Aquatic habitat: what is, characteristics, types and examples

We will begin this issue with the definition of aquatic habitat. This is any physical space located on The hydrosphere which is inhabited by a particular species. We understand by hydrosphere to the portion of the land occupied by oceans, seas, rivers, lakes and other types of water masses.

As for Aquatic habitat characteristicsthe stable temperature is essential for the survival of the biota adapted to the water. This differs widely with the terrestrial habitat, which is characterized by sudden temperature changes.

Within the components of the aquatic habitat that enable life in the water, we can distinguish between:

• Biotic components or factors of aquatic habitat: They are all those living beings that interact with their environment, with individuals of the same species and with the other species that live in a certain space in the water.
• Abiotic components or factors of aquatic habitat: It refers to physical factors, not alive, that impose the conditions of the habitat, including temperature, pressure, luminosity, turbidity, salinity, and so on.

As you will know not all aquatic ecosystems are the same and, precisely, existing habitats in marine ecosystems differ widely in their characteristics, with respect to the habitats of river ecosystems, lakes and lagoons. Therefore, there are different Types of aquatic habitats That, in this particular article, we will differentiate them into two types:

Marine habitats

These habitats include oceans, seas and marshes. The majority of species that live in these habitats develop practically in darkness, because light only penetrates up to 100 meters deep. In addition, another main feature is the presence of salts of salts to which the biota is adapted to living.

Continental water habitats

Here habitats are included within water bodies that are away from seas or oceans, such as rivers, lakes, lagoons and more. Depending on the speed of the water current and the amount suspended sediments, the water can be more or less cloudy. Precisely turbidity and depth also determine the clarity and luminosity of the habitat.

In this section we will mention different Aquatic habitat examples. All of them present biotic and abiotic factors that together enable the development of aquatic biodiversity.

Examples of marine aquatic habitats

The examples of habitats within marine or salt water ecosystems differ from each other by the depth and characteristics that it determines. Among them we find:

• Coastal Zone: Habitats with less depth, so light penetrates and allows warmer temperature. In the coastal areas a great diversity of aquatic habitat plants are developed since light is an indispensable requirement for photosynthesis.
• Open sea: Habitats with greater depth than the previous case, therefore with less incidence of light and colder. These habitats allow the development of herbivorous and omnivorous biodiversity.
• Background: Habitats at great depth with almost zero light penetration and, therefore, lower temperatures. These habitats are often refuge for carnivorous and detritivorous species adapted to darkness. We recommend you read these other articles about seabed: what are, types and photos and abyssal plains: what are and characteristics.

Examples of fresh water aquatic habitats

With respect to habitats within fresh water ecosystems, we can distinguish them according to the movement of their currents, such as:

• Luntic: Habitats with still or stagnant waters. In general, they are crystalline waters since their sediments have opted over time. The transparency of its waters allows the passage of light which makes it conducive to the development of vegetation. In this link you will see more information about lentic ecosystems: what are and examples.
• LOTICS: Habitats with moving waters, which often drag sediments. Generally its waters are cloudy that decreases the passage of light. They are the refuge of many species of animals and, in areas of less depth, of plant species. In this other post you can learn more about the lobal ecosystems: what are and examples.

In addition, we leave you several images of the aquatic habitat, both salt water and fresh water, in the same order in which we have mentioned them.

As we mentioned at the beginning, aquatic habitats house a great diversity of species. Here, especially, we will mention some Aquatic habitat animals.

Vertebrate animals

Vertebrate animals are defined by presenting a spine. Many vertebrates have a life both terrestrial and aquatic and, for example, aquatic birds which nest and spend the longest time on land, but frequently immerse themselves in the waters in search of food. However, in this section we will focus only on vertebrates that have a completely aquatic life.

• Fish: Undoubtedly, when we think of aquatic habitats, the first thing that comes to mind is the fish. They breathe through the gills, so they do not need to go to the surface to take a breath.
• Aquatic reptiles: They are characterized by presenting pulmonary respiratory system. Unlike fish, they must go to the surface to breathe. Among them we can mention sea and freshwater turtles and snakes, also marine and freshwater, as well as crocodiles, which also exist for fresh and salted water.
• Aquatic mammals: Like the reptiles have pulmonary respiratory system, so they must go to the surface to breathe. Because they are mammals, they have breasts with which they feed their young. As examples we can name whales, belugas, dolphins, manatees and more.

Invertebrate animals

In contrast to vertebrates, invertebrates do not have a spine. This group is megadiverse and many of them are of aquatic habits such as molluscs (such as snails or octopuses), crustaceans (such as crabs), echinoderms (including sea star and hedgehog), porifers (such as sea sponges) and many more.

If you want to read more articles similar to Aquatic habitat: what is, characteristics, types and exampleswe recommend that you enter our category of ecosystems.