Freshwater ecology studies how organisms interact with their natural environment in bodies of non-brackish water. It can provide information for conservation efforts and help identify potential threats to the ecosystem, including contamination. Freshwater ecologists can also determine the viability of potable water sources for humans.
Freshwater ecology is a specialized subcategory of the general study of organisms and the environment. Unlike biology, ecology refers to the study of not only organisms but how they react to and are affected by their surrounding natural environment or ecosystem. By studying the plants and animals in a body of water, as well as the components of the water itself, a scientist specializing in freshwater ecology can uncover vital information about the health and needs of a freshwater system.
Rather than studying the wider saltwater world as marine ecologists do, scientists working in freshwater ecology focus on the ecosystems of bodies of non-brackish water, such as lakes, ponds, and streams. Some can even work in humid environments where the water is mostly fresh. The information gleaned by freshwater ecologists can be useful for plant and animal conservation efforts, but it also provides data that can affect humans as well.
In studying the ecology of freshwater, scientists try to get an accurate idea of how a body of freshwater goes about its day-to-day existence. Every detail, from the microbial creatures busy creating algae, to the large reptilian or avian predators present, affects the life of the ecosystem. New factors can dramatically disrupt and rearrange the ecosystem and can range from an introduced alien species, to chemical runoff from a new industrial plant, or even increased use if the lake becomes a tourist spot. By understanding how this body of water behaves under normal circumstances, freshwater ecologists can make an educated guess about how new factors will affect the local environment.
For conservation efforts, freshwater ecology can provide roughly accurate ideas about how plant or animal populations survive in their environment. This can help determine whether an endangered species receives protective status from governing bodies or if an already endangered species is recovering due to conservation efforts. While most of the work is based on population probabilities and graphs rather than the literal census, freshwater ecologists can provide a fairly clear picture of how a species is doing and identify the key factors determining its plight.
Humans also benefit from studies of freshwater ecology. Being the largest component of the ecosystem, water is constantly tested and analyzed for important data such as chemical composition and possible dangers. The work of freshwater ecologists can be used to determine the viability of a new source of potable water or to test a current water source for possible contamination. By protecting sources of potable water, freshwater ecologists contribute not only to the good of the environment, but also to the good of their own species.
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