THE ZONES OF

FRESHWATER
ECOSYSTEM
FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEM

Freshwater ecosystems are a subset

of Earth’s aquatic ecosystems. They
include lakes, ponds, rivers, streams,
springs, bogs, and wetlands.
LITTORAL ZONE
It derives from the Latin
noun litus, litoris, meaning “shore”.
The littoral zone or nearshore
is the part of a sea, lake, or river
that is close to the shore.

Healthy Littoral Zones contain a diversity

of plant types that are the habitats for all
types of animals: invertebrates, fish,
amphibians, reptiles, shorebirds, waterfowl,
and mammals.
LIMNETIC ZONE
The limnetic zone is the open
and well-lit area of a freestanding body of
freshwater, such as a lake or pond. Not included in
this area is the littoral zone, which is the shallow,
near-shore area of the
water body.

Organisms

The limnetic zone is well-lighted (like the littoral

zone) and is dominated by plankton, both
phytoplankton and zooplankton. Without aquatic
plankton, there would be few living organisms in
the world, and certainly no humans.
PLANKTON
EUPHOTIC ZONE

Is the uppermost or “well-lit” layer of the ocean in which

there is sufficient light energy available to support
photosynthetic growth.

The ocean life in the Euphotic zone include sharks, jellyfish,

sea turtles, coral, and zooplankton. The reason why there are
so many various life in this zone is because of its access to
sunlight.
PROFUNDAL ZONE

The profundal zone is a deep zone of an inland body of

freestanding water, such as a lake or pond, located below the
range of effective light penetration. This is typically below the
thermocline, the vertical zone in the water through which
temperature drops rapidly.

Profundal is also defined as the deepest, vegetation free.

Thank you!