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DRAFT

Module 4: Water and Biodiversity Unit 1: An Introduction to Freshwater Ecosystems. DRAFT. Objectives of this presentation. To introduce the fundamental requirements of an ecosystem To investigate in some detail the ecosystems that are to be found in various water body types. Ecosystems.

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DRAFT

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  1. Module 4: Water and Biodiversity Unit 1: An Introduction to Freshwater Ecosystems DRAFT

  2. Objectives of this presentation • To introduce the fundamental requirements of an ecosystem • To investigate in some detail the ecosystems that are to be found in various water body types

  3. Ecosystems • Ecosystems can be as big as an ocean or as small as a puddle! • They include all of the animals and plants in a particular area. • The most diverse ecosystems depend on light, dissolved oxygen and water. • No ecosystem can survive without water!

  4. Importance of dissolved oxygen • Oxygen comes directly from the air or via plants through a process known as photosynthesis. • Most aquatic life-forms require oxygen to survive. • Healthy aquatic ecosystems contain high amounts of dissolved oxygen.

  5. Case Study: Freshwater Ecosystems of the River Shannon Specific ecosystems are found in: • Groundwater • Blanket bog • Upland streams/rivers • Lakes • Lowland rivers • Wetlands • Estuary

  6. Groundwater ecosystem Salamander – adapted to living in the dark in caves Underground cave – formed by groundwater

  7. Blanket bog ecosystem Hen Harrier

  8. Upland stream/river ecosystem Kingfisher Salmon Mayfly

  9. Lake ecosystem Carp

  10. Lowland river ecosystem

  11. Wetland ecosystem The Shannon Callows Photograph courtesy of Birdwatch Ireland

  12. Estuarine ecosystem

  13. Algae Tadpole Fish Heron Food chains There are three different types of organisms involved in a food web/chain: 1. Producers (plants) 2. Consumers (animals) 3. Decomposers (e.g. microbes)

  14. Food web There are lots of different connections within an ecosystem. These form a food web

  15. Threats to aquatic ecosystems • Different types of pollution threaten our aquatic ecosystems. These include: - chemical pollution - organic pollution - physical pollution It is important to address pollution sources and restore the health of ecosystems.

  16. Climate change as a threat to freshwater ecosystems Changes in water temperature and rainfall patterns are likely to: • exacerbate pollution problems (e.g.eutrophication) • alter ecosystem conditions causing some species to become invasive while displacing others • Hence climate change is likely to effect our water heritage.

  17. Activity • No study of water is complete without some practical experience. A guided field trip at Ballybay Wetlands Centre or at a similar field study centre is recommended. • A booklet such as Monaghan’s Wonderful Wetlands provides some useful information on freshwater ecosystems. Find out if there is a similar publication for water bodies in your locality.

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