Lotic Water Systems
Lotic water systems are bodies of water that is flowing continuously, ranging from torrential rapids to slow moving back waters. These systems of water tend to be much shallower than their counterparts, causing temperature to become a major abiotic factor for life in these systems. Water found in these sytems will freeze much quicker, and thaw much faster than the deep waters of lentic systems. Lotic ecosystems depend on precipitation, snow melt, and springs to keep the water flowing, in times of drought these shallow systems will dry up and many organisms will die.
Lentic Water Systems
Lentic water systems consist of still bodies of water, such as lakes, ponds, and seas. During periods of drought these systems will often last longer than their smaller counterparts and organisms can continue to live despite the shortened supplies. These bodies, often deep with multiple zones experience many things that lotic water systems do not. Lentic water systems are made up of multiple zones, littoral, limnetic , vertical, and benthic.
The epilimnion, or surface water, is the area in which the most life can be found. This zone is high in oxygen content during the summers, the warmer waters that receive the most sunlight will hold the most oxygen, thus allowing the greatest amount of life to flourish here.
The metalimnion, or middle mass of water is where the temperature of the water begins to decrease, life is not as plentiful as in the surface waters but there are still many organisms that can be found here. Often times this is where the thermocline will begin, a thermocline is a point at which the water temperature decreases approximately one degree Celsius per meter.
The hypolimnion is the warmest zone during the winter time and the coldest during the summer. It is the bottom most part of the body, where sometimes light does not reach. This zone is where the least amount of life will be found throughout most of the year.
Overturns occur when water is stratified in bodies, the water from the bottom of the mass is mixed with the water close to the surface. This occurs during spring and fall.
The epilimnion, or surface water, is the area in which the most life can be found. This zone is high in oxygen content during the summers, the warmer waters that receive the most sunlight will hold the most oxygen, thus allowing the greatest amount of life to flourish here.
The metalimnion, or middle mass of water is where the temperature of the water begins to decrease, life is not as plentiful as in the surface waters but there are still many organisms that can be found here. Often times this is where the thermocline will begin, a thermocline is a point at which the water temperature decreases approximately one degree Celsius per meter.
The hypolimnion is the warmest zone during the winter time and the coldest during the summer. It is the bottom most part of the body, where sometimes light does not reach. This zone is where the least amount of life will be found throughout most of the year.
Overturns occur when water is stratified in bodies, the water from the bottom of the mass is mixed with the water close to the surface. This occurs during spring and fall.
A depiction of stratification zones in a pond.