What Three Things Do Bodies of Water Support?

The sustainability of our planet, including the survival of its human population, depends in large part on clean, nutrient-rich water. Bodies of water support entire systems of living things, the inhabitants of which break down into three categories: animal life, vegetation and microorganisms. These lifeforms exist interdependently as a thriving biotic community.

Aquatic Biome

• A body of water is an aquatic biome.

  A biome is a natural system consisting of a number of ecosystems in a particular environment. A biome possesses its own distinct plant and animal life -- including microorganisms -- that have evolved under specific conditions. A body of water, for example, is referred to as an aquatic biome. All forms of life within each system are interdependent, and a broad change may occur if even one element is added or taken away.

Animal Life

• The heron is a type of wading bird found in the Everglades.

  Certain characteristics define animals as separate from plants and other living things. For example, animals require sustenance from other organisms, possess internal digestive apparatus and move independently. Animals supported by an aquatic ecosystem include fish, seals, turtles, snakes, frogs, alligators and certain types of birds. The Everglades -- two million acres of wetlands and bodies of water running from central to south Florida -- supports 27 different kinds of snakes, 350 bird species and a diverse spectrum of plant and animal life from which they feed.

Vegetation

• Aquatic plant life provides food and natural beauty.

  Waters of the Everglades and other wetlands contribute to agriculture and provide drinking water to surrounding communities. In addition to natural beauty, aquatic plant life provides food for a variety of lifeforms, as well as oxygen -- which comes from photosynthesis -- and a medium in which fish can spawn. Plants flourish in lakes, rivers, ponds and streams, as well as in or near the ocean.

  According to the Center for Ocean Solutions, an alliance of leading marine science and policy institutions, "Every part of a kelp plant's structure plays an important ecological role, making it a key 'foundation species' in the ecosystem."

Microorganisms

• Microorganisms help decompose pollutants found in swamp water.

  In the aquatic biome, microorganisms are always present and often function as purifiers. They degrade harmful waste and pollutants that enter the water. This happens particularly in swamps, where microorganisms break down toxic materials. They are then released as small particles for surrounding vegetation to absorb. Most microorganisms pose no safety threat to humans. However, because a small number of them are pathogens, any water from lakes and rivers intended for drinking must be filtered and decontaminated.