Aquatic ecology

Aquatic ecology studies interactions among organisms and their environments in freshwater and marine systems, including how physical and chemical conditions shape aquatic communities.

Aquatic food web: A network of feeding relationships among organisms in an aquatic ecosystem. Shows how energy and nutrients move through aquatic communities.
Freshwater ecology: The study of ecological interactions in inland waters such as lakes, rivers, and wetlands. Focuses on aquatic systems where salinity is generally low.
Eutrophication: The enrichment of water with nutrients, often causing excessive algal growth and oxygen depletion. Illustrates how nutrient inputs can transform aquatic ecosystems.
Coral reef: A marine ecosystem built largely by reef-forming corals and their calcium-carbonate structures. Its high biodiversity and sensitivity make it a revealing case of ecological interactions.
Ocean acidification: The ongoing decrease in ocean pH caused mainly by seawater absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Changes carbonate chemistry and affects organisms that build calcium-carbonate structures.
Primary production: The formation of organic matter from inorganic carbon by photosynthesis or chemosynthesis. Sets the energy base that supports most aquatic food webs.
Marine ecology: The study of ecological interactions in seas and oceans. Covers saltwater ecosystems, from coastal zones to the open ocean.
Harmful algal bloom: A rapid growth of algae or cyanobacteria that can harm organisms or people through toxins or other effects. Ecological monitoring helps identify bloom conditions and anticipate impacts.
Kelp forest: A coastal marine ecosystem dominated by dense stands of large brown algae called kelp. Predator-driven changes in sea urchins can rapidly reshape this habitat.
Marine heatwave: A prolonged period of unusually warm ocean temperatures in a particular region. Can trigger ecological shifts such as coral bleaching and species redistribution.

Linked from 8 pages