Why do freshwater water ecosystems need animals? Freshwater ecosystems need animals to feed on vegetation so that it doesn't overgrow and crowd out other species. Some species eat the algae in an ecosystem, cleaning the environment. Some animals in an ecosystem feed on other animals, controlling populations. Freshwater animals are frequently hunted by land mammals like bears and beavers, providing an important food source for neighboring ecosystems. When animals die, their bodies decompose into the ecosystem, fertilizing the soil in the ecosystem, making it possible for other plants and animals to grow.
What animals live in freshwater? Amphibians, birds, bugs, fish, invertebrates, mammals, and reptiles.
(http://environment.nationalgeographic.com)
What Amphibians live in freshwater? Frogs (tree frog, African dwarf frog), salamanders, and newts are a few examples of freshwater amphibians.
What animals live in freshwater? Amphibians, birds, bugs, fish, invertebrates, mammals, and reptiles.
(http://environment.nationalgeographic.com)
What Amphibians live in freshwater? Frogs (tree frog, African dwarf frog), salamanders, and newts are a few examples of freshwater amphibians.
Classic frog image. Photo: Brian Gratwicke, Flickr Creative Commons
(www.newswatch.nationalgeographic.com)
What mammals live in freshwater? Hippopotamus, manatees, muskrats, baikal seals, Amazon river dolphins, capybaras, beavers, river otters and platypuses are some examples of freshwater mammals. (http://environment.nationalgeographic.com)
http://www.zooborns.com/zooborns/capybara/
"The world’s biggest rodent, the capybara, grows to more than 4 feet (130 centimeters) long and tips the scales at up to 145 pounds (66 kilograms). These water-loving mammals reach such size by grazing on grasses and aquatic plants.
Capybaras are physically well adjusted to their watery environs. They have webbed toes to help them swim well and can dive underwater for five minutes or more. Capybaras are found in Central and South America, populating lakes, rivers, and wetlands from Panama south to Brazil and northern Argentina.
The Nature Conservancy is working with partners to protect habitat for the capybara, including the watery Llanos grasslands. The group is working with local landowners to create private reserves in critical habitat areas and helping bring more resources to a 63,000-acre (25,500-hectare) public protected area in the province of Casanare in northeastern Colombia"
(http://environment.nationalgeographic.com)
"The world’s biggest rodent, the capybara, grows to more than 4 feet (130 centimeters) long and tips the scales at up to 145 pounds (66 kilograms). These water-loving mammals reach such size by grazing on grasses and aquatic plants.
Capybaras are physically well adjusted to their watery environs. They have webbed toes to help them swim well and can dive underwater for five minutes or more. Capybaras are found in Central and South America, populating lakes, rivers, and wetlands from Panama south to Brazil and northern Argentina.
The Nature Conservancy is working with partners to protect habitat for the capybara, including the watery Llanos grasslands. The group is working with local landowners to create private reserves in critical habitat areas and helping bring more resources to a 63,000-acre (25,500-hectare) public protected area in the province of Casanare in northeastern Colombia"
(http://environment.nationalgeographic.com)
Photograph by Craig Arnold
"A Zambian hippo sends an aggressive message by displaying sharp canine teeth that can reach 20 inches (51 centimeters) in length. Bulls use this open-mouthed “gaping” display while standing face to face with one another in order to determine which animal is dominant. Sometimes a show of strength is not enough and the behavior leads to potentially fatal battles. Hippos are dangerous to humans as well."
(http://environment.nationalgeographic.com)
"A Zambian hippo sends an aggressive message by displaying sharp canine teeth that can reach 20 inches (51 centimeters) in length. Bulls use this open-mouthed “gaping” display while standing face to face with one another in order to determine which animal is dominant. Sometimes a show of strength is not enough and the behavior leads to potentially fatal battles. Hippos are dangerous to humans as well."
(http://environment.nationalgeographic.com)
Photograph by Amanda Cotton
"Manatees cruise slowly in shallow, warm coastal waters and rivers—like Florida’s gin-clear Crystal River, pictured here. The massive mammals (up to 1,300 pounds or 600 kilograms) are born underwater and never leave the water as long as they live—though they surface to breathe every few minutes. Also known as sea cows, they are insatiable grazers, browsing on a variety of aquatic grasses, weeds, and algae.
Several different manatee species live along the Atlantic coast of the Americas, Africa’s west coast, and the Amazon River."
(http://environment.nationalgeographic.com)
"Manatees cruise slowly in shallow, warm coastal waters and rivers—like Florida’s gin-clear Crystal River, pictured here. The massive mammals (up to 1,300 pounds or 600 kilograms) are born underwater and never leave the water as long as they live—though they surface to breathe every few minutes. Also known as sea cows, they are insatiable grazers, browsing on a variety of aquatic grasses, weeds, and algae.
Several different manatee species live along the Atlantic coast of the Americas, Africa’s west coast, and the Amazon River."
(http://environment.nationalgeographic.com)
Photograph by Stephen Babka
"The platypus is an improbable mishmash of an animal: It has a furry, otterlike body, a ducklike bill and webbed feet, and a beaverlike paddle tail. Like those other animals platypuses swim well and spend much of their time in the water. Unlike otters or beavers, they lay eggs—one of only two mammals known to do so. Male platypuses also have venomous stingers on their rear feet. These animals burrow near the water’s edge and feed by digging underwater for worms, shellfish, and insects."
(http://environment.nationalgeographic.com)
"The platypus is an improbable mishmash of an animal: It has a furry, otterlike body, a ducklike bill and webbed feet, and a beaverlike paddle tail. Like those other animals platypuses swim well and spend much of their time in the water. Unlike otters or beavers, they lay eggs—one of only two mammals known to do so. Male platypuses also have venomous stingers on their rear feet. These animals burrow near the water’s edge and feed by digging underwater for worms, shellfish, and insects."
(http://environment.nationalgeographic.com)
What birds who live around freshwater ecosystems? Swans, heron, storks, scarlet ibis, common loons, kingfishers, geese, goslings, flamingos, and great egrets are some examples of birds who live around freshwater ecosystems. (http://environment.nationalgeographic.com)
Photograph by T Jeffery Clarke, My Shot
"The scarlet ibis is a large, non-endangered bird of South America and the national bird of Trinidad. The scarlet plumage develops in adulthood due to pigmentation arising from a diet of red crabs." (http://environment.nationalgeographic.com)
What reptiles live in freshwater? Snakes, freshwater crocodiles and turtles (Snapping turtles, Coahuilan Box turtles) are a few examples of freshwater reptiles.
"The scarlet ibis is a large, non-endangered bird of South America and the national bird of Trinidad. The scarlet plumage develops in adulthood due to pigmentation arising from a diet of red crabs." (http://environment.nationalgeographic.com)
What reptiles live in freshwater? Snakes, freshwater crocodiles and turtles (Snapping turtles, Coahuilan Box turtles) are a few examples of freshwater reptiles.
National Geographic's Scariest Freshwater Animals in the World: http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/photos/scariest-freshwater-animals/?source=hp_dl4_news_scary_freshwater_animals20121031
CITATIONS (LINKS TO PICTURES)
- http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/photos/freshwater-plants-animals/#/diamondbackmangrove_3779_600x450.jpg
- http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/photos/freshwater-plants-animals/
- http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2012/04/27/frogs-freshwater-species-of-the-week/
- http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/photos/freshwater-birds/#/environment-freshwater-birds-scarlet-ibis_39381_600x450.jpg
- http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/photos/freshwater-mammals/#/freshwater-mammals-hippo_33402_600x450.jpg
- http://www.zooborns.com/zooborns/capybara/