Notes and Observations:
Visiting all the rivers around the world is a hard task.(Even though freshwater is only 1% of all the water found on earth) Depending on where the rivers are located, their temperatures, minerals, and wildlife can be varied from one another.
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| Here is a drawing my friend, John Weeks, did of all the rivers of the USA. http://www.johnweeks.com/river_mississippi/map_us_miss.jpg |
I'm afraid temperatures are too different so I cant give a range. However, I know most steams originate from snow melt or ground water that has reached the surface. Here are some common minerals found in freshwater streams and rivers:
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Sodium
- Potassium
The amount of sunlight a river receives depends on how much sediment is found in the water at that time. The end of the river will allow less sunlight in because it will have all the sediment that has been carried down from upstream. The amount of shelter a river had also depends on the area where it is located. Some forms of shelter include dams, caves, tree roots, and surrounding vegetation.
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| This is a picture my friend, Samuel Elsaesser took as we explored the Amazon River. http://www.wackyowl.com/worlds-most-dangerous-rivers/
Now exploring abiotic aspects of a freshwater biome is great, but the biotic aspects of this biome are more exciting!!!
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| This typical river food web was created by my other naturalist enthusiast, Jan Porincbak http://aboutenvironment.wordpress.com/2010/03/28/freshwater-availability-in-the-world/. |
This a great food web because it shows how humans interact with the freshwater river biome. The producers found in this biome are the plant life in and around rivers. Algae, Duckweed, and Cattail are some of the many producers in this biome, providing the living organisms around them with oxygen and another source of energy.
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| Ruth Babylon especially loved taking picture of Cattail. http://www.radfordpl.org/wildwood/today/Plant_articles/Cattail.htm |
Cattails are more than just a cover for birds and small animals, they can also be useful to humans. They can be burned to keep bugs away, or they can be ground up to make pancakes and bread. Cattails are also well adapted to their watery environment. Their leaves have spongy cross-sections that contain air channels to help tem float. Also, their fluffy seeds can be easily picked up by animals and the wind.
The consumers found in this biome consist of 700 different species of fish and 1,200 species of amphibians, mollusks, and insects. The adaptations in fish can be seen in their body and fin shape. The Largemouth Bass and the Trout have elongated bodies and a forked tails which allows them to swim faster in water. The Pickerel has a slim body and its fins are placed near the back of the fish, allowing it to shoot through the water to catch their prey.
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| This Pickerel was drawn by Joseph R Tomelleri. http://mdc.mo.gov/fishing/fishing-how-tos/fish-adaptations
Another Freshwater consumer is the beaver. Beaver's make their homes/dams in slow-moving rivers. An adaptation of the beaver is that its lips close behind its front teeth, preventing water from entering while chewing wood underwater. The beaver also has a clear eyelid that allows it to see underwater.
Some of these consumers can also be considered decomposers. Cladocerans ( A.K.A water flea) are small crustaceans that feed on plants and plankton. However, they have been know to feed on decaying organic material, making them decomposers. Saprolegnia is a genus of water mold that breaks down dead material. It may also infect injured organisms such as fish or other animals and cause fungal infections.
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| Here is a fish that is being broken down by Saprolegnia. (taken by Thomas Volk)http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/saprolegnia.html
It may seem as if everything is against one another, but there are some symbiotic relationships in this biome. There a small animal called a Green Hydra . The hydra receives its green color from the green algae that lives inside it. The hydra provides protection from the environment and the algae provides oxygen and sugar.
The main forms of influence from humans are negative. Water and air pollution are the most detrimental to this biome. Another issue is the over-fishing or over-hunting of endangered species. However, there are some people who have started conservation efforts that have helped some rivers like the Amazon. I hope to see more improvements made in this area. Well, I cant wait to visit the next biome!!!
Works Cited:
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