of lakes for ecological study. **

(Copied from Aquatic ecosystem)