Abstract
Environmental pollution is becoming a major global concern, especially about new pollutants, poisonous heavy metals, and other dangerous agents. Pollutants have a profound impact on ecosystems and present serious threats to the health of both the natural world and human communities. Water is one of the most important resources on the planet, since it is required for all species' survival and well-being. Surface water in an aquatic system is referred to as an inland water environment and is divided into lentic and lotic systems. In contrast to lotic water ecosystems, which share continuous habitats through the connection of many basins in unidirectional flow within the dendritic structure of river networks, lentic water ecosystems display discontinuous habitats as aquatic matrices inside the terrestrial system. The lentic water ecology is more similar to terrestrial waters than the lentic water ecosystem, which differs greatly. Aquatic ecosystems are diverse and, despite making up just a little of the planet's surface, are essential for several reasons.
TopIntroduction
A specific environment, or biotope, and the species that inhabit it, referred to as the biocenosis, make up an ecosystem, also known as an ecological system (GWP/INBO, 2015). Numerous services provided by the planet’s ecosystems are essential to our everyday existence. Ecosystems on habitable planets can be broadly divided into two groups: terrestrial ecosystems that are based on land and aquatic ecosystems that are based on water. An ecosystem of or about land, as opposed to an ecosystem of water, is called a terrestrial ecosystem (Reddy et al., 2018). A subgroup of ecosystems where water plays a significant role is known as an aquatic environment (GWP/INBO, 2015). Ecosystems that rely mostly or partially on freshwater flooding are known as aquatic ecosystems (Reddy et al., 2018). All of the components of a water-based environment, both living and non-living, and their interactions together comprise an aquatic ecosystem (Reddy et al., 2018). Production, regulation, and organization are just a few of the many tasks that a healthy aquatic environment may undertake (GWP/INBO, 2015). Humans and water ecosystems have long been associated. 71% of the Earth’s surface is generally covered by aquatic habitats. Unlike saltwater habitats, which make up three-fourths of the planet’s surface, freshwater ecosystems only make up a small portion of the planet’s surface. Nearly 70% of people on Earth reside in regions that are adjacent to bodies of water, such as lakes, rivers, and coasts, where civilizations have historically flourished (Reddy et al., 2018). Freshwaters are strongly linked to land use and climate. The sustainability of ecosystems and society depends on fresh water. The natural sciences (such as limnology, hydrology, and ecology), which highlight water quality, hydrological fluxes, and habitat quality as possible ecosystem services, have traditionally been used to study freshwaters. Freshwater ecosystem services include recreation, transportation via water, and the provision of clean water. Freshwater from streams, rivers, and lakes is necessary for human survival and provides essential functions. A varied collection of habitats depending on water, aquatic ecosystems contain significant biodiversity and offer numerous advantages to humans.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Ecosystem: A functional ecological unit in which the biological, physical, and chemical components of the environment interact.
Lotic: Running waters, such as rivers and streams.
Environment: The term “environment” refers to the surrounding area and includes all of the factors that influence an organism’s life. The environment encompasses the interactions between water, air, and land, as well as their impact on humans, other living organisms, and property.
Pollutant: The components, chemicals, and particles that cause pollution are called pollutants; it is widely known that exposure to these substances can have negative impacts on human health as well as plant health.
Lentic: Still water system, i.e. , ponds and lakes.
Biosensor: A device that combines biological material and transducers, usually in intimate association, to signal the presence of a particular substance or group of substances.